Many people try to attract beautiful hummingbirds to their gardens. Since wintering south, Tennessee ruby-throated hummingbirds have been absent for months.
Tennessee's first ruby-throated hummingbirds return in late March. However, majority will arrive mid-April–mid-May. Hummingbirds will locate your feeder if you put it out by April 1.
Hummingbirds went where? Ruby-throated hummingbirds winter in Mexico and Central America from the US and Canada. Some fly 500 miles across the Gulf of Mexico. Others follow the Gulf shore.
Hummingbirds return to their nesting habitats in spring. Some ruby-throated hummingbirds breed in Tennessee, whereas others breed north of it.
Tennessee has no year-round hummingbirds. Tennessee's only breeding hummingbird is the ruby-throated. The non-breeding season brings some western hummingbirds to Tennessee.
Rufous, black-chinned, Allen's, Anna's, calliope, broad-tailed, and green violetear hummingbirds have been seen. These hummingbirds leave the state in April, so your chance to see them is limited. They return in August.