How to Attract Hummingbirds in Wyoming: A Backyard Sanctuary Guide

Wyoming carries outsized weight for one particular hummingbird species: the Wyoming Game and Fish Department estimates roughly 3% of the entire global population of Calliope Hummingbirds — about 70,000 birds — breeds right here in the state's mountain meadows. And in a fun bit of trivia, the oldest known wild hummingbird ever recorded in the United States was a female Broad-tailed Hummingbird that lived to be 12 years old, a genuine record-holder among a group of birds not exactly famous for longevity.

Whether you're gardening in Cheyenne, Jackson Hole, or a ranch yard on the high plains, this guide will walk you through everything you need to turn your space into a Wyoming 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 that thrive in Wyoming's climate.

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

To attract hummingbirds in Wyoming, put up a leak-proof feeder filled with fresh, dye-free nectar by the end of April, 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 penstemon, columbine, and wild bergamot so your yard offers real food alongside the feeder.

• Species you'll see: Broad-tailed and Calliope are Wyoming's two unambiguous, common breeders; Rufous and Black-chinned also breed here but carry real, honest caveats about how regular that presence is; Anna's and Ruby-throated are historic/accidental rarities
• 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 the end of April, ready for Broad-tailed arrivals and the first week of May for Black-chinned and Calliope
• Nectar change frequency: every 1–2 days above 90°F, every 5–6 days below 70°F
• Pest control: no insecticide — use vinegar-water spray and HummGuard® nectar tips instead
• Top native plants: penstemon, columbine, wild bergamot, hyssop, golden currant (varies by region — see below)
• Best wildflower planting window: September through early October, ahead of Wyoming's early winter; spring is a solid alternative at high elevation

Which Hummingbirds You'll See in Wyoming

Wyoming's documented list holds six species — two unambiguous common breeders, two more breeders carrying real caveats about how regular their presence is, and two extreme rarities. Broad-tailed Hummingbird is Wyoming's most widespread confirmed breeder, dominant in mountain and foothill habitats statewide. Calliope Hummingbird is also a confirmed, common breeder, and a genuinely significant one — Wyoming hosts an estimated 3% of the species' entire global population. Rufous Hummingbird has confirmed breeding at four specific sites, but Wyoming's own wildlife agency is honest that it's uncertain whether that's a regular pattern — most sightings are actually fall migrants passing through. Black-chinned Hummingbird's breeding status is explicitly "suspected," not confirmed, with only circumstantial evidence concentrated near Green River. Anna's Hummingbird is a genuine rarity with just 3 total known occurrences ever, and Ruby-throated Hummingbird is Wyoming's scarcest species of all, with only 2 accepted records in the state's history.

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive and Leave Wyoming?

Wyoming's three real breeders each have a different personality. Broad-tailed Hummingbird arrives statewide in early May and holds steady into mid-September, with almost no regional variation. Calliope Hummingbird is the opposite — its timing genuinely shifts by weeks between counties, reaching Jackson Hole (Teton County) by mid-May but not Albany County (Laramie) until late July. Rufous Hummingbird doesn't build until July, then spikes hard in Fremont and Albany counties in early August before clearing out by early September.

Timing by region, based on eBird checklist data (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), 2016–2025. Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Wyoming's most common species, isn't mapped here because its timing barely varies county to county — the map tracks Calliope, where the regional differences are real.

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. For the full setup, see our guide to the best hummingbird products for a small patio or balcony.
• 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 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.

Shop the feeder

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!

Shop the AspenPerch® Feeder →

Keep Feeders Clean with Fresh Nectar

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. You can also use our nectar mixing calculator for any unit of choice to get the full breakdown on sugar to water ratio. 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 before you know how much traffic you'll get.

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. Wyoming's dry mountain air and big elevation swings call for a bit more attention than milder climates.

How Often to Change Nectar in Wyoming

Use this as your rule of thumb, and watch for overnight freezes, especially in early spring and again in fall — even summer nights can dip close to freezing in Wyoming's mountain communities:

If the nectar ever looks cloudy before that window is up, change it early — cloudiness means it's already started to ferment.

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. 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.

Ants

Deter ants with a vinegar-water spray around (not on) the feeder ports, or wipe down the hanging hook where ants tend to march down. Coating the wire or string hanging your feeder with a thin layer of mineral oil also keeps crawling insects from reaching the nectar.

Bees and Wasps

Bees and wasps are drawn to the same sugar water your hummingbirds are after.

HummGuard® Nectar Tips 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.

Shop HummGuard® Tips →

Plant a Wyoming Native Hummingbird Garden

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

Best native nectar plants for Wyoming:

• Penstemon — numerous native species across the state, all built for hummingbird bills
• Columbine — an early, reliable bloomer across mountain valleys
• Wild bergamot and hyssop — reliable summer-long nectar sources
• Golden currant and wax currant — early-blooming native shrubs that provide food before many wildflowers are open

Pop's tip: Because Wyoming's growing season is short and elevation-dependent, plan for early, mid, and late bloomers so something is always flowering while hummingbirds are present — golden currant for the earliest arrivals, penstemon and bergamot through summer, and something later blooming to carry Rufous Hummingbirds through their fall pass.

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

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 Montana: Both hold significant Calliope Hummingbird breeding populations and share the same Mountain West blend performance pattern. See our Montana guide for more.

Near South Dakota: Both hold pockets of Broad-tailed Hummingbird territory, with the Black Hills connecting across this border. See our South Dakota guide for more.

Near Nebraska: Wyoming's Panhandle shares Nebraska's high-plains climate. See our Nebraska guide for more.

Near Colorado: Both confirmed native for Lance-Leaved Coreopsis — a stronger match than most neighboring pairs in this series. See our Colorado guide for more.

Near Utah: Both confirmed native for Palmer Penstemon and share high-elevation Broad-tailed/Calliope territory. See our Utah guide for more.

Near Idaho: Shared dry, cold-winter Mountain West climate. See our Idaho guide for more.

When to Plant the Perfect Little Sanctuary® Blend in Wyoming

Early-to-mid fall is the best planting window in Wyoming — aim for September through early October, ahead of the state's early snow. 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 Wyoming's winter cold does that work naturally, provided seed goes down before the ground freezes solid. Spring planting, once soil is workable, is a reliable backup, especially at higher elevations where a hard winter can be unpredictable.

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

Shop the Seed →

Top Performers in Wyoming

The Perfect Little Sanctuary® blend contains 12 varieties, and Wyoming's dry, cold-winter climate favors a mix similar to its Mountain West neighbors — including a confirmed native standout:

• Lance-Leaved Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) — confirmed native to Wyoming in official USDA distribution records, a distinction that sets it apart from several neighboring Mountain West states
• Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) — broadly native and a reliable performer in Wyoming gardens
• White Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) — broadly native across the West, including Wyoming, and extremely cold-hardy
• Siberian Wallflower (Cheiranthus allionii) — prefers cool, dry conditions, a strong match for Wyoming's climate
• Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) — not a confirmed Wyoming native, but heat- and drought-tolerant enough to hold its own on the eastern plains
• Palmer Penstemon (Penstemon palmeri) — not confirmed native to Wyoming, but a genuine hummingbird favorite that performs well in dry, western conditions

Pop's tip: You don't need to do anything special to favor these — just sow the blend as directed. The rest of the mix still adds seasonal color, but these varieties are the ones that will do the heaviest lifting in a Wyoming yard.

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 hummingbird swing for placement tips — and don't be surprised if a hummingbird claims it as their own personal lookout post.

Shop the Perfect Perch

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.

Shop the Original Swing →

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. Praying mantis predation on hummingbirds is a real, documented phenomenon in warmer states; we were not able to confirm a Wyoming-specific record before this guide's publication, so treat that risk as real but unconfirmed locally rather than either dismissed or overstated.

Summary: Key Takeaways for Attracting Hummingbirds in Wyoming

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 and Calliope are Wyoming's two unambiguous, common breeders; Rufous and Black-chinned also breed here but with real, honest caveats about how regular that presence is; Anna's and Ruby-throated are historic/accidental rarities
• Wyoming holds an estimated 3% of the entire global Calliope Hummingbird population
• Rufous Hummingbirds mostly bypass Wyoming heading north in spring, so nearly every sighting here is a bird already migrating south
• Feeder timing: up by the end of April for Broad-tailed arrivals, first week of May for Black-chinned and Calliope
• 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
• 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 hummingbird 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 (penstemon, columbine, wild bergamot, golden currant) do more for hummingbirds long-term than feeders alone
• Sow wildflower seed in September through early October, ahead of Wyoming's early snow; Lance-Leaved Coreopsis, Black-Eyed Susan, White Yarrow, Siberian Wallflower, Indian Blanket, and Palmer Penstemon are the strongest Wyoming 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 Wyoming — the species, the 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

When should I put my hummingbird feeder out in Wyoming?

The end of April is a safe target for Broad-tailed arrivals statewide, with Black-chinned and Calliope typically following by the first week of May.

What is the most common hummingbird in Wyoming?

The Broad-tailed Hummingbird, especially in mountain and foothill habitats. Wyoming is also a genuinely significant breeding ground for Calliope Hummingbird, hosting an estimated 3% of the entire global population.

Do hummingbirds stay in Wyoming year-round?

No. All of Wyoming's hummingbird species are migratory, wintering in Mexico or Central America and returning each spring to breed or pass through.

How often should I clean my hummingbird feeder in Wyoming?

Clean it every time you change the nectar — as often as every 1–2 days during warm stretches above 90°F, and at least every 5–6 days in cooler weather. Also check nectar after cold nights, since even summer temperatures can dip close to freezing in Wyoming's mountain communities.

What are the best plants to attract hummingbirds in Wyoming?

Penstemon and columbine are strong choices across most of the state, with wild bergamot and hyssop carrying the season through summer, and golden currant a reliable early-season bloomer. Native, tubular, red or orange flowers are the general rule of thumb.

Wyoming Hummingbird Resources

Audubon Chapters

Wyoming is home to Audubon Rockies and several local 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 Wyoming state law, so only a licensed wildlife rehabilitator can legally care for one.

• Wyoming Game and Fish Department — contact your nearest regional office for a referral to a licensed rehabilitator
• Teton Raptor Center (Jackson) — Wyoming's leading avian rescue facility, founder of the statewide Raptor Rescue Network
• Ironside Bird Rescue — specializes in avian rehabilitation across Wyoming, including songbirds and waterfowl

Sources

• Wyoming Bird Records Committee, Wyoming Game and Fish Department — source for every species' status and record history referenced on this page.
• eBird bar chart data, Cornell Lab of Ornithology — Wyoming statewide, 2016–2025.

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. Wyoming's four breeding-tier species hide a real range of confidence that most general references collapse into one flat "breeds here" label — Broad-tailed and Calliope are unambiguous common breeders, while Rufous and Black-chinned carry the state's own honest doubt about how regular their presence really is. We wanted a guide that keeps those distinctions intact rather than flattening them.

How We Built This Guide

The species and status information here points back to the official Wyoming State Bird List, a joint product of the Wyoming Bird Records Committee, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, rather than re-deriving the analysis on this page — the actionable takeaways are the end-of-April statewide feeder window and the first-week-of-May window for Black-chinned and Calliope. The nectar-change schedule uses the same temperature bands as every state's guide, with an added note on Wyoming's overnight freeze risk even in summer. We checked whether praying mantis predation, a real documented risk in warmer states, has a confirmed record in Wyoming specifically, and could not find one either way in the time available for this guide — stated here as an open question, not silently skipped or assumed either direction.