When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Montana? (2026)
Hummingbirds typically arrive in Montana in late April to mid May, so put your feeder out by April 25. Numbers peak in June and July, the last birds are usually seen around early September, and you should take your feeder down in late September.
Last updated: August 2026 · Typical windows for Montana. Weather shifts arrival by a week or more in any given year.
Hummingbirds in Montana: the year at a glance
What makes Montana different
Montana's hummingbirds leave early — Rufous Hummingbirds begin heading south in July, at the height of summer. A feeder that seems abandoned in August usually means the season has simply ended.
Hummingbird species in Montana
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Calliope Hummingbird
- Black-chinned Hummingbird
Ranges shift, and vagrants turn up well outside their expected territory — particularly in autumn and winter. If you see a hummingbird in Montana outside the windows above, it is worth reporting to your state ornithological society.
Getting your Montana 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 Montana'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 Montana season
Bee-resistant, drip-free and quick to clean — the shape experts recommend.
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Frequently asked questions about hummingbirds in Montana
When do hummingbirds arrive in Montana?
Typically in late April to mid May. Put your feeder out by April 25 so early scouts find it — males arrive one to two weeks ahead of females.
When should I put feeders out in Montana?
By April 25, about two weeks before the first birds are usually reported.
When do hummingbirds leave Montana?
The last birds are typically seen around early September. You should take your feeder down in late September — and always keep the feeder up for two weeks after your own final sighting.
What hummingbird species live in Montana?
Rufous Hummingbird, Calliope Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird.
Will leaving my feeder up stop them migrating?
No. Day length triggers migration, not food. A feeder left up in Montana 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 →