WhenToBird

5 hummingbird species in Idaho

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Idaho?

Adult male Black-chinned Hummingbird
Photo: Elliott Gordon, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Black-chinned Hummingbirds, Rufous Hummingbirds, and Calliope Hummingbirds are the hummingbirds you are most likely to see in Idaho. Black-chinned Hummingbirds reach Idaho in late April, are common by the second week of May, peak in early August (24% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 8-14the second week of May
PeakAug 1-7early August
Most gone bySep 8-14the second week of September

Best: early August. First arrivals late April; most are gone by the second week of September. Peak: on about 24% of Idaho checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprrare
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octrare
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Hummingbirds in Idaho, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Black-chinned HummingbirdApr 22-30May 8-14Aug 1-7Sep 8-1424%
Rufous HummingbirdApr 15-21Apr 22-30Aug 8-14Sep 8-1413%
Calliope HummingbirdApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 8-14Sep 1-77.8%
Broad-tailed HummingbirdMay 8-14May 8-14Jul 22-31Aug 15-213.0%
Anna's HummingbirdSep 8-14Sep 8-14Nov 8-14May 8-142.8%
0%10%20%30%Black-chinned HummingbirdRufous HummingbirdCalliope HummingbirdBroad-tailed HummingbirdJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Black-chinned Hummingbird
  • Rufous Hummingbird
  • Calliope Hummingbird
  • Broad-tailed 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 Idaho 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 Idaho

Best counties for Black-chinned Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Adams CountyBest mid July · 138 checklists that week, 5,826 in all64%
  2. Bonner CountyBest mid July · 241 checklists that week, 10,972 in all46%
  3. Ada CountyBest the second week of August · 1031 checklists that week, 84,430 in all44%
  4. Nez Perce CountyBest early July · 156 checklists that week, 10,708 in all44%
  5. Gem CountyBest early August · 127 checklists that week, 8,320 in all41%
  6. Latah CountyBest early August · 427 checklists that week, 31,064 in all37%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in Idaho?
Black-chinned Hummingbirds reach Idaho in late April, are common by the second week of May, peak in early August (24% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.
When do hummingbirds leave Idaho?
Most Black-chinned Hummingbirds have left Idaho by the second week of September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late September.
When is the best time to see hummingbirds in Idaho?
The Black-chinned Hummingbird is reported most often in early August, on about 24% of Idaho checklists.
Which hummingbirds are in Idaho?
Black-chinned Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Calliope Hummingbird, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, and Anna's Hummingbird are reported regularly; the Black-chinned Hummingbird is the most common.