When to put out hummingbird feeders in Illinois

Have feeders out by March 25 in southern Illinois, April 1 upstate — about two weeks before the first birds typically arrive (mid- to late April (southern tip: early April)). The vanguard males travel ahead of the main wave, and an early feeder helps them refuel when few flowers are blooming.

late October. And don't worry about tempting birds to stay too long: migration is triggered by day length, not food. A full feeder will never stop a hummingbird from leaving — it simply fuels late stragglers, which need the help most.

No — Illinois's hummingbirds head south for the winter, with the last birds typically gone by mid-October. If you see a hummingbird at a feeder in late fall or winter, look closely: it may be a rare western visitor such as a Rufous Hummingbird, worth reporting to your local birding group.

Plain white sugar and water at a 4:1 ratio — 1 cup of sugar per 4 cups of water. Never use honey, brown sugar, or red dye. Our nectar calculator scales the recipe to any feeder size.