Hummingbirds in California in March

Yes, March is one of the best months to see hummingbirds in California. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 16,213 of the 132,678 sightings logged across the year (12.2%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Anna's Hummingbird photographed in CaliforniaCosta's Hummingbird photographed in CaliforniaAllen's Hummingbird photographed in California
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for hummingbirds in California

12.2%

of yearly sightings

16,213

records in March

#2

busiest month of 12

132,678

verified records a year

February 9.7%, March 12.2%, April 16.3%. Busiest month is April at 16.3%.

Best months: April, March, May

132,678 verified observations of hummingbirds in California, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When hummingbirds are recorded in California

Peak month

April

21,658 records (16.3% of the year)

Quietest month

November

7,039 records

MonthObservationsShare
January11,1288.4%
February12,8119.7%
Marchpeak16,21312.2%
Aprilpeak21,65816.3%
Maypeak14,93811.3%
June8,8336.7%
July8,0736.1%
August8,0026%
September8,2946.3%
October7,5335.7%
November7,0395.3%
December8,1566.1%

Hummingbirds you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Anna's Hummingbird77,567
Allen's Hummingbird23,692
Costa's Hummingbird10,630
Black-chinned Hummingbird4,099
Rufous Hummingbird2,514
Calliope Hummingbird661
Broad-billed Hummingbird156
Anna's × Costa's Hummingbird38

In California, March carries 12.2% of the year's hummingbirds sightings, about 3.9 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 2nd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from February (9.7%) into March, and it heads toward April (16.3%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so March is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The hummingbirds most often recorded in California are Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird and Costa's Hummingbird. Those counts are annual totals rather than a March split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in March itself.

Which hummingbirds you are most likely to see

  • Anna's Hummingbird77,567 records
  • Allen's Hummingbird23,692 records
  • Costa's Hummingbird10,630 records
  • Black-chinned Hummingbird4,099 records
  • Rufous Hummingbird2,514 records
  • Calliope Hummingbird661 records
Plan your tripAlcatraz Island

Plan your hummingbird trip in California

Start with live tours near Alcatraz Island, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see hummingbirds in California in March?+

Yes. March accounts for 16,213 of the 132,678 verified hummingbirds sightings logged in California across the year, which is 12.2% of the annual total.

Is March a good time to see hummingbirds in California?+

March is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, March and May.

What month is best for hummingbirds in California?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, March and May, based on 132,678 verified observations.

Which hummingbirds are you most likely to see in California?+

The most-recorded species in California are Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird and Costa's Hummingbird, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.