There's a reason the whir of a hummingbird's wings feels like a mountain sound in Colorado. Broad-tailed Hummingbirds breed at elevations up to about 10,500 feet here — higher than almost anywhere else these birds nest in the country — filling alpine meadows with the distinctive metallic trill their wings make in flight. Add in migrants following the Rockies like a floral highway each summer, and Colorado offers a hummingbird season unlike almost anywhere else: short, intense, and shaped entirely by altitude.

Nine hummingbird species have been documented in Colorado — four you can genuinely expect, and five true rarities for the lucky and the patient.

Whether you're gardening in a Front Range subdivision, a Western Slope canyon, or a mountain cabin at 8,000 feet, this guide will walk you through everything you need to turn your space into a Colorado hummingbird destination: who's around and when, how to size your setup to any space, feeder and nectar care, pest-safe cleaning, and the native plants and wildflower seed varieties built for Colorado's short, high-altitude growing season.

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

To attract hummingbirds in Colorado, put up a leak-proof feeder filled with fresh, dye-free nectar by mid-to-late April along the Front Range and Western Slope (later at higher elevations), 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 scarlet gilia, Rocky Mountain penstemon, and Colorado blue columbine so your yard offers real food alongside the feeder.

• Species you'll see: Broad-tailed, Black-chinned, Rufous, and Calliope regularly; Costa's, Anna's, Rivoli's, Broad-billed, and Ruby-throated as rare visitors
• 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: up by mid-to-late April on the Front Range and Western Slope; wait until May in high mountain areas as snow retreats
• Nectar change frequency: every 1–2 days above 90°F, every 5–6 days below 70°F — and watch for overnight freezes even in summer at high elevation
• Pest control: no insecticide — use vinegar-water spray and HummGuard™ nectar tips instead
• Top native plants: scarlet gilia, Rocky Mountain penstemon, golden currant, Colorado blue columbine, firecracker penstemon (varies by elevation — see below)
• Best wildflower planting window: mid-to-late fall for most of the state, with earlier fall sowing needed at higher elevations before snow arrives

What Types of Hummingbirds Are in Colorado?

Colorado's hummingbird lineup is shaped almost entirely by elevation and the Rocky Mountains' role as a migration corridor. Here are the ones you're most likely to welcome to your feeder:

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Colorado's signature species and the one most likely to nest in your yard if you're anywhere near the foothills or mountains. Males have a rose-red throat and a distinctive high metallic trill produced by their wings in flight — often the first sign one's nearby before you even see it. Broad-taileds are also typically the last to leave each fall, usually departing by September, though the real late-season Rockies traveler is southbound Rufous, which pushes through in July and August on its own return trip.

Quick ID: Males show a rose-red throat and a distinctive high metallic wing trill audible before you even see the bird — the single easiest way to identify this species in Colorado. Females closely resemble female Rufous and Calliope; habitat is your best clue, since Broad-tailed dominates mountain meadows over lowland yards.

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Common in lower-elevation canyons, riparian areas, and towns on Colorado's Western Slope. It's rare on the eastern plains, and where it does turn up out there it's almost always along riparian corridors like the South Platte or Arkansas rivers rather than the open plains themselves. Males have a velvety black throat with a thin band of violet-purple that only flashes in direct light.

Quick ID: Males show a black throat with a thin violet band visible only at the right angle; females are very hard to separate from female Broad-tailed, but Black-chinned favor lower-elevation canyons and riparian corridors over high mountain meadows.

Rufous Hummingbird

A fiery orange, famously feisty traveler that passes through Colorado mainly in mid- to late summer. Rufous Hummingbirds aren't just migrating through — for many, Colorado's mountain wildflower meadows are already a leg of their return trip south, since they begin heading back from breeding grounds as far north as Alaska as early as late June.

Quick ID: Adult males are unmistakable — fiery coppery-orange overall with an iridescent orange-red throat. Females and immatures are green-backed with rufous-washed flanks, essentially inseparable from female Calliope in the field except by size.

Calliope Hummingbird

The smallest bird in North America, passing through parts of Colorado during migration. Males have a striking magenta-streaked throat that looks almost like a tiny burst of fireworks. Sightings are less predictable than the other three species, so consider it a special bonus if one shows up.

Quick ID: Noticeably tinier than any other Colorado hummingbird. Males have a streaked magenta throat unlike any other species' solid gorget; females resemble small female Rufous but lack rufous in the tail.

Colorado's Rarer Visitors

Keep an eye out for rarer visitors too. Our own review of eBird checklist data (2016–2025) points to Mesa County — the Grand Junction and Palisade area on the Western Slope — as the real hotspot, more so than the "southwestern canyons" framing you'll often see. Colorado's first-ever Broad-billed Hummingbird record, in 2002, and its most recent one, a bird banded in Palisade in fall 2019, were both in Mesa County. Costa's and Anna's Hummingbirds have been spotted there too, along with occasional Ruby-throateds. There's also Rivoli's Hummingbird (formerly called Magnificent) — a genuine, if rare, accepted Colorado species, typically seen from late spring into early fall in the mountains or southern part of the state.

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive and Leave Colorado?

Statewide Picture

Before getting into elevation zones and specific counties, here's the whole season in one picture — four species, four very different curves, all shaped by the same thing: altitude.

Arrival and Departure by Region

Colorado's short growing season and dramatic elevation range mean timing shifts more by altitude here than by geography alone:

The table above is a general planning guide, bucketed into three broad elevation zones. But when we pulled our own eBird checklist data (2016–2025) county by county, elevation alone didn't explain the full picture — Summit County sits nearly twice as high as Denver, yet Broad-tailed shows up there just as early:

Windows derived from our own analysis of eBird bar chart data (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), 2016–2025, for Mesa, Montezuma, Summit, Denver, and Yuma counties. Elevations are for each county's main town, not a county-wide average, since counties like Montezuma span a real elevation range themselves. Yuma County's weekly checklist volume (11–377) is far thinner than the other four counties (hundreds to thousands), so "too scarce to measure" reflects genuine rarity on the far-eastern plains rather than an absence of birders — a stray migrant there is possible, just not predictable.

Pop's tip: This isn't a fluke — Broad-tailed is fundamentally a mountain-meadow breeding specialist, and its arrival tracks snowmelt and early wildflower bloom rather than elevation alone. High mountain valleys like Summit County are the destination, not a late stop along the way.

When Timing Gets Specific: Check the Calendar

Elevation zones give you the general picture, but if you want week-by-week timing for your specific part of the state, our Colorado hummingbird season calendar breaks the year down month by month and county by county.

When to Put Your Feeder Up (and Take It Down)

Put your feeder out by mid-to-late April if you're on the Front Range or Western Slope, and wait until May at higher mountain elevations. In fall, a safe rule is to leave your feeder up about two weeks after your last sighting — Colorado's mix of early-departing Broad-taileds and late-passing Rufous and Calliope means the exact date varies more by elevation than by calendar month.

How to Attract Hummingbirds in a Small Yard, Balcony, or Big Property

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 scarlet gilia, is plenty to get noticed. Hummingbirds are solitary feeders by nature, so a single feeder works great in tight spaces. See our guide to what hummingbird products work best on a small patio or balcony for more.

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.

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 Colorado

Colorado's intense sun and dry air can affect nectar differently than humid climates, but heat is still the main driver of spoilage — our full guide to how often to change hummingbird nectar covers the signs to watch for beyond temperature alone:

Or skip the math altogether — Pop's Nectar comes pre-measured, dye-free, and with the electrolytes and calcium a nesting female can't get from sugar alone.

At higher elevations, keep an eye on overnight temperatures too — even summer nights can dip close to freezing in the mountains, which can affect nectar consistency and, in early spring or late fall, freeze it solid. A quick swap to a fresh, room-temperature batch after a cold night helps keep feeders reliable for early arrivals and late stragglers alike.

Keeping Feeders Clean 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. Our practical guide to cleaning hummingbird feeders walks through the full routine.
• 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. See our guide to keeping ants away from hummingbird feeders for more tactics.
• 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 — see our guide on where to hang your swing for placement tips — and don't be surprised if a hummingbird claims it as their own personal lookout post.

Plant a Colorado Native Hummingbird Garden

Feeders are a wonderful supplement, but nothing beats real, native nectar. Native plants evolved right alongside Colorado's hummingbirds, so they bloom on the right schedule for the state's short, high-altitude growing season and produce exactly the nectar these birds are looking for.

Best Native Nectar Plants by Colorado Region

Pop's tip: Because Colorado's growing season is so short and elevation-dependent, plan for early, mid, and late bloomers so something is always flowering whenever hummingbirds are present in your area — golden currant for the earliest arrivals, penstemons through the summer, and scarlet gilia to carry young birds into fall migration.

If You're Near the State 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 Wyoming: Both states share the same finding that the true Great Plains prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) is a different species than the Echinacea purpurea in this blend, and both need fall planting timed carefully to elevation. See our Wyoming guide for more.

Near Nebraska: Eastern Colorado's plains share Nebraska's timing and native plant list more closely than Colorado's mountain regions do. See our Nebraska guide for more.

Near Kansas: Same Great Plains pattern on both sides — neither state has Purple Coneflower or Perennial Lupine confirmed native. See our Kansas guide for more.

Near Oklahoma: The Oklahoma Panhandle shares Colorado's dry high-plains climate more than the rest of Oklahoma does. See our Oklahoma guide for more.

Near New Mexico: Southern Colorado's mountain valleys connect directly into New Mexico's high country, sharing Broad-tailed and Black-chinned territory. See our New Mexico guide for more.

Near Utah: Both states show strong Palmer Penstemon performance along their western, drier edges. See our Utah 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 Colorado

Mid-to-late fall is the best planting window for most of Colorado — Colorado State University Extension recommends sowing in fall so winter cold and snow moisture trigger natural germination the following spring. Timing shifts by elevation: Front Range and Eastern Plains gardeners can sow into early November, while higher mountain elevations should aim to get seed down before mid-October, ahead of persistent snow cover. Spring planting works too, once soil temperatures reach about 55°F — typically late April to mid-June depending on elevation, and as late as June in high mountain towns.

Top Performers in Colorado

The Perfect Little Sanctuary® blend contains 12 varieties. Colorado's dry, cold-hardy climate favors a different mix than you'd expect in a hotter or more humid state — here's an honest look at which are genuinely Colorado-native, and which simply perform well without being native:

• White Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) — a genuine Colorado native, extremely tough and widely used in xeric Colorado gardens
• Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) — native to the Great Plains including southeastern Colorado, heat- and drought-tolerant
• Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) — native to North America and naturalized across Colorado, though its natural core range is farther east; a staple of Front Range pollinator gardens regardless
• Lance-Leaved Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) — not native to Colorado, but drought tolerant once established and a regionally adapted performer
• Siberian Wallflower (Cheiranthus allionii) — not native (a Eurasian horticultural introduction); Colorado's true native wallflower is the unrelated western wallflower, Erysimum capitatum. Still, Siberian wallflower's preference for cool, dry conditions suits Colorado's climate well
• Palmer Penstemon (Penstemon palmeri) — not a Colorado native (a Great Basin/Southwest species), but a proven performer in Colorado pollinator gardens and a genuine hummingbird favorite, especially at lower-to-mid elevations

Pop's tip: White Yarrow, Indian Blanket, and Black-Eyed Susan are the confirmed Colorado natives doing the heaviest lifting here. You don't need to do anything special to favor them — just sow the blend as directed and let the rest fill in around them.

Summary: Key Takeaways for Attracting Hummingbirds in Colorado

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:

• Broad-tailed Hummingbirds breed at elevations up to about 10,500 feet in Colorado — among the highest-elevation hummingbird breeding grounds in the country
• The four most common species are Broad-tailed (the dominant summer breeder), Black-chinned (Western Slope), Rufous (a fast-moving mid-to-late summer migrant), and Calliope (the smallest bird in North America); Mesa County on the Western Slope is the real hotspot for rarities like Broad-billed, Costa's, and Anna's
• Feeder timing depends heavily on elevation: mid-to-late April on the Front Range and Western Slope, into May at higher mountain elevations — and high mountain valleys like Summit County can see Broad-tailed arrive as early as the Front Range, since it's a mountain-meadow specialist whose timing tracks snowmelt, not elevation alone
• 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 overnight freezes even in summer at high elevation
• 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 (scarlet gilia, Rocky Mountain penstemon, golden currant, Colorado blue columbine, depending on elevation) do more for hummingbirds long-term than feeders alone
• Sow wildflower seed in mid-to-late fall, timed earlier at higher elevations; White Yarrow, Indian Blanket, and Black-Eyed Susan are the confirmed Colorado natives among the strongest performers in Pop's Perfect Little Sanctuary® blend

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

This guide covers what's specific to Colorado — the species, the elevation-driven timing, the plants that belong here. For the fundamentals that apply anywhere, including water sources, shelter, and how the pieces work together, read our guide to building the ultimate hummingbird sanctuary.

Want the full picture? Our Colorado hummingbird season calendar breaks the year down month by month and region by region — including exactly when to expect the season's earliest and latest birds by elevation.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

When should I put my hummingbird feeder out in Colorado?

Aim for mid-to-late April along the Front Range and Western Slope. In higher mountain areas, wait until May, as snow retreats and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds move into high mountain meadows behind it.

What is the most common hummingbird in Colorado?

The Broad-tailed Hummingbird, recognizable by the male's rose-red throat and the distinctive metallic trill its wings make in flight. It's the only species that commonly nests throughout the state's mountain and foothill habitats, and it breeds at elevations up to about 10,500 feet — among the highest-elevation hummingbird breeding anywhere in the country.

Do hummingbirds stay in Colorado year-round?

No. Colorado's hummingbirds are all migratory, unlike year-round residents such as Anna's Hummingbird on the Pacific Coast. Broad-taileds typically depart by September, with Rufous and Calliope passing through on their own southbound migration into September as well.

Where in Colorado am I most likely to see a rare hummingbird?

Mesa County on the Western Slope — the Grand Junction and Palisade area — has the strongest documented track record, including Colorado's first-ever and most recent accepted Broad-billed Hummingbird records. Costa's, Anna's, and even a rare Rivoli's Hummingbird have also been reported in Colorado, mostly in the mountains and southern part of the state.

How often should I clean my hummingbird feeder in Colorado?

Clean it every time you change the nectar — as often as every 1–2 days when temperatures top 90°F, and at least every 5–6 days in cooler weather. At higher elevations, also check nectar after cold nights, since near-freezing temperatures can occur even in summer.

What are the best plants to attract hummingbirds in Colorado?

Scarlet gilia, Rocky Mountain penstemon, and golden currant perform well across much of the state, with firecracker penstemon especially strong on the Western Slope, and Colorado blue columbine a reliable choice in high mountain meadows. Native, tubular, red or orange flowers are the general rule of thumb.

Colorado Hummingbird Resources

Audubon Chapters

Colorado 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 Colorado state law, so only a licensed wildlife rehabilitator can legally care for one.

• Colorado Parks & Wildlife — Wildlife Rehabilitators List — the official statewide directory
• Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (Longmont) — the largest wildlife rehabilitation organization in Colorado, treating orphaned, injured, and sick birds and small mammals
• Colorado Native Bird Care and Conservation (Lyons) — specializes specifically in birds; accepts by appointment, call 303-823-2326

Hummingbird Research & Banding in Colorado

• Boulder County Audubon — Hummingbird Banding Workshop at the Bouricius cabin in Peaceful Valley — a family homestead that has attracted hummingbirds since 1938, hosting one of the rare licensed master hummingbird banding stations in the country (there are only about 100 licensed master banders in the entire US)

Hummingbird Events & Festivals in Colorado

• Hummingbird Festival at Starsmore Discovery Center (Colorado Springs), hosted by Friends of Cheyenne Cañon — a long-running, free family event in North Cheyenne Cañon Park featuring children's crafts, hummingbird programs, live birds of prey, and guided birding hikes. Held every year, in early May; confirm the current year's date before publishing or promoting.

Sources

We pulled eBird bar chart data for Colorado statewide and for five counties — Mesa, Montezuma, Summit, Denver, and Yuma — covering 2016 through 2025, and read the seasonal shape and regional pattern directly off the reporting rates ourselves. Percentages describe how often a species appears on birdwatchers' submitted checklists — a measure of how likely you are to encounter one, not a population count.

• eBird bar chart data, Cornell Lab of Ornithology — Colorado statewide and county-level (Mesa, Montezuma, Summit, Denver, Yuma), 2016–2025. Source for all species timing and the elevation-arrival pattern.
• All About Birds, Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Cornell Lab of Ornithology). Source for the breeding-elevation figure and montane-specialist framing.
• 73rd Report of the Colorado Bird Records Committee (Colorado Field Ornithologists). Source for the Mesa County Broad-billed Hummingbird records and Rivoli's Hummingbird's accepted status.
• Colorado State University Extension, Fact Sheet 7.233, "Wildflowers in Colorado". Source for wildflower sowing timing.
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Colorado native-plant resources. Source for native-status determinations in the wildflower blend.

Pop's Birding is a third-generation family company in Idaho. Our grandfather invented the hummingbird swing, and we still make what we sell. If you're setting up a Colorado yard this season, start with a leak-proof feeder and nectar that doesn't need measuring, add a swing where they can rest between sips, and sow wildflower seed in fall so there's real nectar waiting when Broad-taileds move back into the high country each spring.