Broad-tailed Hummingbirds in Texas
When broad-tailed hummingbirds are present in Texas, when they nest, which native Texas plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6b–10a yard.
- Status in Texas
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6b–10a
- Range note
- Davis and Guadalupe mountains.
When to expect broad-tailed hummingbirds in Texas
Broad-tailed Hummingbirds are summer residents in Texas, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Davis and Guadalupe mountains. Through the season they feed on nectar from penstemon and scarlet gilia.
Humid subtropical in the east and along the Gulf, semi-arid to arid in the west; long, hot summers and short, mild winters over most of the state.
Nesting in Texas
Across Texas, broad-tailed hummingbirds typically nest from May–July. Nest site: cup on a low branch under cover. Females lay 2 eggs, incubate for 16–19 days, and young leave the nest after 21–26 days.
Afternoon highs regularly exceed 95°F — nest boxes need shade or light-colored, ventilated construction, and water matters as much as food.
- Broad-tailed Hummingbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as coral honeysuckle, trumpet creeper, coral bean for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Texas plants that attract broad-tailed hummingbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Texas, these 8 provide food or cover broad-tailed hummingbirds use:
Native tubular red flowers; not the invasive Japanese honeysuckle.
Large orange trumpets through midsummer.
Scarlet late-summer spikes; a hummingbird magnet in moist soil.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Red tubular spring flowers for early hummingbirds.
Blooms right as Ruby-throated Hummingbirds return.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Feeding broad-tailed hummingbirds through the Texas year
Breeds at 6,000–10,000 ft; can drop body temperature overnight to survive frosty mountain nights.
- Best foods: Sugar water 1:4.
- In Texas's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for broad-tailed hummingbirds · Best feeder for broad-tailed hummingbirds
Frequently asked
Are broad-tailed hummingbirds in Texas year-round?
No. Broad-tailed Hummingbirds are summer breeders in Texas and leave for the winter. Davis and Guadalupe mountains.
When do broad-tailed hummingbirds nest in Texas?
Nesting in Texas typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2 eggs, incubated for 16–19 days.
What native plants attract broad-tailed hummingbirds in Texas?
Coral honeysuckle, Trumpet creeper, Cardinal flower, Wild bergamot, Coral bean, Red buckeye, Golden currant, Rocky Mountain bee plant are native plants in Texas that provide food or cover for broad-tailed hummingbirds.
Broad-tailed Hummingbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Texas
Sources
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Texas
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- Texas Breeding Bird Atlas — Texas A&M
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.