Costa's Hummingbirds in California
When Costa's hummingbirds are present in California, when they nest, which native California plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5a–11a yard.
- Status in California
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- January–May
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–11a
When to expect Costa's hummingbirds in California
Costa's Hummingbirds live in California all year. Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward chuparosa, ocotillo and feeders.
Mediterranean along the coast and Central Valley, alpine in the Sierra Nevada, and desert in the southeast.
Nesting in California
Across California, Costa's hummingbirds typically nest from January–May. Nest site: cup in desert shrubs or cacti. Females lay 2 eggs, incubate for 15–18 days, and young leave the nest after 20–23 days.
Dry summers with little rain from May to October; water and summer-blooming natives matter more than extra seed.
- Costa's Hummingbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as golden currant, desert willow, ocotillo for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after May.
Native California plants that attract Costa's hummingbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for California, these 8 provide food or cover Costa's hummingbirds use:
Scarlet late-summer spikes; a hummingbird magnet in moist soil.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Red trumpets for Broad-tailed and Rufous hummingbirds.
Orchid-like flowers through summer for hummingbirds and orioles.
Red spring flower spikes timed to hummingbird and oriole migration.
Winter–spring red flowers for Costa's and Anna's hummingbirds.
Night blooms and summer fruit; Gila Woodpecker nest cavities.
Feeding Costa's hummingbirds through the California year
Nests in late winter in the Sonoran Desert and leaves the hottest areas by midsummer.
- Best foods: Sugar water 1:4.
- In California's winter: Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in.
Full diet breakdown for Costa's hummingbirds · Best feeder for Costa's hummingbirds
Frequently asked
Are Costa's hummingbirds in California year-round?
Yes. Costa's Hummingbirds are year-round residents in California.
When do Costa's hummingbirds nest in California?
Nesting in California typically runs January–May, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2 eggs, incubated for 15–18 days.
What native plants attract Costa's hummingbirds in California?
Cardinal flower, Wild bergamot, Golden currant, Scarlet gilia, Desert willow, Ocotillo, Chuparosa, Saguaro are native plants in California that provide food or cover for Costa's hummingbirds.
Costa's Hummingbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in California
Sources
- Costa's Hummingbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Costa's Hummingbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Costa's Hummingbird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — California
- 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.