When to put out hummingbird feeders in New Mexico

Have feeders out by March 15 — about two weeks before the first birds typically arrive (late March to mid-April). The vanguard males travel ahead of the main wave, and an early feeder helps them refuel when few flowers are blooming.

early November — southern valleys can leave one feeder up for winter Anna's. 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 — New Mexico's hummingbirds head south for the winter, with the last birds typically gone by late October; wintering Anna's increasing in the south. 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.