When do hummingbirds leave Colorado?

Most Broad-tailed Hummingbirds have left Colorado by the second week of September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early October.

When is the best time to see hummingbirds in Colorado?

The Broad-tailed Hummingbird is reported most often in late July, on about 41% of Colorado checklists.

Which hummingbirds are in Colorado?

Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird, and Calliope Hummingbird are reported regularly; the Broad-tailed Hummingbird is the most common.

4 hummingbird species in Colorado

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Colorado?

Photo: Daughter Dad, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Rufous Hummingbirds, and Black-chinned Hummingbirds are the hummingbirds you are most likely to see in Colorado. Broad-tailed Hummingbirds reach Colorado in mid April, are common by early May, peak in late July (41% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April

Common byMay 1-7early May

PeakJul 22-31late July

Most gone bySep 8-14the second week of September

Best: late July. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by the second week of September. Peak: on about 41% of Colorado checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Apruncommon
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Sepcommon
Octrare
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Hummingbirds in Colorado, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Broad-tailed Hummingbird	Apr 15-21	May 1-7	Jul 22-31	Sep 8-14	41%
Rufous Hummingbird	Jul 1-7	Jul 8-14	Aug 1-7	Sep 1-7	14%
Black-chinned Hummingbird	Apr 22-30	May 1-7	May 22-31	Sep 15-21	9.1%
Calliope Hummingbird	Jul 8-14	Jul 15-21	Aug 8-14	Sep 1-7	4.5%

Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird

Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Colorado that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Colorado

Best counties for Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak

Gilpin CountyBest mid June · 153 checklists that week, 4,252 in all83%
Pitkin CountyBest late May · 588 checklists that week, 15,513 in all72%
Douglas CountyBest early August · 1035 checklists that week, 60,057 in all68%
Teller CountyBest early August · 282 checklists that week, 11,258 in all65%
Jefferson CountyBest early August · 3085 checklists that week, 183,749 in all64%
Custer CountyBest early August · 90 checklists that week, 3,017 in all63%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in Colorado?: Broad-tailed Hummingbirds reach Colorado in mid April, are common by early May, peak in late July (41% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.
When do hummingbirds leave Colorado?: Most Broad-tailed Hummingbirds have left Colorado by the second week of September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early October.
When is the best time to see hummingbirds in Colorado?: The Broad-tailed Hummingbird is reported most often in late July, on about 41% of Colorado checklists.
Which hummingbirds are in Colorado?: Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird, and Calliope Hummingbird are reported regularly; the Broad-tailed Hummingbird is the most common.