WhenToBird

3 hummingbird species in Montana

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Montana?

Adult male Rufous Hummingbird
Photo: Sandra Keller, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Rufous Hummingbirds, Calliope Hummingbirds, and Black-chinned Hummingbirds are the hummingbirds you are most likely to see in Montana. Rufous Hummingbirds reach Montana in late April, are common by early May, peak in late July (10% of checklists), and most are gone by early September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakJul 22-31late July
Most gone bySep 1-7early September

Best: late July. First arrivals late April; most are gone by early September. Peak: on about 10% of Montana checklists.

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

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

Hummingbirds in Montana, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Rufous HummingbirdApr 22-30May 1-7Jul 22-31Sep 1-710%
Calliope HummingbirdApr 22-30May 1-7May 15-21Aug 15-2110%
Black-chinned HummingbirdMay 15-21May 15-21Aug 1-7Sep 1-73.5%
0%5%10%15%Rufous HummingbirdCalliope HummingbirdBlack-chinned HummingbirdJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Rufous Hummingbird
  • Calliope Hummingbird
  • Black-chinned 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 Montana 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 Montana

Best counties for Rufous Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Jefferson CountyBest late July · 405 checklists that week, 14,859 in all53%
  2. Ravalli CountyBest mid July · 248 checklists that week, 16,671 in all25%
  3. Mineral CountyBest mid July · 62 checklists that week, 2,163 in all21%
  4. Sanders CountyBest early May · 83 checklists that week, 3,767 in all20%
  5. Flathead CountyBest the second week of May · 1270 checklists that week, 40,185 in all16%
  6. Lincoln CountyBest the second week of May · 199 checklists that week, 5,543 in all14%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in Montana?
Rufous Hummingbirds reach Montana in late April, are common by early May, peak in late July (10% of checklists), and most are gone by early September.
When do hummingbirds leave Montana?
Most Rufous Hummingbirds have left Montana by early September, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see hummingbirds in Montana?
The Rufous Hummingbird is reported most often in late July, on about 10% of Montana checklists.
Which hummingbirds are in Montana?
Rufous Hummingbird, Calliope Hummingbird, and Black-chinned Hummingbird are reported regularly; the Rufous Hummingbird is the most common.