When Are Hummingbirds Returning To Massachusetts?

CBS Boston

April 14, 2025 / 9:13 PM EDT

Two hundred and fifty years ago this Friday, the cry went out from Charlestown to Concord "The Redcoats are coming!" It just so happens that mid to late April is time for another red-splashed arrival. The ruby throated hummingbirds are coming (back)!

OK, maybe you're not a certified bird nerd. But it's never too late to start! Observing the seasonal rhythms as new life returns to New England is one of the redeeming qualities of spring, which can otherwise be a trying time around here (read: last weekend). While the osprey makes March headlines, it's usually the hummingbirds that catch the most attention for backyard enthusiasts.

Ruby throated hummingbirds are the smallest breeding bird in Massachusetts, tipping the scales at about the same weight as a nickel. Whizzing by your windows on a warm spring or summer day, they beat their wings at a whopping 53 times per second.

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