When do black-chinned hummingbirds arrive in Montana?
The Black-chinned Hummingbird is a summer breeder in Montana — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Black-chinned Hummingbird timing in Montana
- Arrives
- Around April
- Leaves
- By August
- Status here
- Summer breeder
- Nesting season
- May–July
- Present roughly
- April–August
In Montana, black-chinned hummingbirds are present through the warm months, arriving around April and heading south again by August.
These windows are set by latitude: Montana sits in the northern part of this species' range, so timing here runs later than the continental average — the season starts later this far north and the birds wait for it. In any given year, weather can move the first arrivals by a week or two either way.
Month by month in this state
Highlighted months are when black-chinned hummingbirds are expected in Montana. The edges of the window are the interesting weeks — first arrivals and last departures vary most from year to year.
Getting ready before they arrive
The week before April is the time to act. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early April — the first black-chinned hummingbirds into Montana are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
Once nesting begins around May, adults switch to protein-rich food for their young and visits to feeders become quick and purposeful. Expect the busiest activity at dawn.
What black-chinned hummingbirds eat while they're here
- Nectar and gnats
The common summer hummingbird of Texas Hill Country and the desert Southwest; pumps its tail while hovering.
Full Black-chinned Hummingbird diet guide → · Best feeder for black-chinned hummingbirds →
Native plants that hold black-chinned hummingbirds in Montana
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These Montana-native plants are known to attract black-chinned hummingbirds:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Red trumpets for Broad-tailed and Rufous hummingbirds.
Evergreen with yellow spring flowers and blue summer fruit.
Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do black-chinned hummingbirds arrive in Montana?
black-chinned hummingbirds typically arrive in Montana around April, with nesting underway by May. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do black-chinned hummingbirds leave Montana?
Most black-chinned hummingbirds have left Montana by August. They spend the winter farther south and return the following spring.
Do black-chinned hummingbirds stay in Montana all year?
No — in Montana the Black-chinned Hummingbird is a summer breeder, present roughly April–August. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before black-chinned hummingbirds arrive in Montana?
Have feeders up and clean by early April — first arrivals scout reliable food sources. Good offerings for this species: nectar and gnats.
Sources
- Black-chinned Hummingbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black-chinned Hummingbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black-chinned Hummingbird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Montana
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.