Depending on where you live, our beloved ruby-throated hummingbirds may have already returned from their spring migration. You can check out their progress here on this interactive map. Where I live in western NC, we see our first male ruby throat anywhere from April 1- April 12th. My feeders have been out for two weeks, just in case one arrives early! If your feeders aren’t out yet, now is the time!
There are many hummingbird feeders on the market, but many of these are not worth buying.
Here are 5 questions to ask yourself before spending money on a feeder.
Does it come COMPLETELY APART for easy cleaning? Are ALL of the parts able to be cleaned thoroughly? Many feeders on the market are poorly designed, with small openings or parts that don’t come apart. Lots of artsy, beautiful feeders fall into this category, especially ones made from blown glass. But give a hard pass on ANY feeder that doesn’t open all the way so you can clean it. Know why? Because black mold can build up –both where you can see it on the outside of the feeder, but also on the inside where it is out of sight. Birds who regularly come into contact with this black mold can die a slow miserable death of starvation because the mold can cause their tongues to swell to the point that they can no longer get nourishment. And if that isn’t bad enough, the females can pass this on to their growing babies back at the nest, causing those to die too. If you want to offer hummingbird feeders, it’s your responsibility to be a good steward and being a good steward requires making an effort to keep the feeders free from mold.
I always tell people, “If you don’t have time or aren’t willing to clean and refill the feeders every two or three days during the hot summer months, please don’t put them out!”
The birds can easily fend for themselves and don’t need our help, especially if you plant some hummingbird friendly plants in your yard. It’s better to not feed them at all then to feed them food that makes them sick– or worse, kills them!
Does it have yellow on it? If so, give it a hard pass. Know why? Because yellow attracts bees and wasps. Feeders without any yellow are much better.
What do the ports/holes look like? Will they be easy to clean? Many feeders come with tiny cages over the holes and while these are great for keeping out the bees and wasps, they are often very difficult to clean. I have found that even when they are removable, it’s often hard to keep the black mold from building up on these. As a result, I don’t choose feeders with these tiny guards, or feeders with slits for holes that can be impossible to keep clean.
Does it allow the birds to rest while feeding? This is not a requirement, as in nature, hummingbirds are perfectly adapted to hovering as they drink. But why not offer them a place to rest? It’s easy to choose feeders with perches so the tiny birds can save some energy.
What size is it? During the hot summer months it will be essential to refill the feeder every two to three days. Some feeders are on the market hold up to 64 oz of nectar which is way too much–most of the time it will spoil well before the birds have consumed it. Those with reservoirs smaller than 4 oz will need to be refilled daily. I opt for a middle-size feeder, closer to 10-16 ounces.
What is it made out of? This really comes down to personal choice and where you’ll be hanging the feeders and what conditions you might face such as wind. The two main types of materials for hummingbird feeders are plastic and glass. The glass feeders are more sturdy and blow less on windy days but can break if they fall onto cement or hard ground. Where I live I pass on the glass feeders because sometimes animals knock my feeders down and the last thing I need is a pile of broken glass shards. The plastic ones do sway more in the wind but can be put in protected areas to account for this. I would stay away from any feeder with metal or brass ports as these can rust and tend to be harder to keep clean.
And lastly, a built-in ant moat is great, but not necessary as there are plenty of separate moats you can buy and add to deter ants. I do love the suction-cup feeders that go right on a window–this is a great way to really appreciate the beautiful birds close-up.
So which feeder do the birds prefer? That’s a question I wish I could ask and have answered! Since I have both saucer and tube-type feeders I can simply tell you my observations– the birds seem to prefer the feeders with the tube in the middle, I think because it provides them some measure of added safety, as they can by “hidden” behind the middle reservoir. If on the other hand, YOU don’t want the birds hiding behind the middle reservoir so you can see them better, then the saucer type feeder is better. My best suggestion is to buy more than one and have a variety. Try to put them in the shade so the nectar doesn’t spoil as easily.
Once you have found the perfect feeder, it’s easy to make your own nectar. By doing this you can save money and avoid giving the birds the dangerous red dyes that are often part of store-bought nectar. The red dye is 100% unnecessary and may cause harm to the tiny birds. Why take the chance when you can just make your own nectar? In nature the small birds eat a variety of insects, along with nectar from flowers and even tree sap, such as from the wells created by sapsuckers. In a pitcher, add one cup of regular old white granulated sugar along with 4 cups of hot water. Mix well, allow to cool, and then add to your feeders. It is not necessary to boil the water, although it is not bad to do so. I always have some nectar mixed up and stored in the fridge so when it’s time to clean and refill the feeders, I’m ready.
Please note:
- You should NEVER use raw or turbinado sugar as this is too high in iron for the tiny birds and can eventually kill them!!
- Never all honey or other sweeteners to the necar
- Don’t use red dye as this can harm the birds
Good luck and happy bird watching! Let me know when you see YOUR first hummingbird of the season!!
