Costa's Hummingbird in February
Where Costa's hummingbirds are in February, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
February in the Costa's Hummingbird's year
February still feels like deep winter, but days are lengthening and the first stirrings of the breeding season begin — resident birds start singing on mild mornings and some early nesters are already claiming territories. Late-winter storms can be the hardest feeding days of the year.
For the Costa's Hummingbird specifically, February is a winter month inside the nesting season — one of the most active and demanding periods of this bird's year. Across the 5 states and provinces where Costa's hummingbirds occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where Costa's hummingbirds are in February
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In February, Costa's hummingbirds are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in February
February is inside the Costa's Hummingbird nesting season — about a month earlier in the South and a month later in the North. Nest: cup in desert shrubs or cacti. Clutch 2 eggs, incubation 15–18 days, 1–2 per season.
In the South the season is already underway, while northern birds are still settling territories — a pair in Florida or Texas may be on eggs weeks before a pair in Minnesota or Ontario has even chosen a nest site. During the nesting months, adults switch to protein-rich foods for their young, become more secretive around the nest site, and often visit feeders in quick, purposeful trips rather than lingering.
What to feed in February
- Chuparosa, ocotillo and feeders
Nests in late winter in the Sonoran Desert and leaves the hottest areas by midsummer.
Don't let feeders run empty during late-winter storms; birds burn enormous energy staying warm. This is also the month to clean and repair nest boxes before early nesters move in.
Full Costa's Hummingbird diet guide → · Best feeder for Costa's hummingbirds →
Watching Costa's hummingbirds this month
In February, the best watching is around food rather than the nest — adults make repeated foraging trips and are most visible at dawn and dusk. Give nesting birds space: if a bird is carrying food or scolding you persistently, you're close to a nest and should back off.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region Costa's hummingbirds are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Costa's Hummingbird month by month
Costa's Hummingbird by state
Frequently asked
Where are Costa's hummingbirds in February?
In February, Costa's hummingbirds are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do Costa's hummingbirds nest in February?
Yes — February falls inside the Costa's Hummingbird nesting season at mid-latitudes.
What do Costa's hummingbirds eat in February?
Chuparosa, ocotillo and feeders.
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
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.