There's a genuinely surprising backstory behind Washington's most familiar backyard hummingbird. Anna's Hummingbird was historically limited to Baja California and coastal California — it wasn't originally a Washington bird at all. As backyard feeders and winter-blooming ornamental plants spread through the Pacific Northwest, Anna's expanded its year-round range all the way into British Columbia, and it's now the hummingbird most Western Washington homeowners see at their feeder in every season, including the dead of winter.

Whether you're gardening in Seattle, out in the Columbia Basin near Spokane, or up in the Cascade foothills, this guide will walk you through everything you need to turn your space into a Washington hummingbird destination: how to size your setup to any space, feeder and nectar care, pest-safe cleaning, and the native plants and wildflower seed varieties that thrive in Washington's climate.

The short version, if you're in a hurry:

To attract hummingbirds in Washington, keep a leak-proof feeder up year-round in western Washington (Anna's is active there all winter, and Rufous arrives as early as March), and put one up by early April in eastern Washington for arriving Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned Hummingbirds. Fill it with fresh, dye-free nectar, keep it clean and refilled every 1–6 days depending on heat, skip the insecticide so hummingbirds can still hunt insects for protein, and plant native, nectar-rich flowers like red-flowering currant, orange honeysuckle, and penstemon so your yard offers real food alongside the feeder.

• Best feeder type: leak-proof design with a comfort perch, like the AspenPerch® Hummingbird Feeder
• Best nectar: plain 4:1 water-to-sugar ratio, no red dye — or Pop's Nectar with added electrolytes and calcium
• Feeder timing: year-round in western Washington for resident Anna's (Rufous also arrives here by early March); by early April in eastern Washington for arriving migrants
• Nectar change frequency: every 1–2 days above 90°F, every 5–6 days below 70°F — and watch for freezing overnight in winter and at higher elevations
• Pest control: no insecticide — use vinegar-water spray and HummGuard™ nectar tips instead
• Top native plants: red-flowering currant, orange honeysuckle, penstemon, salmonberry, red columbine (varies by region — see below)
• Best wildflower planting window: October through November west of the Cascades; early spring in colder eastern Washington and higher elevations

Which Hummingbirds You'll See in Washington

Washington is a genuine multi-species hummingbird state — nine documented species, split fairly cleanly between the wet western half and the dry, high-desert-like eastern half. Anna's Hummingbird is the state's only year-round resident, a relatively recent arrival that's now the default backyard bird west of the Cascades. Rufous Hummingbird is the most widespread migratory breeder, arriving by late February and famously aggressive at a shared feeder. Calliope Hummingbird, North America's smallest bird species, breeds mainly in mountain habitat east of the Cascades. Black-chinned Hummingbird is the least common of the four regular breeders, concentrated around Spokane and Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. Washington's five documented rarities each have a real, specific story behind them: Costa's Hummingbird has 18 accepted records and has shown up nearly every year since 2021; Ruby-throated Hummingbird has just one accepted record, from Clark County in 2017; Broad-tailed Hummingbird has four accepted records, all from 2000–2005 in the state's southeastern corner; Allen's Hummingbird has only two accepted records, both from the 1800s; and Broad-billed Hummingbird has a single record, from 2014 near Carson.

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive and Leave Washington?

Anna's aside, Washington's migratory species follow a fairly predictable seasonal pattern, though timing differs somewhat between the two sides of the Cascades.

Arrival and departure windows by region, based on eBird checklist data (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), 2016–2025. See our Washington hummingbird calendar for the full month-by-month breakdown.

Attracting Hummingbirds No Matter Your Space

You don't need acres of land to invite wonder into your yard. Hummingbirds are famously adaptable — all they're really looking for is a dependable food source, a safe place to perch, and a little color.

• Small patio or balcony: One feeder hung from a bracket or shepherd's hook, paired with a container of red or orange tubular blooms like penstemon, is plenty to get noticed. Hummingbirds are solitary feeders by nature, so a single feeder works great in tight spaces.
• Average backyard: Add a mix of feeders and native blooms along a fence line or garden bed, and give your visitors a swing or two nearby to rest and survey their territory between sips.
• Large yard with trees: Take advantage of the shade. Hummingbirds prefer feeders and plantings tucked out of harsh, direct afternoon sun, with a nearby branch to perch on and watch for rivals. Spread multiple feeders far apart, since hummingbirds are territorial and will happily chase each other off a single feeder — especially once feisty Rufous Hummingbirds arrive.

Keep Feeders Clean with Fresh Nectar

Choose a Leak-Proof Feeder

A feeder is only as good as what's in it — and how well it's kept. Pop's AspenPerch® Hummingbird Feeder is leak-proof by design and paired with our patented Polyperch® comfort perch, so your hummingbirds can rest and feed at the same time instead of hovering the whole meal.

Feeding Fundamentals

• Only fill what they'll drink in a few days. An 8 oz feeder rarely needs to be topped all the way off — overfilling just means more nectar sitting around long enough to spoil.
• Skip the red dye. Your feeder's color does the attracting; dyed nectar offers no benefit and isn't necessary.
• Use a real nectar recipe, or save yourself the math with Pop's Nectar, formulated with added electrolytes and calcium to support hummingbirds through the demands of nesting season and migration — no dyes, no preservatives.

How Often to Change Nectar in Washington

Western Washington's mild, wet climate and eastern Washington's hot, dry summers call for the same basic rule, just applied to very different weather:

If the nectar ever looks cloudy before that window is up, change it early — cloudiness means it's already started to ferment. In winter, especially in western Washington where Anna's stays active, check nectar after freezing nights and swap in a fresh, unfrozen batch as needed.

Keeping Feeders Clean (and Pests Away) Without Insecticide

Hummingbirds don't live on nectar alone — small insects make up a big part of their protein diet, especially for feeding chicks. That means insect spray is off the table around your feeding station; it removes a food source hummingbirds depend on and can be harmful to them directly.

Instead:

• Clean your feeder every time you change the nectar, using warm water and a bottle brush — no soap residue, no bleach. A little vinegar and water solution works great for breaking down sticky buildup or the beginnings of mold.
• Deter ants and bees with a vinegar-water spray around (not on) the feeder ports, or wipe down the hanging hook where ants tend to march down.
• Use HummGuard™ nectar tips if bees and wasps keep crashing the party. They slide right onto the AspenPerch's feeding ports — the flexible membrane opens easily for a hummingbird's beak but closes tight against anything bigger, keeping your nectar exclusively for the birds it's meant for.

Give Them a Place to Rest

Hummingbirds spend a surprising amount of their day perched, not flying — watching their territory, digesting, and simply resting between feedings. A Pop's Original Hummingbird Swing hung near your feeder gives them exactly that spot, and it turns your feeding station into a front-row seat for watching them up close. Hang it within a foot or two of your feeder, and don't be surprised if a hummingbird claims it as their own personal lookout post.

Plant a Washington Native Hummingbird Garden

Feeders are a wonderful supplement, but nothing beats real, native nectar. Native plants evolved right alongside Washington's hummingbirds, so they bloom on the right schedule and produce exactly the nectar these birds are looking for.

Best native nectar plants by Washington region:

Pop's tip: Red-flowering currant is arguably the single most valuable native plant in western Washington — it blooms as early as February, right when Anna's Hummingbirds are already nesting and before Rufous Hummingbirds arrive from Mexico, giving both species a reliable food source when almost nothing else is in bloom.

If You're Near the Border

Hummingbirds don't check a map before deciding where to feed, so if you're near a state line, your best guide might be a blend of both.

Near Oregon: Both states share the identical finding that none of the blend's 12 varieties are true Pacific Northwest natives, and both split into a wet west side and dry east side. See our Oregon guide for more.

Near Idaho: Eastern Washington shares Idaho's dry, high-desert Mountain West climate and Black-chinned/Calliope territory. See our Idaho guide for more.

To make this easy, our Perfect Little Sanctuary® Wildflower Seed Blend is designed to bring nectar-rich color into your yard with minimal fuss.

When to Plant the Perfect Little Sanctuary® Blend in Washington

Timing splits along the Cascades. In western Washington's milder, wetter climate, aim for October through November, giving seed the benefit of the region's wet winter season. In eastern Washington, where winters are colder and drier, early spring planting (once the soil is workable) is often more reliable, similar to other cold-winter interior climates. This timing is based on the germination needs of the blend's own 12 varieties: 9 of the 12 either need or benefit from a cold, moist stratification period before they'll germinate well, and how that period is best delivered depends heavily on which side of the state you're on.

Top Performers in Washington

The Perfect Little Sanctuary® blend is worth being upfront about: it's built primarily for bees, butterflies, and seed-eating songbirds, not as a dedicated hummingbird mix — the plants doing the real hummingbird-attracting work in this guide are the native species named above. That said, several of the blend's 12 varieties are well-matched to Washington's climate and worth featuring:

• Clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata) — a California native built for a mild, dry-summer Mediterranean climate, which describes western Washington's summers surprisingly well; a rare case where this variety, a poor performer in humid states, should genuinely thrive
• White Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) — broadly native across nearly all of North America, including Washington, and very low-maintenance
• Siberian Wallflower (Cheiranthus allionii) — prefers cool, dry conditions, a good match for eastern Washington's climate
• Palmer Penstemon (Penstemon palmeri) — not a Washington native, but a genuine hummingbird favorite that performs well in dry, high-desert-like conditions similar to eastern Washington's Columbia Basin
• Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) — heat- and drought-tolerant, a reasonable fit for eastern Washington's dry summers
• Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) — not a Washington native, but a broadly adaptable garden performer with modest water

Pop's tip: Since this blend leans toward varieties suited to drier climates, gardeners on the wetter, western side of the state may want to supplement with true Pacific Northwest natives like red-flowering currant for the strongest results, while eastern Washington gardeners can lean more heavily on the blend as-is.

Summary: Key Takeaways for Attracting Hummingbirds in Washington

Building a hummingbird-friendly yard doesn't take a green thumb or a big budget — just a little consistency and the right setup. Here's everything from this guide in one place:

• Anna's Hummingbird is Washington's only year-round resident, having expanded into the state relatively recently thanks to backyard feeders and winter-blooming plants
• Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned round out the state's four regular species, arriving between late February and April and departing by late summer
• Feeder timing: year-round in western Washington for Anna's (Rufous also arrives by early March); by early April in eastern Washington for arriving migrants
• Any size space works — one feeder is plenty for a balcony; larger yards can support multiple feeders spaced apart, since hummingbirds are territorial
• Use a leak-proof feeder with a comfort perch, like the AspenPerch®, and fill it only as full as it'll be drunk in a few days
• Skip red dye in nectar; a plain 4:1 sugar-water ratio or Pop's Nectar (with electrolytes and calcium) both work
• Change nectar every 1–2 days above 90°F, up to every 5–6 days below 70°F, and watch for freezing in winter
• Clean the feeder at every nectar change with warm water and vinegar — no soap or bleach
• Never use insecticide near feeders; hummingbirds rely on insects for protein. Use vinegar-water spray and HummGuard™ nectar tips for pest control instead
• Add a swing near the feeder to give hummingbirds a place to rest and be observed up close
• Native, nectar-rich plants (red-flowering currant, orange honeysuckle, penstemon, salmonberry, depending on region) do more for hummingbirds long-term than feeders alone
• Sow wildflower seed in October–November in western Washington, or early spring in colder eastern Washington; Clarkia, White Yarrow, Siberian Wallflower, Palmer Penstemon, Indian Blanket, and Black-Eyed Susan are the strongest Washington performers in Pop's Perfect Little Sanctuary® blend, though none are true regional natives

Get these basics in place, and the wonder takes care of itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

A few of the questions we hear most from fellow hummingbird lovers across Washington:

When should I put my hummingbird feeder out in Washington?

It depends where you are. In western Washington, keep a feeder up year-round — Anna's Hummingbird is a genuine winter resident there and depends on feeders through cold snaps (Rufous also arrives here as early as March). In eastern Washington, where every species is a seasonal migrant, early April is a safer bet for arriving Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned.

What are common mistakes when feeding hummingbirds in Washington?

The biggest one is treating western and eastern Washington the same. West of the Cascades, the mistake is taking the feeder down every fall out of habit — Anna's is there all winter and depends on it. East of the Cascades, the mistake runs the other way: leaving nectar out too long in summer heat, where it can ferment well within the 2–3 day window a milder western Washington yard would tolerate.

Do hummingbirds like feeders without perches?

They'll use either, but a perch matters more than it might seem. Hovering is metabolically expensive, and giving a hummingbird somewhere to land and feed instead of hover the whole time — like the AspenPerch's built-in Polyperch® — means it burns less energy per visit. That's especially useful in Washington during Rufous Hummingbird's aggressive, high-energy territorial pushes through a shared feeder.

What happens if you don't boil sugar water for hummingbirds?

Boiling isn't the part that actually matters most — the real variable is how long the nectar sits out afterward. Washington's own temperature-banded change schedule (every 1–2 days above 90°F, up to every 5–6 days below 70°F) does more to prevent fermentation and mold than boiling the water ever will, especially in eastern Washington's hot, dry summers where nectar can turn cloudy well before a "boiled" batch would seem due for a change.

Is it bad to leave my hummingbird feeder up in fall in Washington?

Not in western Washington — quite the opposite. Anna's Hummingbird stays there year-round, so a feeder that disappears every autumn is taking away a real food source from a bird that's still around. East of the Cascades, most species are genuinely gone by fall, but leaving a feeder up a little longer costs nothing and occasionally catches a lingering migrant.

What are the best plants to attract hummingbirds in Washington?

Red-flowering currant is the standout in western Washington, blooming as early as February. Orange honeysuckle and red columbine perform well throughout the Cascades, while scarlet gilia and penstemon are solid choices for the drier Columbia Basin. Native, tubular, red or orange flowers are the general rule of thumb.

Washington Hummingbird Resources

Audubon Chapters

Washington is home to numerous local Audubon chapters across the state. Find the one closest to you with Audubon's Find Your Local Audubon tool.

If You Find an Injured or Grounded Hummingbird

Hummingbirds are protected under federal and Washington state law, so only a licensed wildlife rehabilitator can legally care for one.

• Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife — Find a Wildlife Rehabilitator — the official statewide directory (after-hours emergency line: 360-902-2936)
• PAWS Wildlife Center (Lynnwood) — one of the largest wildlife rehabilitation centers in the state; call 425-412-4040
• West Sound Wildlife Shelter (Bainbridge Island) — call 206-855-9057

Why We Built This Guide

Pop's Birding has been helping hummingbird lovers for three generations. One of the questions our customers ask most often is "How do I actually attract more hummingbirds to my yard?" — we built this guide to give a direct, practical answer, not a generic one. Most feeder advice online treats every state the same way, but Washington genuinely splits in two: a mild, wet western half where Anna's Hummingbird never leaves, and a hot, dry eastern half where every species is a seasonal migrant on a completely different schedule. A single nationwide feeder-timing rule gets Washington wrong on one side of the Cascades no matter which side you pick. We wanted a guide that actually accounts for Washington's climate, regions, and timing, not one that happens to mention Washington in the title.

How We Built This Guide

Where the timing figures come from. Feeder up/down dates here are the actionable conclusions from our full Washington hummingbird calendar, which has the complete month-by-month methodology — we don't duplicate that analysis here, just the practical takeaway.

Why the nectar/care schedule is calibrated to Washington specifically. The change-frequency table is banded by actual outdoor temperature because fermentation speed — not a fixed calendar date — is the real variable. A schedule built for a milder climate would leave nectar out too long during an eastern Washington summer; one built for constant heat would have western Washington gardeners changing nectar more often than it needs.

Why the plant lists are regional, not statewide. A plant built for western Washington's cool, wet climate can struggle badly in the Columbia Basin's dry heat, and vice versa. The three-region breakdown here reflects a real climate and soil split within the state, not an arbitrary way of organizing the same statewide list.

Want the full species breakdown or month-by-month timing? See our Washington species guide and Washington hummingbird calendar, or download the free one-page species reference above.