How to Attract Hummingbirds in Colorado: A Backyard Sanctuary Guide

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.

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 and Black-chinned breed here; Rufous and Calliope pass through as regular migrants; eight more — Rivoli's, Ruby-throated, Anna's, Broad-billed, Costa's, Blue-throated Mountain-gem, Mexican Violetear, and White-eared — are accepted rarities, four still recurring and four gone quiet for a decade or more
• 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

Which Hummingbirds You'll See in Colorado

Colorado's hummingbird lineup is shaped almost entirely by elevation and the Rockies' role as a migration corridor. Broad-tailed Hummingbird is the state's signature species and the one most likely to nest in your yard near the foothills or mountains, with males announcing themselves by a distinctive high metallic wing trill before you even see them. Black-chinned Hummingbird is common in lower-elevation canyons and towns on the Western Slope. Rufous Hummingbird is a fiery, feisty traveler passing through mainly mid-to-late summer — for many, Colorado's mountain meadows are already a leg of the return trip south. And Calliope Hummingbird, the smallest bird in North America, turns up less predictably during migration, with a streaked magenta throat unlike any other species in the state.

Eight more species have accepted Colorado records. Four have a recurring pattern, with records in just the last several years: Rivoli's Hummingbird (formerly Magnificent) leads with 26 accepted records, mostly in the mountains from late spring into early fall; Ruby-throated Hummingbird has 37, mostly fall migrants on the eastern plains; Anna's Hummingbird has 19, with a fall-dispersal pattern; and Broad-billed Hummingbird has 4, all in Mesa County — including Colorado's first-ever record, in 2002, and its most recent, a bird banded in Palisade in fall 2019. The other four — Costa's, Blue-throated Mountain-gem, Mexican Violetear, and White-eared — are genuine, accepted Colorado species, but each has gone a decade or more without a new record, so a sighting is a true rarity worth documenting, not an expected visitor.

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.

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 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.

Choose a Saucer Type Feeder to Prevent Leaks

A feeder is only as good as what's in it — and how well it's kept. A leaky feeder does more than waste nectar: it can attract ants, bees, and other pests — turning your sanctuary into a mess that can deter hummingbirds.

Saucer-style feeders, like our AspenPerch® feeder, hold nectar in a shallow basin below the ports, so there's no sealed air pocket to cause problems; bottle-style, gravity-fed feeders tend to leak more, especially in hot weather, since the air trapped above the nectar expands with heat and pushes nectar out through the ports.

Keeping your feeder filled is also important because hummingbirds need a dependable, fresh source they can count on every visit, not a gamble.

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AspenPerch® Hummingbird Feeder, 8 oz

Leak-proof by design, with a patented Polyperch® comfort perch built in — so your hummingbirds can rest and feed at the same time instead of hovering through the whole meal. You get to see their tongue in action versus their back!

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Keep Feeders Clean with Fresh Nectar

Clean your feeder every time you change the nectar, using warm water and a bottle brush — no soap residue, no bleach or harsh commercial cleansers. A little vinegar and water solution works great for breaking down sticky buildup or the beginnings of mold. See our full guide to cleaning a hummingbird feeder for the complete how-to.

Skip the Red Dye

Your feeder's color does the attracting; dyed nectar offers no benefit and can be harmful to a hummingbird's health.

Use a Real Nectar Recipe

Use a 4:1 plain sugar-water ratio to make your hummingbird nectar and read our full recipe guide to get your batch right. Or skip the math with the ready-to-use option below.

Just getting your first feeder going? Nectarade® Ready to Use Liquid comes pre-mixed and ready to pour — no measuring, no mixing, nothing to commit to while you get your Colorado setup dialed in.

Shop the Ready to Use Nectar →

Only Fill Enough to Change Often

An 8 oz feeder rarely needs to be topped all the way off — overfilling just means more nectar sitting around long enough to spoil. A better approach is to fill only enough that your hummingbirds empty your feeder every couple of days.

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. Use this as your rule of thumb:

If the nectar ever looks cloudy before that window is up, change it early — cloudiness means it's already started to ferment. At higher elevations, also keep an eye on overnight temperatures — 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 Pest-Free 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. Here's how to handle the two most common pest problems without it.

Ants

Ants are drawn to any spilled or leaking nectar, and once a trail forms, they'll march straight up the feeder pole or hanging hook to reach the source. A vinegar-water spray works well as a deterrent — mist it around (not directly on) the feeder ports, and wipe down the hook or pole where ants tend to travel. A leak-proof feeder design also does real work here: with nothing dripping down in the first place, there's less to draw them in to begin with.

Bees and Wasps

Bees and wasps are trickier than ants, since they're after the same nectar hummingbirds are drinking, not just what's spilled. A vinegar-water spray around the ports can help, but the more reliable fix is a feeder design that keeps them out entirely rather than just discouraging them.

Still crashing the party? HummGuard® Nectar Tips slide onto the AspenPerch's feeding ports — a flexible membrane lets hummingbird beaks through and closes tight against anything bigger.

Shop HummGuard® Tips →

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.

Ready to plant? Perfect Little Sanctuary® Wildflower Seed Blend packs all 12 varieties into one packet — no separate shopping trips before Colorado's fall planting window.

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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.

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 about 1 foot from your feeder, at the same height (Pop's rule of thumb) — 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.

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Original Series Hummingbird Swing, Onyx

Give hummingbirds a place to rest between sips, and turn your feeding station into a front-row seat for watching them up close.

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Keep Your Sanctuary Safe from Predators

A feeding station draws more than hummingbirds, and knowing what's actually worth worrying about — and what isn't — makes for a safer yard. Cats and window strikes are the two best-documented threats to hummingbirds around any home. See our full Hummingbird Predators guide for the complete picture.

Summary: Key Takeaways for Attracting Hummingbirds in Colorado

• 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); eight more species have accepted Colorado records, from Rivoli's Hummingbird's 26 sightings down to a pair of historic species with no record in two decades
• 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
• Cats and window strikes are the two best-documented threats to hummingbirds around any home
• 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.

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 for Broad-billed Hummingbird specifically, including Colorado's first-ever and most recent accepted records. Rivoli's Hummingbird is the state's best-documented rarity overall, with 26 accepted records mostly in the mountains from late spring into early fall, and Anna's and Ruby-throated also turn up as recurring, if reviewed, visitors.

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.

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.

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 treats elevation as a simple stand-in for timing, but our own county-by-county data found that's not how Colorado actually works: Broad-tailed Hummingbirds turn up in Summit County, at nearly 9,600 feet, just as early as they do in Denver at barely half that elevation, because their arrival tracks snowmelt and early wildflower bloom rather than altitude alone. Generic nectar-care advice also misses that Colorado's high country can see near-freezing nights even in the middle of summer, a real risk a flatland feeder schedule won't warn anyone about. We wanted a guide that gets Colorado's actual elevation-driven season right, not one that assumes altitude works the same simple way it does in gentler terrain.

How We Built This Guide

The elevation-arrival pattern on this page comes from our own analysis of eBird bar chart data (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) for Colorado statewide and five representative counties — Mesa, Montezuma, Summit, Denver, and Yuma — covering 2016 through 2025; Yuma County's own weekly checklist volume turned out too thin to measure reliably, and we say so plainly rather than force false confidence onto the eastern plains. The breeding-elevation figure and Broad-tailed's mountain-specialist framing come from Cornell's All About Birds, and the accepted-rarity records, including Mesa County's Broad-billed Hummingbird history, are checked against the Colorado Bird Records Committee's own published reports rather than assumed. The wildflower planting window follows Colorado State University Extension directly, and each blend variety's native status — genuinely Colorado-native versus simply well-adapted — was checked individually rather than taken from a generic pollinator-plant list, the same standard applied to every neighboring-state cross-link before linking out.