Hummingbirds are beautiful wild birds that are well known for hovering over gardens and consuming nectar. They also have the biggest attitudes and dominant behaviors, being aggressive towards other birds. Give your hummingbird feeder space between other feeders, and establishing better perch positions for all hummingbirds that arrive.
Another problem facing hummingbirds in your yard would be the quality of the nectar you store in your feeder. Ants, bees, and wasps love the same sugary water substance as the hummingbirds. These insects will steal and contaminate the nectar, which leads hummingbirds to illness and death. Give hummingbirds protection by having an ant guard device (in most cases, a bowl) surrounding your feeder or on top of it.
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Types of hummingbird feeders
There are two great examples of hummingbird feeders you should consider.Â
Saucer feedersÂ
- Also known as dish feeders, can hold nectar and can be more easily mounted on top of poles or railings. These kinds of feeders are easy to assemble, fill, and clean. However, most saucer feeders have a smaller capacity and they must be refilled more frequently compared to other feeders.Â
- Another issue you will have with saucer feeders is visibility. The appearance of feeder matters to hummingbirds, and they prefer to visit feeders that look bright, vibrant, and unique rather than the typical dull feeder.
Bottle feeders
- Can also hold nectar, but unlike saucer feeders, it is easier to check the nectar levels in bottles. These feeders have central reservoirs located above the feeding ports and release the nectar from above. Typically bottle feeders have a greater capacity, and like saucer feeders, they are easy to assemble.Â
- Unfortunately, there are also drawbacks to the design of bottle feeders as they are more prone to attracting insects, and after hummingbirds finish eating the nectar, a lot of leakage out of the bottle feeder occurs. Bottle feeders are more problematic to address when it comes to cleaning them.
Where to hang hummingbird feeder?
Hummingbirds are shy wild birds that don’t like to stay out in the open when they are not feeding.Â
Positioning your feeders matters a lot to hummingbirds. For starters, put your feeders at least 4 feet above the ground so that they beyond the reach of cats and other predators. It is best to place a feeder 10 to 15 feet from a cover like a tree or a shrub because hummingbirds are about conserving energy when they can. Hummingbirds that suddenly feel vulnerable will need a quick exit route from the feeder, so providing a nearby cover accomplishes that.
It also helps that you can see what is going on with the feeders you place. Position your feeder where you will be able to see it from indoors, in areas like the edge of your porch or near a garden bench.Â
Specialized hangers can attach to a porch railing with an extendable arm, which allows you to easily watch and reach your feeder. Placing your feeder close to flowers that produce nectar will give hummingbirds a chance to notice your feeder that is filled with nectar. If possible, the feeder should be in a shady spot. Direct sunlight can quickly spoil nectar.
Related:Â Hummingbird Symbolism and Meaning
The material of the feeder matters
The materials you use for your hummingbird feeder can determine just how much activity your yard will get.
Cleaning is the most important element to consider. Glass feeders are easy to soak in warm water and don’t require the same amount of attention that plastic does. However, you can still have plastic feeders if you wish. Check to see if this material is UV stable and made with food-grade plastic. You also run the risk of warping and leakage with plastic feeders.Â
While plastic feeders discolor over time, nectar may be allowed to ferment more quickly inside glass feeders. Your feeder should be able to withstand the natural elements such as rain, wind, and sunlight.
Whether you choose glass or plastic, if your feeder is too difficult to clean, you will be wasting your time. Bottle feeders that have narrow necks and saucers that have small filling holes are very difficult to clean. You should consider staying away from using ceramic feeders, which prevent you from seeing nectar levels and any possible mold build-up.Â
Make sure that any pieces such as hangers and bases that are made out of metal are resilient to rusting. Make sure that any materials you use for your feeder are dishwater safe.
What NOT to do
It is simple to give nectar to hungry hummingbirds, but it is just as easy to make mistakes with that nectar that can do much harm to them. Even the most minor mistakes will lead to hummingbirds becoming discouraged and they won’t visit your feeder, but the more major errors could create a nectar that could be toxic, dangerous, and even fatal to the birds that consume it. Here are some tips on what you should avoid doing when attracting hummingbirds to your yard.
- Bigger feeders aren’t better: Nectar typically spoils within a span of five days. If only a few hummingbirds are visiting your feeder, then you will be wasting most of your nectar, so at least don’t fully fill your feeder.
– - Don’t pick regular dark colors: If your feeder doesn’t contain any bright and vibrant colors, then you already have a challenge. Hummingbirds are attracted to colors like red and orange, and mainly the brighter shades of these colors.
– - Don’t settle with one feeder: Using only one feeder is not enough. Use several bird feeders because hummingbirds are very territorial and they are very aggressive towards each other. This depends on how many of them you have in your yard.
– - Lack of window protection: If you use window bird feeders, then do something to protect your windows so that birds won’t just fly into them. For example, if you use a plastic sheet to cover the windows, use a sheet that has decorative accents on it like tinted glass, faux flowers, or artistic swirls.
– - Avoid using honey in your nectar recipe: The main reason why honey isn’t included in nectar recipes is because it goes bad when it is diluted in water.
– - Avoid buying feeders because they are pretty: Function should be valued over form. Many models that are being sold today that have the best looks are impossible to clean, and too awkward for hummingbirds to use. Even if you have generic looking feeder with no decorations on it, as long as you properly position it in the sunlight, the reflections off the bright colors will motivate curious hummingbirds to investigate.
How to choose the right hummingbird feeder?
Insect Guards: It is essential to buy a feeder that has an insect guard to protect the birds from insects. When too many insects such as bees consume the sugar water, the nectar becomes contaminated. Saucer feeders are the best type of feeders to use if you have a major concern about insects interfering.
Ant Moats: Ant moats are hung above your feeder and are filled with plain water. It’s important to have ant moats because otherwise, ants will enter the nectar-feeding ports of your feeder and will contaminate the nectar.
Nectar Capacity: While it helps to have multiple feeders in your yard, it would help you even more to have feeders that contain larger nectar capacities. The more nectar you can store in a feeder, the more hummingbirds you will attract.
Perch Availability: Hummingbirds use perches for various purposes, such as sunning and preening, guarding the territory, and watching for intruders. Ideal hummingbird perches are positioned high to offer good, wide views, unobstructed by leaves and branches.
Ability to Clean: All forms of nectar, sugar water, and other liquid substances are messy, so it is ideal to find a feeder that is easy to clean. It is easy for nectar to rot within a short amount of time, so you have to be able to take apart the feeder and clean it.
Best hummingbird feeder
1. More Birds Glory Hummingbird Feeder
The More Birds Glory feeder has an elegant style, a decorative glass bottle, and a brushed copper finish on its metal top and base.Â
When hit by sunlight, the copper color brightens and encourages hummingbirds to come over.Â
The 5 metal feeding ports are colored in red, which are also designed to attract hummingbirds.
You won’t experience any hassle taking apart this feeder because it has a wide opening and detachable flat base. This makes the filling of nectar and the cleaning of the feeder easy.
However, it is important to note that this feeder has to be cleaned on a regularly scheduled basis. Without constant cleaning, the copper finish on the top and base will rust easily.Â
What we liked
- Includes a baffle top to keep squirrels away
- The 5 rounded perchesÂ
- Simple and elegant designÂ
- Easy to fill and clean
- Easy to adjust the length of the cord
What we didn’t like
- Copper metal pieces will rust very easily if you don’t clean the feeder frequently enough
Nectar capacity: 13 ounces
Feeder material: glass bottle with metal top and base
Feeding ports: 5
2. Aspects HummZinger Hummingbird Feeder
The HummZinger comes with a HighView perch that invites hummingbirds to relax as they drink from the feeding ports.Â
The bright red cover of this feeder will immediately attract hummingbirds from a distance and can be removed for quick and thorough cleaning of the bowl.Â
This feeder is constructed of UV stabilized polycarbonate, and it has been designed to be both drip and leak proof.
This feeder won’t leak even in very hot weather conditions, such as it being 100° outside. Located in the center of the feeder would be an ant moat, which can be filled with water at any time.Â
While there are only 4 feeding ports on this feeder, they are too small for bees to enter inside and steal any nectar from the hummingbirds.
Check the price of Aspects HummZinger Hummingbird Feeder here
What we liked
- The rounded HighView perchÂ
- The bright red color of the base
- The bottom part of this feeder is transparent, so you can see inside the feeder and measure just how much nectar remains after feeding
- East to clean and fill
- A built-in ant moat
What we didn’t like
- Protects from bees s, but not so much smaller insects like flies.
- Only 4 feeding ports
Nectar capacity: 12 ounces
Feeder material: UV stabilized polycarbonate
Feeding ports: 4
3. Aspects 407 Jewel Box Hummingbird Feeder
The Aspects Jewel Box is a window feeder made from strong plastic.Â
It’s shaped like a jewel box and it has a bright red cover that will easily attract hummingbirds to fly over and investigate.Â
The shape of this design allows for an unobstructed view of the hummingbirds.Â
Surrounding the center feeding base is an ant moat, which is detachable and doesn’t need to be used depending on your preference.Â
The bright red cover on this feeder can be easily lifted up as it is a hinged lid, so you will experience no problems cleaning and filling the feeder.
The only concern you could have with this feeder is that you will find yourself constantly refilling it. Hummingbirds have a habit of emptying feeders very quickly and the capacity of this feeder is only 8 ounces.
What we liked
- The attractive bright red cover
- Very easy to refill and clean
- A rounded HighView perch
- Strong cups for window installation
- Detachable ant moat that is detachable
What we didn’t like
- Only 3 feeding ports
- Holds about 8 ounces of nectar
Nectar capacity: 8 ounces
Feeder material: UV stabilized polycarbonate
Feeding ports: 3
4. First Nature 3090 Hummingbird Flower Feeder
This feeder features a plastic bottle design that includes a red top and base.Â
It has 10 feeding ports that are small enough to prevent insects like bees and wasps from stealing nectar.
The bottle is a wide-mouth fluted reservoir that is easy to fill and clean.Â
It’s also made out of clear plastic, which allows you to see where the levels of nectar are in the feeder. Â
A single perch forms a ring around the bottle, allowing lots of space for multiple hummingbirds to fly over and consume nectar.
Located on the top is a built-in ant moat, which will discourage ants from entering the feeding ports.
While it can be a little tricky, the hook on top can be supported with another hook or a chain to make the feeder hang more sturdy.
What we liked
- The capacity of 32 ounces
- The wide-mouth fluted reservoir (easy to clean and refill)
- The small feeding ports discourage bees and wasps from entering the feeder
- A built-in ant moat
What we didn’t like
- Isn’t dishwasher friendly
- The top hook may need reinforcement
Nectar capacity: 32 ounces
Feeder material: UV stabilized polycarbonate
Feeding ports: 10
5. Grateful Gnome Hand Blown Hummingbird Feeder
This hand blow glass feeder has an elegant design that holds a great amount of nectar.Â
The bottle that makes up this feeder is shaped like a globe and cleverly displays multiple vibrant colors, imitating the natural flower look that hummingbirds love.Â
One great benefit of hand blown glass is that it is very thick, sturdy, and durable.Â
The color in the glass is embedded in two layers of glass, though the glass is clear enough for you to see what’s the level of nectar is.
The 5 feeding ports on the metal base are covered with flower-like decorations. There is a single rounded perch that forms a ring on the metal base.
The most important detail to observe is the rubber ring. Designed to be leak-proof, the purpose of the rubber ring is to hold the nectar in the bottle and in the feeding ports.
What we liked
- Made from hand blown glassÂ
- Vibrant colors
- The glass bottle is thick and heavy, so it won’t be easy to break it
- A strong S-hook
- Extremely easy to refill and clean
What we didn’t like
- No built-in ant moat
- Be careful when attaching the glass bottle to the metal base because sometimes when you screw it on tightly, the nectar won’t flow out of the bottle and into the feeding ports
Nectar capacity: 36 ounces
Feeder material: metal base, rubber ring, hand blown glass bottle
Feeding ports: 5
