Anna's Hummingbirds in British Columbia
When Anna's hummingbirds are present in British Columbia, when they nest, which native British Columbia plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 1a–9a yard.
- Status in British Columbia
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- January–May
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 1a–9a
- Range note
- Southwest BC; spread north since the 1960s.
When to expect Anna's hummingbirds in British Columbia
Anna's Hummingbirds live in British Columbia all year — southwest BC; spread north since the 1960s. Mild, wet coastal winters where Anna's Hummingbirds now overwinter; cold interior winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward winter-blooming manzanita and feeders.
Temperate rainforest on the coast, dry interior valleys and mountains, and boreal forest in the northeast.
Nesting in British Columbia
Across British Columbia, Anna's hummingbirds typically nest from January–May. Nest site: tiny cup of plant down and spider silk. Females lay 2 eggs, incubate for 14–19 days, and young leave the nest after 18–23 days.
Dry, warm coastal summers; hot in the Okanagan.
- Anna's Hummingbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as golden currant, red-flowering currant, oregon grape for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after May.
Native British Columbia plants that attract Anna's hummingbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for British Columbia, these 8 provide food or cover Anna's hummingbirds use:
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.
Early spring blooms fuel returning Rufous Hummingbirds.
Evergreen with yellow spring flowers and blue summer fruit.
Spring flowers for Rufous Hummingbirds, early fruit for thrushes.
Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.
Feeding Anna's hummingbirds through the British Columbia year
Anna's stay year-round and nest in winter; in freezing weather, keep one feeder thawed.
- Best foods: Sugar water: 1 part sugar to 4 parts water.
- Avoid: Red dye, honey and artificial sweeteners.
- In British Columbia's winter: Mild, wet coastal winters where Anna's Hummingbirds now overwinter; cold interior winters.
Full diet breakdown for Anna's hummingbirds · Best feeder for Anna's hummingbirds
Frequently asked
Are Anna's hummingbirds in British Columbia year-round?
Yes. Anna's Hummingbirds are year-round residents in British Columbia. Southwest BC; spread north since the 1960s.
When do Anna's hummingbirds nest in British Columbia?
Nesting in British Columbia typically runs January–May, with 2–3 per season. Clutches are 2 eggs, incubated for 14–19 days.
What native plants attract Anna's hummingbirds in British Columbia?
Wild bergamot, Golden currant, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Scarlet gilia, Red-flowering currant, Oregon grape, Salmonberry, Fireweed are native plants in British Columbia that provide food or cover for Anna's hummingbirds.
Anna's Hummingbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in British Columbia
Sources
- Anna's Hummingbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Anna's Hummingbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Anna's Hummingbird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — British Columbia
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.