Hummingbird Migration in Montana
Ten common questions about the migration of Montana hummingbirds are discussed in this article.
When do hummingbirds arrive in Montana?
The earliest arrivals of Montana hummingbirds are seen in late April, with peak migration occurring in May.
Montana hummingbirds begin their spring migration north from as far away as Panama or as close as Mexico.
The first migrating hummingbirds will be males, followed by females about a week later. The males arrive first to stake out the territory that they will defend as they try to attract a female.
Calliope hummingbirds are by far the most commonly seen and are the first migrating hummingbirds to be seen in Montana.
Watch for the male’s vividly colored gorget; a week or so later, the females will begin to appear at your feeders.
Read my article:
How to Identify a Hummingbird’s Gender in 4 Easy Steps
Photo by: Bob Free
Hummingbirds starting their spring migration from Panama need to fly about 4,300 miles to reach Montana.
Hummingbirds starting their journey from Mexico need to fly about 1,900 miles to reach Montana.
What are the most common hummingbirds seen in Montana?
The Calliope hummingbirds are by far the most common hummingbirds seen in Montana, with the Rufous hummingbird being the second.
These are Montana’s statistics at the beginning of 2025 as reported by ebird.org
- On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Montana, 64,931 will be Calliope.
- On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Montana, 3,396 will be Rufous.
Photo by: sony_alpha_male
Photo by: Kevin Walsh
Are there Montana hummingbirds that live in the state year-round?
There are no hummingbird species that live in Montana year-round.
All hummingbird species found in Montana are migratory and leave for warmer climates in the fall.
The only hummingbirds that can be seen in the middle of winter are those that are too old or injured to migrate.
The general public is unaware of how cold-tolerant hummingbirds actually are.
According to eBird.org, through branding practices hummingbirds are documented to survive in temperatures of -9F and wind chills of -36F.
See my article:
3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded
What hummingbirds breed and nest in Montana?
The Calliope, Rufous, Black-chinned, and Broad-tailed hummingbirds are the four hummingbirds that breed and nest in Montana, listed in order of frequently seen.
Breeding map for hummingbird that breed and nest in Montana, reported by ebird.org
Calliope hummingbirds are the smallest bird in North America and nests in coniferous trees, willows, or shrubs, often reusing old nests or building on top of other birds’ nests.
Their breeding season is from May to July in Montana.
Photo by: sony_alpha_male
Rufous hummingbirds nest in dense shrubs, coniferous trees, or sometimes on human-made structures.
Their breeding occurs mainly in western Montana from late May to early August.
Photo by: Bob Free
Black-chinned hummingbirds nest in small trees or shrubs, often near water.
They are found more in southern and central Montana with the breeding season starting in May to July.
Photo by: hummingbirdsbysurpise
Broad-tailed hummingbirds nest in montane meadows, coniferous forests, and aspen groves.
They are found western Montana with the breeding season starting in May to July.
Photo by: hummingbirdsbysuprise
The entire reason for northern migration, much like salmon swimming upstream to their place of birth to lay eggs, is to return to the area where they were born to mate, build a nest, and raise a family.
Once the breeding grounds have been reached, focus turns to finding a partner with which to mate.
Each species of male hummingbirds has its own unique mating dance ritual of courtship to attract a female. They do perfectly choreographed dives and dance maneuvers to attract a flirty female.
See my article:
Hummingbird Dance: 5 Interpretive Explanations
There is no penetration during the mating ritual as male hummingbirds do not have any external sexual organs.
The mating process only lasts for approximately 3-5 seconds while the cloacae (kloh-ay-see) of both hummingbirds are pressed together in what is called the “Cloacal Kiss” (kloh-a-coal kiss).
After the Cloacal kiss, the female must begin building the nest immediately.
Female hummingbirds prefer building nests 10 to 20 feet off the ground in deciduous trees.
It will take her between 5 and 7 days to construct the nest of materials such as plant down, moss, and fine plant fibers, decorated with lichens and held together by spider webs.
See my article:
Hummingbird Parents: (Mating to Nesting)
See my article:
Baby Hummingbirds: (Egg to Fledgling)
Hummingbirds usually lay 2 eggs per brood, one each on consecutive days.
On average, the Calliope, Rufous, Black-chinned, and Broad-tailed hummingbirds will raise two families per year in Montana.
However, there are occasions where they are able to work in an additional family for a total of three families per year.
When should I put out hummingbird feeders in Montana?
Montana hummingbird enthusiasts should put out hummingbird feeders in the mid-to-late April to attract earliest migrating hummingbirds.
The peak spring migration period starts in May, therefore having your feeders ready early will help attract these tiny travelers.
Montana’s Spring Hummingbird Migration Timeline:
- Western Montana (mountain regions): Mid-April to early May.
- Central & Eastern Montana: Late April to mid-May.
Approximately one week after the arrival of the male hummingbirds, the females will follow.
Keep feeders up throughout the hummingbird season in Montana between mid-to-late April through late September.
Make sure to use high-quality nectar solutions in your hummingbird feeders; homemade nectar works best.
See my article:
Forget Commercial Hummingbird Food, Try Making Homemade Nectar
Clean feeders regularly (every 2-3 days in hot weather) to prevent mold and bacteria.
Place feeders in partially shaded areas to keep nectar fresh longer.
Many Montana hummingbird admirers leave their hummingbird feeders up all winter long to provide life-nourishing nectar to hummingbird species unable to migrate due to injury or old age.
See my article:
11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing
However, most of these hummingbirds will not spend the winter in Montana and will decide to migrate south for the winter.
How long do hummingbirds stay in Montana?
Montana hummingbirds stay in the state for at least five months.
They will start arriving as early as mid-to-late April and most will be gone by late September.
No hummingbird species live in Montana year-round.
Hummingbird Seasons in Montana
| Season: | Activity: |
| Mid-to-late-April | First arriving (Calliope) |
| May – August | Peak season for feeding and nesting (Calliope, Rufous, Black-chinned, and Broad-tailed) |
| Late August – Late September | Fall migration No overwintering hummingbirds |
Hummingbirds have exceptional memories and will remember every flower or feeder they visited on the spring migration and will return to those nectar sources on their return southern migration in the fall.
See my article:
Hummingbird Adaptation and Remarkable Ability to Locate Food
Photo by: Anthony Lujan
The most common hummingbirds Montanans will see during the hot summer months will be the Calliope, Rufous, Black-chinned, and Broad-tailed hummingbirds.
When the obstacles of summer heat are difficult to manage and unbearable, finding ways to keep your hummingbirds happy and hydrated with cool nectar is crucial.
See my article:
How to Help Hummingbirds in Hot Weather
Fall migration begins in late August and most hummingbirds will be gone from Montana by late September.
Hummingbirds brave enough to over-winter in Montana, or too old or injured to migrate, will be the only likely hummingbirds Montanan hummingbird enthusiasts will see during the winter.
The general public is unaware of how tolerant hummingbirds actually are.
Some banded hummingbirds have been observed at temperatures as low as -9 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of -36 degrees Fahrenheit, according to eBird.org.
See my article:
11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing
When do hummingbirds leave Montana?
Montana hummingbirds begin leaving the state as early as late August and by late September they have migrated to their over-wintering areas in Mexico and Central America.
No hummingbirds live in Montana year-round.
A few older hummingbirds will be the first to start the fall migration, depending on their strength and energy, with the youngest hummingbirds finishing the fall migration by late September.
Hummingbird migration is triggered by the circadian (internal daily clock) and the circannual (yearly internal clock) rhythm.
Changes in the weather, temperature, time of season, decline in food supply and shorter days with less sunlight are factors that influence the beginning of fall migration.
Similar to spring migration, male hummingbirds are the first to leave and head south for the winter during fall migration.
As soon as the female hummingbirds have finished raising their young and can travel independently, they will set out on their southern fall migration.
How long does it take a Montana hummingbird to migrate?
It takes a Montana hummingbird about 64 hours of flying at its average migrating flight speed of 30mph to fly from Montana to the Mexican border 1,900 miles away.
Hummingbirds migrating to Panama 4,300 miles away, will need to fly 143 hours.
Some fly at the relaxed distance as slow as 1 hour per day, others fly up to 500 miles non-stop in about 20 hours as some do while migrating across the Gulf of America.
Hummingbirds do not migrate in flocks as do other migrating birds.
Hummingbirds migrate individually on their own personal time clock.
This staggered migration pattern ensures resources are not consumed and depleted all at one time.
As migration approaches, hummingbirds routinely gain 25% to 50% of their body weight by consuming increased quantities of nectar from feeders and flowering plants as well as catching an increased quantity of bugs mid-air for protein.
This increase in body fat helps fuel the hummingbird on its long migration journey.
Photo by: Bob Free
The hummingbirds that visited your feeders during the spring migration will remember exactly where your feeder is located and will most likely revisit that same feeder on their way to their over-wintering area in Mexico and Central America.
Maintaining feeders is critical in order to maximize food consumption that nourishes and prepares their bodies for migration.
See my article:
Hummingbird Adaptation and Remarkable Ability to Locate Food
When to take down hummingbird feeders in Montana?
Late September to mid-October or after a few weeks without any hummingbird sightings, is the ideal time to remove Montana hummingbird feeders for the winter.
Feeders are left up all winter by some Montanans to feed uncommon winter hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate.
Hummingbirds are much more tolerant of cold temperatures than most people realize.
They depend on these wintertime feeders and may can die if hummingbird feeders are taken down in the middle of winter during periods of below-freezing temperatures.
According to eBird.org, some banded hummingbirds have been documented in temperatures of -9 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of -36 degrees Fahrenheit.
See my article:
11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing
See my article:
Should I Keep My Hummingbird Feeder Out During the Winter?
Most migrating hummingbirds will not spend the winter in Montana and will decide to migrate south for the winter.
Where do Montana hummingbirds go in the winter?
Montana’s Calliope, Rufous, Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Ruby-throated, Rivoli’s, Costa’s, and Mexican Violetear migrating hummingbirds travel south to over-winter in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.
Anna’s over-winter in upper Mexico and California.
See Montana’s wintering hummingbirds map as reported by ebird.org
In order of frequently seen.
All hummingbirds have excellent memories and can remember every flower or feeder they visited during spring migration and will return to those locations along their migration pathway year after year.
Some hummingbirds have been documented returning to a feeder for a couple of years after it was removed.
See my article:
Hummingbirds Found in Montana: (Pictures and Sounds)
Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions
Happy Hummingbird Watching!
