Who doesn’t love hummingbirds? Hummingbird nectar is simple to make at home, but you do need to use the right ingredients. Learn how to make homemade hummingbird food and attract hummingbirds to your garden!
How to Make Hummingbird Nectar
Help these hard workers get a proper meal: nectar! Make your own “nectar” in just a few steps; it’s far less expensive than buying pre-made and the ingredients are readily available.
Hummingbird Food Recipe
To make hummingbird nectar, use a 1:4 ratio of sugar to water. You’ll need the following:
- 1/4 cup refined white sugar*
- 1 cup boiling water
- Heat-safe measuring cup or bowl
- Spoon
After boiling the water (an electric kettle comes in handy here), pour the water into the measuring cup and mix in the sugar. Stir the mix occasionally to ensure that the sugar dissolves entirely.
Allow the nectar to cool to room temperature or below, then fill your feeders. That’s it!
Try to refrain from making more nectar than you need, as it won’t store for more than a couple days in the refrigerator.
*WARNING: Do not use “raw” sugar. Organic, natural, and raw sugars contain levels of iron that could be harmful to hummingbirds. Do not use honey either, as it can promote dangerous fungal growth in the birds’ esophagus. ONLY use plain white table sugar (sucrose), which, when mixed with water, very closely mimics the chemical composition of natural nectar.
A Word on Red Dye and Cleaning Feeders
PLEASE DON’T USE RED DYE IN YOUR NECTAR! Red coloring is not necessary and the chemicals can prove harmful to the birds. Plus, hummingbird feeders are typically red anyway, which makes dying the nectar itself unnecessary.
Also, please keep your bird feeders clean to avoid mold that can harm these tiny flyers. To clean a bird feeder and remove mold, soak it in a simple solution of 1/4 cup bleach to 1 gallon of hot water. After a few minutes of soaking, rinse it with water and let it dry. Try not to use dish soap for cleaning feeders. A general rule is: If you won’t drink it, don’t give it the hummers.
One additional important note about feeding hummingbirds: Over 80% of their diet consists of soft-bodied insects. So, if you want to attract lots of hummers to your yard, then don’t use pesticides to kill the insects (as annoying as they may be).
Learn more about hummingbirds here!
The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
In my neck of the woods (New Hampshire), we have only one type of hummer—the ruby-throated hummingbird.
Take a moment to listen to the call of the ruby-throated hummingbird.
They are fascinating little creatures. Barely three inches high with long slender bills almost half as long as their bodies, these tiny dynamos fly at great speeds, beating their little wings over 50 times per second. They possess the ability to hover and even fly backwards. It is hard to believe that something so small migrates all the way from Central America to the northeastern U.S. each spring.
Tips for Hummingbird Watching
Needless to say, one of my favorite summer activities is hummingbird watching. I have two feeders at opposite sides of the house, since these little guys seem to be very territorial and don’t like to share. If one is at the feeder when another comes in for a drink, there is usually a squawking, aerial dogfight until one is chased away. By keeping the two feeders out of sight of each other, a lot of fights are avoided.
To fuel their activities, they need lots of nectar and also a great deal of protein, which they get from the aphids, gnats, mosquitoes, and other insects that they eat. Their benefit to the garden as pollinators and insectivores, in addition to their entertainment value, makes them a worthwhile asset to anyone’s yard.
Plants That Attract Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds consume half their body weight in bugs and nectar, feeding every 10 to 15 minutes and visiting 1,000-2,000 flowers per day!
Over the years, I have tried to fill my yard with plants that will attract them. They love flowers that are colored red and orange (I have had them check me out quite closely when wearing a red t-shirt), but I have seen them sipping nectar from plants of other colors, too.
Generally speaking, they prefer to visit flowers that are tube shaped, like bee balm or salvia. Their long beaks and tongues make reaching the nectar quite easy.
Check out our list of plants that attract hummingbirds for more ideas.
Happy Humming!
Do you feed your hummingbirds? Share your tips for attracting them in the comments below!
Reader Comments
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Hummingbirds/feeders
I lived for 12 years in Deep South Texas, on the migratory route for several varieties of hummingbirds. At the peak of the migration, I used a gallon of nectar DAILY in my six feeders that attracted dozens & dozens of hummers.
I advise buying feeders that can be disassembled and are dishwasher safe. The dishwasher water, I found, was hotter than anything I could tolerate by hand washing. My feeders were very clean by doing this.
If you have bottle-type feeders, do invest in a couple bottle brushes, to scrub any nasty stuff that sometimes grows in the feeder.
Cleaning tip
Thank you for the cleaning advice. I have 5 feeders up since late February when we saw a couple looking around. We must be in the migrating path here in north central Texas because one day there are 4-6, the next 30 and the next day back to the regular 4-6.
When we pull the feeders from storage and clean them, we use vinegar. I don't have any bottle brush that can get whatever is stuck inside so after soaking and rinsing the vinegar I use a couple tablespoons of sugar and a little water to swirl and "sand" the inside of the feeder. Rinse again and fill!
We reduce the number of feeders when our 50+ Red Yucca plants and flower garden are in full bloom!
Thanks again for your information!
Replacing Nectar
I don't boil the water, just use hot water and shake the jar until all of the sugar dissolves. I replace the nectar every other day when the temperature is below 80°F/26.6°C; every day when above. If you use bleach (I do not) you MUST make sure to rinse ALL of the bleach off. I just scrub thoroughly with the hottest water I can stand and use a bristle brush to clean the sipping ports.
Hummingbird Nectar
How often do you recommend changing the hummingbird nectar?
Hummingbird Maintenance
I agree about not using Bleach to clean Hummingbird feeders! I just use plain dish soap and very hot water, and rinse completely. Never had a problem and I have Hummers feeding all the time. Also, I agree with another poster that the simple "disk" or "Humzinger" feeders are the best. Easy to clean and no leaking like the glass bottles! I have one large feeder hanging under my deck canopy and a smaller one outside my kitchen window. They are used every day.
Cleaning hummingbird feeders
I would not use bleach to clean hummingbird feeders. A much safer option is plain white vinegar. I use it full strength to clean the feeders and then rinse very well with plain water. As you pointed out, " If you won’t drink it, don’t give it the hummers." I wouldn't drink bleach!
Personal note
Very interesting article on hummingbirds. I know a family of Sweetser's on Cape Cod. Just wondering...?
hummingbird feeders?
Is there a source/list of good Hummingbird feeders? There are actually a lot of them out on the web, but many just seem gimmicky in the shape, size, color, etc.... Can you share some info and sources on what feeders are appropriate? Thanks, Dave
hummingbird feeders?
Is there a source/list of good Hummingbird feeders? There are actually a lot of them out on the web, but many just seem gimmicky in the shape, size, color, etc.... Can you share some info and sources on what feeders are appropriate? Thanks, Dave
Feeders
I switched all my feeders to the Aspects Hummzinger High View, & the Hummzinger Mini Blossom, They are easy to clean, & you can see the Hummingbirds no matter where they perch or hover... they are excellent! All my "bottle" type feeders were a pain in the butt to clean - they all hit the garbage can this year, I won't use anything else but Hummzingers from now on....They have several different sizes available also.
where to hang feeders
Is it okay to hang the hummingbird feeder close to seed bird feeders? I have 1 tree outside my kitchen window and this is where I like to do my bird watching, so the bird bath and feeders are all in close proximity/hang from this tree. Thanks!
Where to Hang Feeders
I've found that the Hummingbird feeder can be in the same area as seed bird feeders, but if they are too close, just the simple movement of the birds will startle the hummingbirds. If you can situate the two feeders as far apart on the tree as possible, you can probably watch the Hummingbirds and seed feeders feed at the same time.
Do praying mantis really prey on hummers?
I have had several praying mantis in both my front and back flower beds, I have a couple of times seen them on my hummers feeders, I took a pic and someone on a hummer site went ballistic, actually several did, saying they wait to catch hummers as they drink from the feeders. I enjoy the praying mantis also, but would relocate ones I saw if this is true. I live in Kentucky and some said it was only a certain kind of mantis.
Praying Mantis
Hi Rebecca,
Praying mantises do actually eat hummingbirds. While it’s not their usual source of food, they will attack if they are hungry enough. If you are seeing them on the feeder, the best action is exactly what you suggested. Use a stick to gently move the mantises to another location. Thanks for writing!
Hummingbirds
I live on Long Island north shore area. I have had hummingbirds this pass week and now they are gone. Does anyone know we're they passing through to go south or have they just found a better feeding garden. I have lots of honey suckle in flower that they love and a feeder as well
Hi Lynn, You are on the
Hi Lynn, You are on the Atlantic Flyway and probably get a lot of migrating birds passing thru your yard spring and fall. Did you know there is a hummingbird sanctuary in Riverhead? Late August thru late Sept. is the time to see migrating hummingbirds in Long Island. Male hummingbirds depart before the females but once they have completed the job of fledging their young they will be taking off as well. Your garden just might be one of their refueling stops as they head south for the winter!