When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in California? (2026)
Hummingbirds are present in California all year. Anna's Hummingbird is resident here rather than migratory, numbers peak in March to August as migrants add to the population, and you should keep your feeder up year-round.
Last updated: August 2026 · Typical windows for California. Weather shifts arrival by a week or more in any given year.
Hummingbirds in California: the year at a glance
What makes California different
Anna's Hummingbirds live in California all year and nest as early as December — the earliest of any North American bird. Taking a feeder down in winter here removes food during their breeding season.
Hummingbird species in California
- Anna's Hummingbird
- Allen's Hummingbird
- Black-chinned Hummingbird
- Rufous Hummingbird
Ranges shift, and vagrants turn up well outside their expected territory — particularly in autumn and winter. If you see a hummingbird in California outside the windows above, it is worth reporting to your state ornithological society.
Getting your California feeder right
The recipe is the same everywhere: four parts water to one part plain white sugar. No red dye, no honey, no brown sugar. In California's warm months you will need to change the nectar every two to three days, and daily once daytime highs pass 88°F — fermented nectar and black mould make hummingbirds ill.
Work out the exact amount for your feeder size with our hummingbird nectar calculator, and check the full state-by-state autumn schedule on the feeder takedown tool.
Ready for the California season
Bee-resistant, drip-free and quick to clean — the shape experts recommend.
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Frequently asked questions about hummingbirds in California
When do hummingbirds arrive in California?
Typically year-round — they are resident rather than migratory. Put your feeder out by Keep up year-round so early scouts find it — males arrive one to two weeks ahead of females.
When should I put feeders out in California?
By Keep up year-round, about two weeks before the first birds are usually reported.
When do hummingbirds leave California?
The last birds are typically seen around never — many stay all year. You should keep your feeder up year-round — and always keep the feeder up for two weeks after your own final sighting.
What hummingbird species live in California?
Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird.
Will leaving my feeder up stop them migrating?
No. Day length triggers migration, not food. A feeder left up in California helps late migrants and cannot make a healthy bird stay.
More free bird tools
Nectar Calculator
The exact 4:1 recipe sized to your feeder.
Use tool → 🍂When to Take Feeders Down
Autumn takedown dates for all 50 states.
Use tool → 🔍Bird Identifier
Identify a mystery backyard bird in four questions.
Use tool →