When is snowbird
 

When is snowbrid season? I would think it starts in January because of the holidays in December.

Many snowbirds arrive in December and November. Most leave end of March, the rest, end of April.

Snowbird season depends on the bird... For everyone its different. Our realtor said it was Thanksgiving to Easter but it can start earlier or run later....

We usually see the uptick in traffic in late October, and the lowering of traffic after April and into May.

The day I can swing it and quit, I'll be back in MN from May till early Nov.

Getting to be pretty much year round

There are at least two types of “birds”. Snowbirds are generally renters and usually come around January 1 and stay through March or April. Sunbirds are owners and may come and go at various times but usually leave in June or July (escaping the hot sun) and return in September or early October. Of course, there are exceptions with people coming and going as they please.

Lived in Florida entire life. In S. Florida winter(snowbird season) is Thanksgiving to Easter. In TV appears that the season is January - end of May. THis is based upon the golf rates.

And you would be wrong :ohdear:

Not in TV yet. Have 20+ golfers in our group in January. Now lucky to get 8.

I’m a snowflake that arrived at our Villages home last night. I sent out a group text to my golf group and I’m the only one currently here. Everyone else is in either Wisconsin, upper state New York, Michigan, Connecticut, or Massachusetts. Our group has full attendance January through March, then folks begin the reverse migration. Oh well, got in a 2 hour 20 minute round at Tierra by myself this afternoon and managed to squeeze it in just before the lightning started.

We have several friends that are snowbirds. Some like to get here in November to enjoy Thanksgiving, some like to arrive after spending Thanksgiving with their extended family up north. Christmas is another story, some come before and stay, some go back up north for a few days during Christmas and some arrive after Christmas. I would say 90% of the snowbirds leave by mid-April to mid-May.

The two types of snow birds are
1) Jan to Mar/Apr - mostly renters
2) Novemeber to Mother’s Day - 6 months to maintain their florida residency.

A little fun on a Friday morning, since we are on the subject ... we learned the proper definitions when we moved here:
1. Snow flakes - renters, in Jan, Feb and March
2. Snow birds - own two homes, one here, and one north. In FL for ~6 months between Nov. and Mar.
3. Frogs - own only in FL and are here until we croak.

I also recently learned that in polite society we no longer use the term Snow bird, as it's developed a negative connotation. We are supposed to refer to the #2 classification as "seasonal" from now on. ;-)

Seriously?

depending how far north people live, depends on when they come. People in Minnesota come earlier, leave later

Interesting. We were called “snowflakes” when we owned here, but were not retired yet so we only came down on our vacations for 2 weeks at a time all through the year

Polite = Repressed

I was a SNOWBIRD. I’m so offended I called myself that. Not.

It usually depends if they're owning or renting.
If you own the home and you're taking the Homestead Exemption
you must be a resident of Florida and make the property your permanent residence. This might determine if someone stays longer each year. Many snowbirds return at the end of October and stay till May. Some are still working and might only stay at The Villages a couple of weeks per month. If a "Snowbird" is renting it's usually between December and April. That's considered the height of the season.

One of my snowbird friends left yesterday for Massachusetts, even though we hear it’s been snowing there. Another one is planning to return to Massachusetts in two or three weeks. The migration North seems to begin (not counting short term renters) around the first day of Spring, March 21, and most have left by the week after Easter, whenever that is. Then the traffic becomes minimal and reservations are less necessary in restaurants and it’s easier to get reservations for sports. They start drifting back at the beginning of November, though a few wait until after Christmas. It comes down hating the cold versus Christmas with the family. Meanwhile, the snowbirds never get to see The Villages when it’s at its greenest and most relaxed,
Here’s a song called “Snow,” by Jesse Winchester, writing from Canada.
I was tuning in the six o'clock newscast
And the weather man mentioned snow
As soon as I heard that four-letter word
I was making my plans to go
If I was a bird I would fly back South
A bear I would go to sleep
Anything rather than hang around here
When the snow starts getting deep

Now you know what they say about snow flakes
How there ain't no two the same
Well, all them flakes look alike to me
Every one is a dirty shame
My ears are cold
My feet are cold
Bermuda stays on my mind
And I'm here to say that if winter comes
Then spring is a ways behind

I don't have no heavy hip boots
I don't have no furry hat
I don't have no long-john underwear
No layer of protective fat
I'd take a plane right to sunny Spain
Oh, but I don't have the dough
But I'd build a bridge and I'd walk there
To get away from all that snow
Oh, I'd build a bridge and walk there
To get away from all that snow

Snowbird, or snowflake season?
 

I would consider the Snowbirds to be 6 months or more. The 1, 2, and 3 month people are the snowflakes. Snowbirds are for the late fall into mid spring and typically own a house. Snowflakes are trying to get away from the worst part of winter and just rent. Nothing against them as long as they pick up their trash, pick up their dog poop,:ho: and they don't drive their cars on the multi model path.

There are many snowflakes who are owners, not renters. A couple of our neighbors own, but they come and go for a couple of weeks at a time throughout the year.

When I was a snowbird, it was October through April.
The weather is lovely up north in May through September.

We are hybrids. We go whenever we have another place to go. 😎

Correct, can only have one Home that claims Homestead. After five years did not know my wife didn’t claim Homestead at Maryland. Submitted Homestead paperwork this year and it was granted.

Why?

Snowbird season
 

Being a snowbird never an option for us. Why have double house bills, travel expenses multiple times per year, and paying amenity fee with minimal usage. Year round is much less costly. Goodbye snowbirds.

I think of the beginning of snowbird season the same way I think of trees. When the leaves begin to change colors in the fall, the license plates in The Villages begin to change too!

Canadian "snowbirds" NOT migrating in 2026
 

From a landlord group on Facebook, there also seems to be an alarming trend of les and less Canadian snowbirds....please come to The Villages and bring your "Loonies".

Because you want the best of both worlds: Away from northern winters, away from FL summers, and being able to spend half the year at adult summer camp and the other half with children and grandchildren. If you can afford it, it's a no-brainer.


Yes it is. It's also less costly to eat beans instead of filet mignon.

I'll see you in the Fall.

One would be surprised at how many residents not only own more than one home up north, and more than one home in TV. It’s all about balance of where you want to go next, and financial ability to do so..

Good bye Snowbirds? So you are in favor of everyone staying year round. Thats a great positive thought year round, packed restaurants, golf courses, grocery. Most are happy the birds continue to pay taxes, amenities, and don’t live here full time. What a great outlook wanting everyone to be full time

Snowbird Season
 

It's whenever we feel like it time for Florida, or time to go home.

Snowbirds
 

I usually notice the changing of the license plates in the fall and then they disappear in the spring.

Keep in mind, that we need them. They pay all year for the infrastructure they enjoy part-time.

Snowbirds
 

They only pay yearly if they own…others just rent and pay owner for months they are here.

So you get either the renters or the owners living in the house - or would you prefer the houses just sat empty and vacant all year round and someone stupidly enough to pay the property bill, insurance, utilities and all the upkeep for them anyways?

Glad you think those of us OWNERS, who are not yet full time residents, and don't rent out their properties are stupid...

My house is cared for while I'm away, as well as any other full timer...

Because I will NEVER sell my MN property. That'd be like selling a large acreage you own here surrounded by National Forest. You could never replace it once it's sold.

For me I won't miss black bear season and duck season. So that puts me back here late October. So May 1 to late October to keep FL homestead.

Well, not exactly. I was an owner and never rented out my property. And I only stay 6 months at a time. I was referring to people who don’t plan to live in their home or rent it out ever. Why would they do that? You said “not yet full time resident” means you plan to be in your home at least part of the time. I was thinking that some people might prefer to live beside a vacant home ALL the time. No snowbirds because the owners would never come to TV.

God Bless the snowbirds. Wish i were one.
Maybe someday
For now I am a full time Villager and love the emptiness of the amenities during the summer/fall months despite the grueling heat and humidity.

Where are these homes where people buy them and neither live in them nor rent them out?