8 Places in the U.S. Where You Can See Hummingbirds All Year Long

Written by Nixza Gonzalez
Published: November 22, 2023
Share on:

Advertisement


8 Places in the U.S. Where You Can See Hummingbirds All Year Long
Visitors to these sites don’t have to wait until Spring to see hummingbirds.

Hummingbirds are so exciting to see! These gorgeous birds, though, don’t stay in the United States long. The season for these birds varies a lot. However, there are a few hummingbirds that remain behind as permanent residents. Most of these hummingbirds stay in southern Arizona and southern California. Follow along to discover the eight places in the U.S. where you can see hummingbirds all year.

Paton Center for Hummingbirds

Violet-Crowned Hummingbird

One hummingbird species in the Paton Center for Hummingbirds is the violet-crowned hummingbird.

©Matthew Jolley/Shutterstock.com

The first place on our list is the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. There is so much to do at this center, you won’t grow bored. You don’t have to leave the comfort of your home to experience the center and its incredible hummingbirds, as the center runs two live cams on their website!

The Paton Center for Hummingbirds’ history began in 1973. Wally and Marion Paton invited bird watchers to their yard to admire the birds. It grew quickly, and soon, there were benches, bird books, and a chalkboard. You can spot hummingbirds in the Paton Center: violet-crowned hummingbirds, Anna’s, broad-billed hummingbirds, and Costa’s.

Cabrillo National Monument

Point Loma panorama

The Cabrillo National Monument was built in 1949. This monument is home to many hummingbird species.

©Natalia Bratslavsky/iStock via Getty Images

Next on our list of 8 places in the U.S. where you can see hummingbirds all year long is the Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego, California. Even if you don’t see a hummingbird while visiting this beautiful location, it’s worth a visit. The Cabrillo National Monument commemorates the landing of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo at San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542.

This monument of the first European expedition to reach the west coast of the United States sits on 143.9 acres. It was built in 1949. Many animals call this area home, including hermit crabs, gray whales, Allen’s hummingbirds, rufous hummingbirds, Costa’s hummingbirds, Anna’s hummingbirds, and black-chinned hummingbirds.

Beatty’s Guest Ranch & Orchard

Rivoli's hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens) is a large hummingbird is also called the magnificent hummingbird and found in Costa Rica

©Gerald Corsi/iStock via Getty Images

Another great hummingbird-watching spot on our list for permanent hummingbird residents is Beatty’s Guest Ranch & Orchard in Arizona. This excellent hidden gem is among the best places to view gorgeous hummingbirds. You can find this guest ranch and orchard in the Huachuca Mountains. There are so many hummingbird species that in one day, in 2002 and 2006, 14 different hummingbird species were observed.

This unique experience offers guests much more than a great place to view birds. You can also rent a cabin on the ranch, which includes housekeeping and cooking facilities. It’s a great way to detach from stress and relax. Beatty’s Guest Ranch also offers fresh and delicious seasonal produce. Don’t forget to ask if there are fresh eggs for purchase!

Hummingbirds that frequent Beatty’s Guest Ranch & Orchard are Rivoli’s hummingbirds, ruby-throated hummingbirds, Lucifer hummingbirds, calliope hummingbirds, rufous hummingbirds, and broad-tailed hummingbirds.

Ramsey Canyon Preserve

Anna's Hummingbird

Within the Ramsey Canyon Preserve are hummingbirds like the Anna’s hummingbird.

©Mason Maron /Shutterstock.com

Fourth on our list is the Ramsey Canyon Preserve in Hereford, Arizona. The Ramsey Canyon Preserve is a stunning natural spot in Southeastern Arizona. It has a little bit of everything, including mountains and deserts. This preserve has many bird species, including Anna’s hummingbirds. Many shaded trails take you through this calming preserve. It’s incredibly gorgeous during fall as the leaves are vibrant red, yellow, and orange. A popular route you can take within the preserve to bird watch is the Ramsey Canyon Trail. It’s a 1.3-mile loop with a slight elevation gain of 216 feet. The trail can be completed in a little over 30 minutes.

Descanso Gardens

Descanso Gardens with cherry blossoms

The Descanso Gardens have a surface area of 150 acres.

©iStock.com/Wolterk

The Descanso Gardens are another hot spot for hummingbirds. These gardens are in Los Angeles County, California. It sits on 150 acres of land. The plants are a tiny part of why so many people visit the Descanso Gardens. So many birds call this gorgeous place their home. Not only can you see birds, but deer may also be seen feeding on plants during early mornings. Hummingbirds that live or pass through the Descanso Gardens include calliope hummingbirds, Anna’s hummingbirds, Allen’s hummingbirds, rufous hummingbirds, Costa’s hummingbirds, and black-chinned hummingbirds. Other bird species in this botanical garden are acorn woodpeckers, tree swallows, and common ravens.

Huntington Library Gardens

Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens

The Huntington is a great place to go bird-watching.

©cultivar413 / Flickr - License

The Descanso Gardens aren’t the only gardens where you can find hummingbirds year-round in the U.S. Another garden is the Huntington Library Gardens in San Marino, California. Interestingly, this unique spot isn’t just a garden. The Huntington is also a library and art museum. The botanical garden section has a surface area of 130 acres and 16 stunning themed gardens. Bird watching is a popular activity for visitors. Hummingbirds you may see in the Huntington Library are Costa’s hummingbirds, black-chinned hummingbirds, rufous hummingbirds, Allen’s hummingbirds, and Anna’s hummingbirds. There are also several reptiles in the Huntington Library Gardens, like pond sliders, spiny softshell turtles, and southern alligator lizards.

Madera Canyon

Madera Canyon Waterfall

The Madera Canyon is one of the best places to view hummingbirds in the country. There are over 10 species that reside or fly through this natural area.

©Dennis Swena/Shutterstock.com

Continuing our list of the eight places in the U.S. where you can see hummingbirds all year long is the Madera Canyon in the Coronado National Forest. It’s a famous bird-watching spot that attracts thousands of visitors a year. The Madera Canyon is within the Santa Rita Mountains and offers stunning views. Bring a pair of binoculars and quietly walk the hiking trails to view gorgeous birds like white-eared hummingbirds, berylline hummingbirds, Lucifer hummingbirds, violet-crowned hummingbirds, broad-tailed hummingbirds, and blue-throated hummingbirds. You aren’t limited to just spotting birds on the trails, though. Also within Madera Canyon are Clark’s spiny lizards, whitetail deer, blue fungus beetles, Arizona bark scorpions, and Sonora mud turtles.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is about 98 acres.

©Mariusz S. Jurgielewicz/Shutterstock.com

The last spot on our list of the eight places in the U.S. where you can see hummingbirds all year long is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tuscan. There is so much to do and see while visiting this museum. It’s not just a museum but also a zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, art gallery, and publisher. This lovely museum sits on 98 acres of land. It’s home to over 230 species of animals. If you want to find hummingbirds, look no further than the Hummingbird Aviary. You can get close enough to these gorgeous birds to hear and feel the fluttering of their wings. So, what kind of hummingbirds can you see here? Hummingbirds in the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum include broad-billed hummingbirds, white-eared hummingbirds, Costa’s hummingbirds, broad-tailed hummingbirds, Anna’s hummingbirds, Allen’s hummingbirds, and black-chinned hummingbirds.

Summary of the 8 Places in the U.S. Where You Can See Hummingbirds All Year Long

#PlacesTypes of Hummingbirds
1Paton Center for HummingbirdsViolet-crowned hummingbirds, Anna’s hummingbirds, broad-billed hummingbirds, and Costa’s hummingbirds
2Cabrillo National MonumentAllen’s hummingbirds, rufous hummingbirds, Costa’s hummingbirds, Anna’s hummingbirds, and black-chinned hummingbirds.
3Beatty’s Guest Ranch & OrchardRivoli’s hummingbirds, ruby-throated hummingbirds, Lucifer hummingbirds, calliope hummingbirds, rufous hummingbirds, and broad-tailed hummingbirds.
4Ramsey Canyon PreserveRivoli’s hummingbirds, ruby-throated hummingbirds, Lucifer hummingbirds, calliope hummingbirds, rufous hummingbirds, and broad-tailed hummingbirds.
5Descanso GardensCalliope hummingbirds, Anna’s hummingbirds, Allen’s hummingbirds, rufous hummingbirds, Costa’s hummingbirds, and black-chinned hummingbirds.
6Huntington Library GardensCosta’s hummingbirds, black-chinned hummingbirds, rufous hummingbirds, Allen’s hummingbirds, and Anna’s hummingbirds.
7Madera CanyonWhite-eared hummingbirds, berylline hummingbirds, Lucifer hummingbirds, violet-crowned hummingbirds, broad-tailed hummingbirds, and blue-throated hummingbirds.
8Arizona-Sonora Desert MuseumBroad-billed hummingbirds, white-eared hummingbirds, Costa’s hummingbirds, broad-tailed hummingbirds, Anna’s hummingbirds, Allen’s hummingbirds, and black-chinned hummingbirds.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Devonyu


Share on:
About the Author

Nixza Gonzalez is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering topics like travel, geography, plants, and marine animals. She has over six years of experience as a content writer and holds an Associate of Arts Degree. A resident of Florida, Nixza loves spending time outdoors exploring state parks and tending to her container garden.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.