Utah · Mountain West
When to put out hummingbird feeders in Utah
Put feeders out by April 1. First arrivals typically show up mid-April to early May, and an early feeder greets the hungry vanguard.
Put feeders out by
April 1
First arrivals
mid-April to early May
Peak season
May through August
Take down after
late October
Feeders up from April 1 until late october.
The Utah season
Black-chinned fill the valley neighborhoods and Broad-tailed the Wasatch canyons, while St. George and the Mojave corner add displaying Costa's in early spring. From mid-July the Rufous wave rolls down the Wasatch — mountain cabin feeders can host all four common species in a single August afternoon.
The two-week head start matters more than it looks: the first migrants arrive before most nectar flowers open, and a reliable feeder can anchor a male's breeding territory in your yard for the whole summer. At the other end, keep the feeder up until late october — southbound stragglers, often the year's young, are the birds that need it most.
Hummingbird species in Utah
| Species | Status in Utah |
|---|---|
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | Spring–summer breeder |
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird | Spring–summer breeder |
| Costa's Hummingbird | Spring–summer breeder |
| Rufous Hummingbird | Passes through in migration |
| Calliope Hummingbird | Passes through in migration |
Filling the feeder? The recipe is 4 parts water to 1 part plain white sugar — scale it to your feeder in one click.
Nectar calculatorFrequently asked questions
When should I put out hummingbird feeders in Utah?
Have feeders out by April 1 — about two weeks before the first birds typically arrive (mid-April to early May). The vanguard males travel ahead of the main wave, and an early feeder helps them refuel when few flowers are blooming.
When should I take down hummingbird feeders in Utah?
late October. And don't worry about tempting birds to stay too long: migration is triggered by day length, not food. A full feeder will never stop a hummingbird from leaving — it simply fuels late stragglers, which need the help most.
Do hummingbirds stay in Utah year-round?
No — Utah's hummingbirds head south for the winter, with the last birds typically gone by late September. If you see a hummingbird at a feeder in late fall or winter, look closely: it may be a rare western visitor such as a Rufous Hummingbird, worth reporting to your local birding group.
What should I put in the feeder?
Plain white sugar and water at a 4:1 ratio — 1 cup of sugar per 4 cups of water. Never use honey, brown sugar, or red dye. Our nectar calculator scales the recipe to any feeder size.
Nearby states
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