A Guide to Attracting and Feeding Hummingbirds

Glass or plastic, mundane or marvelous, there’s an endless assortment of functional and artistic feeders out there to meet your hummingbird feeding needs. That, of course, begs the question, with so many options available how do I know I’m making the right choice?

In our section on the Basics of Attracting and Feeding Hummingbirds we mentioned the color red. Hummingbirds are readily attracted to the color red as an initial incentive but when it comes to hummingbird feeding, the contents of the feeder are more important than the color. While many commercial feeders contain red in their color schemes, it isn’t absolutely essential. An assortment of feeders, some containing red, would be sufficient to entice the birds to your garden. They’ll make ample use of other colored feeders once they’ve been lured in. Also make note of the color yellow. Bees and wasps are attracted to the color yellow and your objective is to do what you can to keep them away (for reasons explained shortly).

Another consideration is glass over plastic. Glass feeders, while more fragile, offer greater longevity. Remember that an important element of hummingbird feeding is maintaining a clean feeder and that requires regular cleaning. Plastic feeders will more easily accept scratches from cleaning brushes which will accumulate over time. These imperfections in the surface may lead to easier mold growth and result in more frequent cleaning requirements but given the frequent cleanings your feeder will require anyway, it’s probably not a real concern.

Additional thoughts in selecting the right hummingbird feeding station are how accomodating they are to other critters. Ants, wasps and bees are your main concern as these creatures can both foul the sugar water or simply be such a nuisance as to cause your hummingbirds to abandon your offering entirely. While there are ant moat options to deal with the ants, feeders should restrict access to the water sufficiently that a hummingbird’s long beak and tongue can reach but a bee or wasp can’t.

Finally, your own aesthetic tastes come into play. As functional as some low-end feeders may be, they’re hardly pretty. Whether displayed in a beautiful hummingbird garden or hanging promenantly near a window, some folks want the best of both worlds and aspire to both beauty and functionality. Hummingbird feeding is only part of the objective. Another beautiful element to showcase their home or garden is often another. And, trust me on this, some of the handblown glass humingbird feeding stations out there are simply astounding. Just remember, you’ll pay considerably more for a handmade feeder but the look is often worth the price.

As wonderful as it is to attract a hummingbird to your house with a hummingbird feeder, a wonderful garden design that accomplishes the same (and meets your hummer’s other needs) is even more exhilerating. Our hummingbird feeding guide would be incomplete without reviewing this topic. One thing to consider, though, it’s a bit more difficult to spot these little guys when they have an entire garden at their disposal to dart around.

To optimize your chances of attracting and spotting a hummingbird, you’ll need to do a bit of planning. You want to meet as many of the bird’s needs as you can. First there’s the nectar. As explained in Basics of Attracting and Feeding Hummingbirds, you’ll want to ensure you offer flowers that meet the bird’s 25% sugar content preference. In addition, you’ll want a mixture of perenials, annuals, bulbs, shrubs and vines which provide flowering sources of nectar throughout the season. We’ll provide a comprehensive list of hummingbird friendly flowers and plants in a future post.

In addition to nectar, a hummingbird will want a clean source of unsweetened water both for consumption and bathing. My own yard has a small pond and waterfall. I’ve included shallow still(ish)water areas that move just enough water to prevent stagnation but are calm enough to entice bathing birds without risking them being washed away. My small yard is a year-around bird bath and drinking station.

While you’ll need plenty sun to grow the various flowers on which your hummingbirds will feed, you’ll also want shady locations where they can perch and rest. Hummingbirds spend far less time flying around and feeding than they do perched and conserving energy. Be sure to provide opportunities for both.

Remember that hummingbirds consume nectar for energy. Their real source of food comes from insects and spiders. If you can find a way to attract flies or other bugs to a corner of your yard, you’ll meet your hummingbird’s real feeding needs. Sweet fruit such as bannanas will often serve the purpose well.

Finally, don’t discount a few well-placed artificial hummingbird feeders scattered around your garden. These will serve as convenient stand-ins when flowering plants are scarce at the end of the season. They will also provide alternative locations should hummingbirds become competitive. Larger species will bully smaller birds for the best sources of nectar. Having several hummingbird feeding stations in your garden ensures ample supplies for all comers.

Hummingbirds are found exclussively in the Americas with ranges spanning from Southern Alaska and Canada to the southern tip of South America. Most species are migratory with North American birds traveling to regions of Mexico and South America in the Fall and returning to their breeding grounds in the Spring.

When it comes to hummingbird feeding, Spring and Fall are important calendar periods of which you should be particularly conscious. A hummingbird expends significant calories during migration periods and sources of nectar become harder to find in the Fall. If you are following the 1 to 4 sugar/water feeding recommendation, consider increasing the sugar to water ratio a bit in the fall to 1 part sugar to 3 parts water. This will provide the additional energy a hummingbird needs to make the long trip ahead.

Your consideration in the Spring is initially attracting hummingbirds to your garden or artificial hummingbird feeding station. As a hummingbird migrates North, it is expending as much energy as it did during its Fall migration. While there are likely more natural food sources available during its Spring migration, your objective is to provide an inviting home and hopefully entice a bird or two to hang around.

Though the migration schedules for hummingbirds varies by species, a good rule of thumb is to get your feeder out early. Mid March is a good, early start time. Delay by a week or two if you live in a more northern climate.

Residents of Southern California could leave their feeders out all year and still attract visitors as the gentler climate caters to year-around hummers. Remember to keep the feeder cleaning schedule up. Also consider cutting back on how much you are feeding visiting hummingbirds as other species will have migrated south and you may be hosting less visitors. The birds will let you know their needs. If you come home to an empty feeder every day, up the amount of sugar water to compensate.

Finally, remember that the sugar water you are feeding your hummingbird is a suplimental food source for energy and not for nutrition. Hummingbirds will also feed on insects and drink unsweetened water so a garden that supplies both will further increase your odds of hosting a hummingbird during the hummingbird busy season!