Hummingbirds in California
Put feeders out by February 1. Anna's Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird stay all year, so a feeder can stay up through winter.
- Regular species
- 6
- Hang feeders by
- February 1
- Typical first arrival
- February 15
- Most gone by
- Some stay all year
- Take feeders down
- Optional; keep one up
- Typical last spring freeze
- January 31 (NOAA normals, 308 cities)
- Frost-free season
- 325 days
The hummingbirds of California
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
Present all year in California.
How to recognize it: Stocky and gray-green; male's whole crown and throat glow rose-pink; females show a small pink throat spot.
The hummingbird most likely to stay through a Pacific Northwest winter. It drops into torpor on frosty nights and depends on feeders that do not freeze.
Rufous Hummingbird
Selasphorus rufus
Passes through in migration in California.
How to recognize it: Male is bright orange-copper with a scarlet throat; females green above with rusty flanks and tail base.
Breeds farther north than any other hummingbird, into southeast Alaska, and is famous for chasing every other hummingbird off a feeder. A few winter along the Gulf Coast each year.
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Archilochus alexandri
Summer nester in California.
How to recognize it: Plain green above and dull gray below; male's black throat has a thin violet band only visible in good light. Pumps its tail while hovering.
The western counterpart of the Ruby-throated, common in canyons, river woods and suburbs from Texas to the inland Northwest.
Costa's Hummingbird
Calypte costae
Present all year in California.
How to recognize it: Tiny and compact; male's purple crown and throat flare out into long side 'mustaches'.
A desert hummingbird that nests in late winter and spring, when desert shrubs bloom, then leaves the hottest lowlands in summer.
Calliope Hummingbird
Selasphorus calliope
Summer nester in California.
How to recognize it: The smallest bird in the US and Canada, about 3 inches; male's throat is streaked with wine-red rays on white.
Nests in mountain forests of the interior West and passes through lower states in late summer.
Allen's Hummingbird
Selasphorus sasin
Present all year in California.
How to recognize it: Like a Rufous with a green back; best told by range, season and the male's narrow outer tail feathers.
A coastal California specialist. One subspecies now lives year-round across greater Los Angeles.
When to put out hummingbird feeders in California
Scouts reach California around February 15, a little earlier in the south of the state and later at elevation. Males travel ahead of females by a week or more and arrive before many native flowers open, so a feeder hung two weeks early, by February 1, gets used. Across 308 California cities in the NOAA 1991–2020 normals, the typical last spring freeze falls around January 31, so most birds arrive after the frosts are over.
Keeping feeders up all year in California
Anna's Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird live in California year-round. In cold snaps a feeder can be the only food source, so keep one feeder up, swap in fresh nectar before it freezes and hang it near a sheltered wall. Migrants still pass through from about February 15 to September 30.
Native flowers for hummingbirds in California
Feeders bring hummingbirds in; flowers and the insects on them keep them nesting nearby. These natives grow in California (USDA 5a–11a):
- Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis): Scarlet late-summer spikes; a hummingbird magnet in moist soil.
- Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa): Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
- Golden currant (Ribes aureum): Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
- Scarlet gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata): Red trumpets for Broad-tailed and Rufous hummingbirds.
- Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis): Orchid-like flowers through summer for hummingbirds and orioles.
- Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens): Red spring flower spikes timed to hummingbird and oriole migration.
- Chuparosa (Justicia californica): Winter–spring red flowers for Costa's and Anna's hummingbirds.
- Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea): Night blooms and summer fruit; Gila Woodpecker nest cavities.
Nectar and cleaning
- Mix 1 cup plain white sugar into 4 cups water; boiling is optional if you use clean water and change it on schedule.
- No red dye, honey, brown sugar or sweeteners. A red feeder is enough to attract them.
- Change nectar every 2 days above 80°F, every 4–5 days in cooler weather; cloudy nectar has fermented.
- Scrub ports with a bottle brush at each change; soak monthly in 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water.
- Use an ant moat and keep feeders out of full afternoon sun to slow spoilage.
Frequently asked
What hummingbirds live in California?
6 hummingbirds occur regularly in California: Anna's Hummingbird (present all year); Rufous Hummingbird (passes through in migration); Black-chinned Hummingbird (summer nester); Costa's Hummingbird (present all year); Calliope Hummingbird (summer nester); Allen's Hummingbird (present all year).
When should I put out hummingbird feeders in California?
Hang feeders by about February 1. The first hummingbirds usually reach California around February 15, and early birds find little in bloom.
When should I take hummingbird feeders down in California?
You don't have to. Anna's Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird stay in California all year, so many people keep one feeder going through winter and keep it from freezing.
Can hummingbirds handle a late frost in California?
The typical last spring freeze across California cities is around January 31. Hummingbirds survive cold nights by dropping into torpor, but nectar feeders matter most when flowers are frosted. Bring a feeder in overnight if it freezes solid and rehang it at dawn.
What is the right sugar water ratio?
One part plain white sugar to four parts water, no red dye, no honey. Change it every two days when highs are above 80°F and every four to five days in cooler weather.
Sources
- Anna's Hummingbird: range and life history (Cornell Lab, All About Birds)
- Rufous Hummingbird: range and life history (Cornell Lab, All About Birds)
- Black-chinned Hummingbird: range and life history (Cornell Lab, All About Birds)
- Costa's Hummingbird: range and life history (Cornell Lab, All About Birds)
- Calliope Hummingbird: range and life history (Cornell Lab, All About Birds)
- Allen's Hummingbird: range and life history (Cornell Lab, All About Birds)
- Journey North: hummingbird migration sighting maps
- Audubon: How to make hummingbird nectar
- NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals
- eBird region overview and bar charts — California
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.
Hummingbird feeders and ant moats
Feeders and add-ons that suit the nectar schedule above.
Hanging Basin Feeder and Water Bowl
A single open basin that hangs from a hook and does two jobs: a seed tray through the growing season, a shallow water bowl the rest of the year. Seed or water goes straight in — no reservoir, no perches, nothing to assemble beyond the hanging chains.Three chains run from the rim to one S-hook, so the basin hangs level under a bracket, a shepherd's hook or a low branch. Put it where you can watch it from a window, and where a cat can't launch from a fence.The rim is low and the floor is open, so birds can land anywhere around the edge instead of fighting over a perch. It also means the bowl needs wiping out every few days: hulls and droppings land in the water, and a rinse with hot water and a brush keeps it clean.The basin has a wood-grain finish and hangs from black metal chains.
Round Suet Ball Cage
A small round wire cage made to hold one suet or fat ball. The hinged cage opens for refilling and closes with a simple wire latch. A short chain and hook are included for hanging. Available in gold-colored or black finish. This is a suet holder, not a hummingbird feeder.
Five-Port Hummingbird Feeder
A compact red hummingbird feeder with a clear 8-ounce reservoir, five flower-shaped feeding ports, and five curved perches. The set includes a separate ant-moat cup and an S-hook for hanging. The wide base separates for routine washing. Use plain white sugar nectar at a 1:4 sugar-to-water ratio; never add dye.
Hummingbird Ant Moat Hooks, 4-Pack
Four red metal S-hooks, each with a built-in water cup. Hang the hook from your bracket, hang the feeder below it, and fill the cup with water. Ants walking down toward the nectar hit the water and stop.Specs Material: metal with red coating Pack: 4 moat hooks + 4 small cleaning brushes Fits most hanging feeders with a wire or loop hanger Use Plain water only. Never add oil or insecticide to the cup. Top up every few days in hot weather; a dry moat does nothing.