Hummingbirds at Feeders

I am always delighted to see the hummingbirds at the feeders. Here is a young, female Ruby-throated hummingbird preparing to land for a treat.

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Season after season, the return of hummingbirds to our feeders and flowers thrills me.

I never tire of their dashing and flitting and will always be captivated by these tiny birds with iridescent plumage.

Much to my disappointment, I never have lots of hummers at one time drinking at the feeders. Only on occasion have there been two at the same time. My birds are quite territorial and if a hummingbird flies toward the feeder while another is there, it will dart and both will zip away.

Oh, but the excitement, when outside, and I hear the hum of their powerful wings over my shoulder or catch a glimpse of one as it flits behind me!

Making nectar to attract hummingbird to feeders

Making a simple sugar mixture to keep the feeders full ensures we will enjoy hummingbirds throughout the season. We have three feeders and make fresh nectar once a week if the temperatures are low and twice a week if we are having very hot and humid days.

I have always done this on the stove but just began using the microwave. Either way, it takes less than 10 minutes to make.

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Attracting hummingbirds to feeders

To Make Hummingbird Nectar

1 Pour 1 part white sugar into microwavable container or saucepan.
2 Add 4 parts water; stir.
3 Heat in microwave (about 5 minutes on high power) or on stove top just to boiling and sugar is dissolved.
4 Allow liquid to cool completely before filling clean feeders.

Nectar can be stored in refrigerator for 1 week.
Keep feeders filled with fresh nectar as fermented and cloudy nectar can be harmful.
There is no need to add red dye to the nectar to attract hummingbirds and may be harmful to the birds.

Hummingbirds feed 5-8 times an hour

When to set out the feeders

I live in zone 6b (southern New Jersey) and we have the Ruby throat-ed hummingbirds. I set my feeders out April 1st each year and have seen hummers at the feeder as early as April 8th. To check the arrival date of Ruby-throated hummingbirds where you live, visit Hummingbirds.net for a map of yearly migration.

As the end of the season begins approaching, around late August, we notice many more hummers and they begin looking chubby as they beef-up for the upcoming southern migration. I have read to keep feeders up, clean and filled at least two weeks after you see your last hummingbird in order to help stragglers. I have seen hummingbirds, although infrequent, as late as October.

Hummingbirds are big eaters! Because their metabolism is so fast they need to eat frequently to prevent starving. It is very important that the nectar feeders be clean.

Cleaning hummingbird feeders

Once or twice each week, bring the feeders to the kitchen sink
Open (each is a little different in design) and pour out and remaining nectar.
Rinse under running water and using an old toothbrush or small bottle brush, wash/scrub away all traces of mold and dirt. Do not use soap.
Flush well with water.
Refill with cool, fresh nectar
Reassemble feeder container and hang again

As you can see, we have three different feeders. We see hummers at all of the feeders but I think they enjoy the ones with a perch best. The inverted bottle design is hard to clean and the round flat one is the easiest.

Since I seem to be most often in the kitchen (surprise, huh?), this feeder is at the back of the house and right outside the window over the sink. We have only dappled, afternoon sun here and lots of trees so the hummingbirds freely flit from feeder to tree and back again.

We have another feeder hanging on the front porch and I can see it as I sit at my computer. The hummers will even visit while we are sitting on the porch chairs.

The third feeder isn’t far from the porch, hanging in the bottom branches of a tree and they frequent this more secluded spot as well.

In addition to nectar from a feeder, hummingbirds eat tiny insects and visit tubular-shaped flowers, using their long, tapered bill to obtain nectar from the center.

There are many flowers you can plant in your yard to attract hummingbirds. Here are some we have growing that hummingbirds frequent. By far, the plant that is the biggest draw is the trumpet vine, however, be aware it can be intrusive by sending up many unwanted shoots.

A few plants that attract hummingbirds

Phlox
petunia
butterfly bush (Buddlija)
impatiens
hosta
trumpet vine
morning glories
azalea
honeysuckle

The two birds on the right in the above photo are males as evident by the bright, red band around the throat called a gorget. The dots on the throat of the bird on the left indicates it is not yet an adult.

Notice the feet as the bird perches on the feeder. Hummingbirds have very tiny legs and feet and cannot walk.

It won’t be too much longer and our visitors will begin their long trek southward.
But I will be waiting for them again next spring!

You might also like…

Hummingbird’s Unusual Behavior

Fascinating video of a tiny Ruby-throated hummingbird at a window feeder with its tongue out and looking as if panting or defending its territory.

Hummingbirds and Gladiolus

Planting bulbs produced gorgeous Gladiolus in the garden and their bright colors attracted hummingbirds. Lovely combination of hummingbirds and gladiolus.

Away With Hornets!

Finding a bald-faced hornets nest tucked into a lilac bush and deciding what to do with it. To leave it alone, to destroy it ourselves or call and exterminator.

Baltimore Oriole

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Comments

podso says
August 20, 2014 at 12:35 am
Your photos are stunning. Maybe if I had had your tutorial our HB feeder would have been more successful. I had it in the same place by the kitchen window. Actually we get them visiting our flower box there now from time to time.
kitty says
August 19, 2014 at 12:13 pm
Thank you for all the information, Lorraine. I saw a hummingbird when I was out watering last evening. I certainly must get a feeder with a perch. They're so fun to watch!
Tammy@T's Daily Treasures says
August 18, 2014 at 12:01 pm
How lovely! You got some beautiful shots. My girlfriend who lives in Qatar loves going home every summer to San Antonio so that she can reunite with all the hummers who come to visit her yard. 🙂 Best wishes, Tammy
Just a little something from Judy says
August 18, 2014 at 10:59 am
An EXCEPTIONAL post, with incredible pictures! So interesting! Thanks for the beauty it added to my morning.
Gypsy Heart says
August 17, 2014 at 6:58 pm
I love, love hummingbirds! Your photos are beautiful.
xo
Pat
lindsey says
August 16, 2014 at 8:17 am
Thats amazing Lorraine, such beautiful photos too. If we had hummingbirds I would certainly be making that nectar!
Blackberry Lane says
August 15, 2014 at 6:04 pm
Your photos are so sweet. We had flowers that attracted hummers at the home we shared with mother. She could not see them but she heard them and it delighted her every time!
Susan D says
August 15, 2014 at 4:54 am
I love your photography and the hummingbirds are my favorite species of birds. When I lived back east the babies would get so close while sitting on my veranda. I truly miss them.
Adrienne says
August 14, 2014 at 10:45 pm
Your photos are wonderful! I can never capture hummingbirds with my camera. Most years we have a hanging fuchsia just outside our patio doors. Our hot tub is close by and I enjoyed the early morning visit of a sweet, little hummingbird as I sat in the hot tub early each morning. We didn't hang a fuchsia this year – so, no hummingbirds.
~Adrienne~
Lynn@Happier Than a Pig in Mud says
August 14, 2014 at 9:36 pm
Fun pics! Enjoy them while they're here:@)
Debby Ray says
August 14, 2014 at 1:54 pm
Breathtaking photos of these lovely hummers! Ours are finally back after leaving us earlier this summer for several weeks! Couldn't figure it out but so glad we can enjoy them again!
Pondside says
August 14, 2014 at 2:11 pm
They are the most beautiful creatures, aren't they? I love to hear the buzz that means they're around. Like you, we have three feeders. Some years we leave them up as the hummingbirds don't always disappear from our island in winter time. Those that leave come back as early as February/March – such brave and sturdy little birds.
Cheryl says
August 14, 2014 at 1:17 pm
Stunning photos of these gorgeous little birds!!
Debbie Huffaker says
August 14, 2014 at 10:36 am
Beautiful photography….your flowers are gorgeous! HOPE you have an awesome day!