Costa's Hummingbirds in Utah
When Costa's hummingbirds are present in Utah, when they nest, which native Utah plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–9a yard.
- Status in Utah
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- February–May
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–9a
When to expect Costa's hummingbirds in Utah
Costa's Hummingbirds are summer residents in Utah, arriving shortly before nesting begins in February and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on nectar and gnats.
Semi-arid to arid, with the Wasatch Range rising above the Great Basin and red-rock canyon country in the south.
Nesting in Utah
Across Utah, 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.
Hot, dry summers.
- Costa's Hummingbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as golden currant, desert willow for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after May.
Native Utah plants that attract Costa's hummingbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Utah, 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.
Late-season red flowers when other nectar is scarce.
Feeding Costa's hummingbirds through the Utah year
Nests in late winter in the Sonoran Desert and leaves the hottest areas by midsummer.
- Best foods: Sugar water 1:4.
- In Utah'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 Utah year-round?
No. Costa's Hummingbirds are summer breeders in Utah and leave for the winter.
When do Costa's hummingbirds nest in Utah?
Nesting in Utah 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 Utah?
Cardinal flower, Wild bergamot, Golden currant, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Scarlet gilia, Rocky Mountain penstemon, Desert willow, California fuchsia are native plants in Utah that provide food or cover for Costa's hummingbirds.
Costa's Hummingbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Utah
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 — Utah
- 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.