Costa's Hummingbirds in Nevada
When Costa's hummingbirds are present in Nevada, when they nest, which native Nevada plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–10a yard.
- Status in Nevada
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- February–May
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–10a
When to expect Costa's hummingbirds in Nevada
Costa's Hummingbirds are summer residents in Nevada, arriving shortly before nesting begins in February and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on nectar and gnats.
Great Basin cold desert in the north and Mojave hot desert around Las Vegas.
Nesting in Nevada
Across Nevada, Costa's hummingbirds typically nest from February–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.
Very hot, dry summers; water is the top attractant.
- 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 Nevada plants that attract Costa's hummingbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Nevada, 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.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Red trumpets for Broad-tailed and Rufous hummingbirds.
Blue-violet spikes favored by Broad-tailed Hummingbirds.
Orchid-like flowers through summer for hummingbirds and orioles.
Red spring flower spikes timed to hummingbird and oriole migration.
Feeding Costa's hummingbirds through the Nevada year
Nests in late winter in the Sonoran Desert and leaves the hottest areas by midsummer.
- Best foods: Sugar water 1:4.
- In Nevada's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for Costa's hummingbirds · Best feeder for Costa's hummingbirds
Frequently asked
Are Costa's hummingbirds in Nevada year-round?
No. Costa's Hummingbirds are summer breeders in Nevada and leave for the winter.
When do Costa's hummingbirds nest in Nevada?
Nesting in Nevada typically runs February–May, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2 eggs, incubated for 15–18 days.
What native plants attract Costa's hummingbirds in Nevada?
Cardinal flower, Wild bergamot, Golden currant, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Scarlet gilia, Rocky Mountain penstemon, Desert willow, Ocotillo are native plants in Nevada that provide food or cover for Costa's hummingbirds.
Costa's Hummingbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Nevada
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 — Nevada
- 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.