Hummingbirds in Montana
Put feeders out by April 21. Migrants usually arrive around May 5 and most are gone by September 10; leave feeders up until September 24.
- Regular species
- 4
- Hang feeders by
- April 21
- Typical first arrival
- May 5
- Most gone by
- September 10
- Take feeders down
- September 24
- Typical last spring freeze
- May 10 (NOAA normals, 22 cities)
- Frost-free season
- 129 days
The hummingbirds of Montana
Rufous Hummingbird
Selasphorus rufus
Summer nester in Montana.
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 Montana.
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.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Selasphorus platycercus
Summer nester in Montana.
How to recognize it: Green back and rose-magenta throat on males; the male's wings make a loud metallic trill you hear before you see him.
The summer hummingbird of the Rocky Mountains, nesting up to about 10,500 feet. Arrives while nights still drop below freezing.
Calliope Hummingbird
Selasphorus calliope
Summer nester in Montana.
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.
When to put out hummingbird feeders in Montana
Scouts reach Montana around May 5, 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 April 21, gets used. Across 22 Montana cities in the NOAA 1991–2020 normals, the typical last spring freeze falls around May 10, after the first hummingbirds arrive. Expect a few frosty nights with birds already here; bring feeders in if they freeze and rehang them at first light.
When to take hummingbird feeders down in Montana
Leaving feeders up does not keep hummingbirds from migrating; day length triggers departure. Adults leave first, then juveniles, and late stragglers from farther north pass through after your own birds have gone. In Montana most have left by September 10. Keep at least one feeder clean and filled until September 24, two weeks after the last bird you see.
Native flowers for hummingbirds in Montana
Feeders bring hummingbirds in; flowers and the insects on them keep them nesting nearby. These natives grow in Montana (USDA 3a–6a):
- 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.
- Rocky Mountain bee plant (Cleome serrulata): Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
- Scarlet gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata): Red trumpets for Broad-tailed and Rufous hummingbirds.
- Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium): Evergreen with yellow spring flowers and blue summer fruit.
- Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium): Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.
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 Montana?
4 hummingbirds occur regularly in Montana: Rufous Hummingbird (summer nester); Black-chinned Hummingbird (summer nester); Broad-tailed Hummingbird (summer nester); Calliope Hummingbird (summer nester).
When should I put out hummingbird feeders in Montana?
Hang feeders by about April 21. The first hummingbirds usually reach Montana around May 5, and early birds find little in bloom.
When should I take hummingbird feeders down in Montana?
Most leave by about September 10. Keep feeders up until September 24, two weeks after the last one you see; a feeder does not stop birds from migrating.
Can hummingbirds handle a late frost in Montana?
The typical last spring freeze across Montana cities is around May 10. 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
- Rufous Hummingbird: range and life history (Cornell Lab, All About Birds)
- Black-chinned Hummingbird: range and life history (Cornell Lab, All About Birds)
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird: range and life history (Cornell Lab, All About Birds)
- Calliope 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 — Montana
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.