Best Time to See Hummingbirds in the US
April, May and August is the best time to see hummingbirds in the United States. This is a national picture built from 313,184 verified iNaturalist observations across 49 states, showing when and where hummingbirds are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
313,184 verified observations of hummingbirds in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When hummingbirds are recorded in the US
Peak month
April
43,816 records (14% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 17,064 | 5.4% |
| February | 17,964 | 5.7% |
| March | 26,364 | 8.4% |
| Aprilpeak | 43,816 | 14% |
| Maypeak | 41,009 | 13.1% |
| June | 26,810 | 8.6% |
| July | 30,275 | 9.7% |
| Augustpeak | 39,146 | 12.5% |
| September | 31,313 | 10% |
| October | 14,334 | 4.6% |
| November | 11,899 | 3.8% |
| December | 13,190 | 4.2% |
Hummingbirds you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Anna's Hummingbird | 104,340 |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | 65,951 |
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | 27,222 |
| Allen's Hummingbird | 24,118 |
| Costa's Hummingbird | 16,278 |
| Rufous Hummingbird | 14,297 |
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird | 10,428 |
| Broad-billed Hummingbird | 7,087 |
Across the country, hummingbirds sightings peak in April, when 43,816 of the 313,184 annual observations are logged, about 14% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through April, May and August.
The best states to see hummingbirds by recorded sightings are California (132,678), Arizona (39,117), Texas (37,439), Washington (11,594) and Oregon (9,173). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The hummingbirds you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Anna's Hummingbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Black-chinned Hummingbird, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see hummingbirds
- hummingbirds in California132,678 sightings, peak April
- hummingbirds in Arizona39,117 sightings, peak April
- hummingbirds in Texas37,439 sightings, peak April
- hummingbirds in Washington11,594 sightings, peak May
- hummingbirds in Oregon9,173 sightings, peak March
- hummingbirds in Colorado8,134 sightings, peak July
- hummingbirds in New Mexico6,854 sightings, peak July
- hummingbirds in Florida4,056 sightings, peak April
- hummingbirds in North Carolina3,598 sightings, peak August
- hummingbirds in Nevada3,560 sightings, peak April
- hummingbirds in Utah3,455 sightings, peak May
- hummingbirds in Ohio3,267 sightings, peak August
- hummingbirds in Pennsylvania3,197 sightings, peak August
- hummingbirds in Illinois2,981 sightings, peak August
- hummingbirds in South Carolina2,976 sightings, peak September
Most-recorded hummingbirds species nationwide
- Anna's Hummingbird104,340 records
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird65,951 records
- Black-chinned Hummingbird27,222 records
- Allen's Hummingbird24,118 records
- Costa's Hummingbird16,278 records
- Rufous Hummingbird14,297 records
Plan your hummingbird trip in California
Start with live tours near California, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near California
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main hummingbird viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best hummingbird viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a hummingbird tour in California
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see hummingbirds in the US?+
April is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through April, May and August, based on 313,184 verified observations across 49 states.
Which states are best for seeing hummingbirds?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Arizona and Texas. California leads with 132,678 verified observations.
How many hummingbirds sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 313,184 verified hummingbirds observations are logged on iNaturalist across 49 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of hummingbirds live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Anna's Hummingbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Black-chinned Hummingbird, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.