Northeast · Atlantic Flyway
Hummingbirds in Rhode Island
Hummingbirds in Rhode Island come down to 2 species with regular eBird records, led by the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Together they account for 8,939 of the 2.3 million eBird records from 2020–2024 — 0.4% of everything reported in the state.
The full list: Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Rufous Hummingbird. Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in North America and the only ones that routinely hover. They feed on flower nectar and small insects, and almost every species is migratory, so which hummingbirds you see — and when — depends heavily on where you live.
Hummingbirds in Rhode Island: every species, most-reported first
Every hummingbird with at least 25 eBird records in the state from 2020–2024, most-reported first. The status label is derived from each species’ own monthly share of all state records.
1. Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) — 8,827 records, 0.4% of the state’s eBird total; a summer visitor, present mainly from May to September and peaking in August.
2. Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) — 112 records, 0.00% of the state’s eBird total; a winter visitor, present mainly from November to January and peaking in November.
When to see hummingbirds in Rhode Island
Adding up every species’ share of state eBird records month by month, hummingbirds are most prominent in August, September and May and least in March and February. None of the 2 species is a year-round resident, so the timing below is everything.
Summer visitors. Ruby-throated Hummingbird arrives around May and is mostly gone after September (peak August).
Winter visitors. Rufous Hummingbird arrives around November and leaves after January (peak November).
Attracting hummingbirds to Rhode Island backyards
A clean nectar feeder (plain sugar water, no dye) and native tubular flowers are the two things that reliably bring hummingbirds into a yard. Put feeders up a couple of weeks before the first arrivals listed below and keep them up until the last departures.
In Rhode Island the hummingbird most likely to turn up is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Its own page covers month-by-month activity and attraction tips for this state.
Hummingbirds in Rhode Island: FAQ
How many species of hummingbirds are there in Rhode Island?
2 species of hummingbirds have regular eBird records in Rhode Island (at least 25 records in 2020–2024): Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Rufous Hummingbird.
What is the most common hummingbird in Rhode Island?
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird, with 8,827 eBird records in 2020–2024, followed by the Rufous Hummingbird with 112. It is a summer visitor, present mainly from May to September and peaking in August.
When is the best time to see hummingbirds in Rhode Island?
August, September and May, when the combined share of Rhode Island eBird records belonging to hummingbirds is highest. Summer visitors such as the Ruby-throated Hummingbird arrive around May. Winter visitors such as the Rufous Hummingbird arrive around November.
Are there hummingbirds in Rhode Island?
Yes. the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (8,827 eBird records, summer visitor) and the Rufous Hummingbird (112 eBird records, winter visitor) are regularly recorded in Rhode Island.
More birds in Rhode Island
Hummingbirds in other states
Hummingbirds in Rhode Island: sources
Every number on this page comes from the EOD – eBird Observation Dataset published by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and distributed through GBIF under a CC BY 4.0 license: Rhode Island records from 2020–2024, retrieved 2026-09-18. Species are drawn from the families Trochilidae; only species with at least 25 records are listed, and a species is called a year-round resident when its monthly share of state records stays above 30% of its own peak in ten or more months. “Records” are individual eBird observations, so they reflect how often birders report a species, not a population count.