You can not get hummers to stay by keeping feeders up! I had 22-25 feeders up and the birds all left heading south. I believe they knew it was about time to head south when a little cold front came in and they were gone. Keep the feeders up until they are gone and write the date down so you will have that info for the next year. We would also like to have that info. Most experts say to keep a feeder up for any stragglers for a few weeks. Some areas near the gulf may have birds during the winter. I also feel blessed here in south Arkansas.

I always leave at least one feeder up until thanksgiving or longer sometimes. The hummers will leave regardless driven by stronger urges to leave . But its good to leave one feeder up in case a straggler happens to come along late and your feeder could mean life or death to that lone bird and wont that make you feed good.

Many say its length of day but I think its combination of things that drive them south.

Things change from year to year depending on what your setup is . There were times when I was lucky to see a hummer in sept but I only had feeders too. Now I have a sizable garden in my small yard along with several feeders and by building this over the years I seem to get more each year and later into the season. My latest record sighting currently is Oct 6th. Last season was sept 29th.

thanks!

JD-

I would suggest leaving your feeders up until Thanksgiving. I am just north of you near Pottstown and had a Rufous hummingbird in my garden in 2009. They typically migrate late, October or November and are very rare. We get up to 12 a year in our area and I know they have been banded in West Chester and Lancaster (the bander could not catch mine).

You are right in the middle of an area known for the unusual Rufous migration. If you are very lucky, you might see this very rare (for us) bird. If you spot a hummingbird in October or later, please contact a hummingbird bander. Scott is the one for our area. He has more information on the new migration pattern for Rufous hummingbirds here:

http://www.scottweidensaul.com/hummingbirds/

Bellatrix

Here is a link that might be useful: My Rufous Hummingbird

bella

I have had late season hummers with a little brownish tan on the upper chest but they never had the tan on the lower tail section as yours does. That is what sets yours apart from a normal rubythroat. I too say you had a rufous.