What’s This Post About?
Who doesn’t like hearing the sweet whistles of hummingbirds in their backyard? Is there a trick that can make those adorable, whimsical creatures stay in your garden without scaring them away? Well, if you are looking for a tip or two to invite hummingbirds to your backyard, then you’re in the right place.
There are a couple of things that can help you build a hummingbird-friendly habitat. These are the tips that will not only make them fly joyfully to your backyard but also ensure that they stay there longer and keep coming back.
Read further to know what makes hummingbirds want to keep coming back.
How Can You Attract Hummingbirds to Your Backyard?
Hummingbirds may appear all sweet and nice, but they can be quite mean too. One of the hummingbirds’ traits is that they are antisocial. Therefore, you need to be accurate in what you do to attract them.
To make it easier for you to draw their attention to your yard, here’s a couple of tips that can come in handy.
1. Build a Friendly Habitat!
The antisocial bird likes to lurk in a rather secluded and quiet place. To make your backyard a friendly habitat to this little birdie, you must ensure that there is no source of major disturbance to their existence.
Dedicate a cornered place in your home to create a hummingbird-friendly environment. You can also add a broad-surfaced water container to make a small pond for the hummingbirds to bathe in. Birds love to play in the water during sunny afternoons.
Apart from adding a pond for your little visitors, you can ensure their visit by adding colors to your garden by planting native plants in it.
2. Add Native Plants to Your Garden!
To maintain the sustenance of their high-functioning metabolism, the hummingbirds depend largely upon flower nectar. From feeding every 15 to 20 minutes a day, they keep moving to thousands of flowers to satisfy their insatiable appetite.
Their hefty appetite can be of great help to you to invite them over to your yard. How? It is simple. Add native plants to your garden, and you will have your visitors flying to your backyard in no time. The following plants have various species and are native to most parts of the US.
- Sages
- Bee balm
- Cardinal flowers
- Coral honeysuckle
The above plants are a good attraction to this antisocial yet adorable bird.
3. Red is Their Color!
Hummingbirds are attracted to vibrant colors such as red and orange. Red in particular is their favorite. Your garden should have flowers of such colors to attract these birds. Apart from the vibrancy of red, orange is appealing to their eyes too. This bright color attracts the hummingbirds like a magnet.
4. Prepare the Perches!
Hummingbirds may be capable enough to hover over a plant for a while, but they do seek perches to rest on.
They prefer a much quieter place, secluded from the rest. Therefore, they tend to lurk on shrubs and small deciduous trees.
Moreover, these birds have a hefty appetite for nectar; therefore, they seek a place to build their nest to the nearest nectar spot.
Plant small shrubs and trees to provide these birds with stems and perches for their comfort.
5. Eradicate Pesticides
You surely do not want these little birdies to die because of pesticides that were not meant for them at all. They may not fall dead right away but, they become prone to serious challenges to their health.
The poisonous fluid that a pesticide contains moves up through the plant’s sap, making it toxic to the external organisms. When the hummingbirds probe on the flowers and suck the nectar, they consume the poisonous fluid.
These pesticides contain a toxin called imidacloprid. A single dose of imidacloprid is enough to kill 50% of the test subjects.
These little ones may not die abruptly if they have chronic low-grade exposure to such toxins. However, they may encounter a severe decline in their reproductive system. They may also have to face changes to their survival behavior which helps them fight severe weather conditions.
If you are a true hummingbird lover, you are indeed going to keep pesticides out of sight.
6. Make Your Yard A Nutritious Stopover
Here’s the most important thing to make hummingbirds your frequent visitors. The nectar fountain! This does not mean that you establish a fountain filled with sugar water in your backyard. It simply means that you need to ensure that you have enough nectar to supply your hummingbirds with.
In addition to planting nectar-rich flowers, you can also provide nectar using bird feeders. They are available all over the internet so if you want, you can easily get one for your yard.
The list of tips can continue to grow more. However, among the various tips to attract these birds to your lawn, our pick of choice is the hummingbird feeders.
What’s A Hummingbird Feeder?
You surely are not looking for a dictionary meaning. Nonetheless, you do want to know what a hummingbird feeder is if you do not want to compromise on what is good for those tiny creatures.
A hummingbird feeder is a bottle or a container that holds nectar in it to feed hummingbirds. Nowadays, you can find a vast range of hummingbird feeders all over the Internet.
Now that you understand what would keep them coming to your backyard, you don’t want to delay their arrival any further. So, here’s how this post can help you.
To narrow down your choices and save you some time, below is the list of the 13 best bird feeders for hummingbirds.
List of the 13 Top-rated Hummingbird Feeders
In addition to your auspiciously picked outdoor home decor, hanging a colorful bird feeder in your backyard can help enhance the beauty of your house.
Also, did you know that installing a bird feeder requires no hassle at all? This means that you can effortlessly add one to your yard (or two if you have a comparatively large number of visitors) by hanging it in an elevated place.
All you need is to add nectar to the container, and you are good to go. Nevertheless, you must ensure that you choose the best bird feeder for hummingbirds. This will not only get you the whistling visitors to show up quite often to your garden but will also add value to your home decor.
Without further delay, let’s have a look at the 13 top-rated bird feeders for hummingbirds.
The first on the list is the hummingbird feeder with perch.
Ratings: 4.6 out of 5
Capacity: 38 ounces
Price: $28
Brand: Rezipo
Description: Rated 4.6 out of 5, the hand-blown glass feeder tops the list of our best bird feeders for hummingbirds. The vibrant red-colored flower-shaped feeder ports appeal to the eyes of these birds like no other.
Pros
- Enhances the outdoor decor
- See-through glass makes cleaning the feeder easy
- Has a sealing ring to avoid spilling
Cons
- The appearance makes it look like the glass has been seamed
- Sanitizing glass is a difficult job
Ratings: 4.5 out of 5
Capacity: 20-26 ounces
Price: $7
Brand: Nature’s Way Bird Products
Description: The Mason jar feeder holds around 20 to 27 ounces of nectar. The feeding ports are flower-shaped and easily removed to ensure thorough cleaning.
Pros
- Feeds multiple birds simultaneously
- Has a wide opening to prevent mess
Cons
- Holds only 20-26 ounces which require refilling twice a day.
Ratings: 4.6 out of 5
Capacity: 20 ounces
Price: $21
Brand: More Birds
Description: With a capacity of 20 ounces, this feeding station has seven feeding ports. The curvy glass feeder with the vibrancy of red attracts the hummingbirds effortlessly. It has a built-in ant moat that keeps any of them from reaching the nectar.
Pros
- Has a protective pit in case of rain to keep the ants inside it
- Easy to assemble and reassemble the container
- Easy to clean
- Anti-spill
Cons
- Thinner glass material
- Fragile, therefore non-durable
Ratings: 4.6 out of 5
Capacity: 12 ounces
Price: $27
Brand: Aspects
Description: Rated 4.6 out of 5, Aspects high-view hanging feeder is Amazon’s favorite pick. It is circular and has a perch that allows hummingbirds to enjoy their nectar comfortably. Unique in its design, this feeder is made of polycarbonate, which makes it highly durable.
Pros
- Easy to wash
- Protection from wasp
- Unbreakable material
Cons
- The color of the container and flower ports is the same, making it difficult for the bird to differ in the container and the feeding ports.
- Only four ports mean not much room for multiple feeding
Ratings: 4.5 out of 5
Capacity: 16 ounces
Price: $9
Brand: First Nature
Description: The two-part bases enable the users to clean the feeder without much hassle. Allowing several birds to perch on it all simultaneously, this feeder is easy to fill due to its wide mouth.
Pros
- Accommodates multiple birds to feed at a single time
- Durable
- Easy to clean
Cons
- No ant moat to prevent ants
Ratings: 4.6 out of 5
Capacity: 10 ounces
Price: $15
Brand: Perky-Pet
Description: The antique-style green glass bottle can uplift your home decor. The four flower-shaped feeders attract hummingbirds to not only feed but also perch on the base.
Pros
Cons
- Requires frequent refilling
- No ant moat to prevent ant from reaching the nectar
Ratings: 4.5 out of 5
Capacity: 10 ounces
Price: $23
Brand: Monarch Abode
Description: The highly durable Monarch Abode hummingbird feeder is made up of metal. The iconic design makes it a perfect fit for your hummingbird’s habitat. The circular shape has a high view perch that helps the birds settle down as they feed upon their nectar.
Pros
- Durable material
- Removable glass lid enables easy cleaning
- An iconic addition to the house
Cons
- Cannot feed more than 3 or 4 hummingbirds at a time
- The capacity to store fewer ounces of nectar requires frequent refills
Ratings: 4.5 out of 5
Capacity: 20 ounces
Price: $16
Brand: More Birds
Description: The antique glass bottle has a capacity of 20 ounces with five feeding ports. This does not only accommodate multiple birdies to feed together but also uplifts the outdoor decor of your house with its aesthetics looks.
Pros
- Unique design enhances the outdoor decor
- Five feeding means accommodating five birds simultaneously
Cons
- The seal loosens up after a while leading to leakage and spill
- No ant moat to prevent ants from reaching the nectar
Ratings: 4.6 out of 5
Capacity: 28 ounces
Price: $22
Brand: Perky-Pet
Description: The perky-pet 9101-1SR Crystal Top-fill Glass Hummingbird feeder is one of the best hummingbird feeders you can find on the internet today. Rated 4.6 out of 5, this feeder is featured with five flower-shaped that enable various birds to feed together. The gasket sealing helps prevent any leaking out from the feeder.
Pros
- Removable perch makes cleaning easy
- Ports are narrowed to prevent bees from getting to the nectar
Cons
Ratings: 4.6 out of 5
Capacity: 20-26 ounces
Price: $28
Brand: Wild Wings
Description: The hanging metal basket holds a beautiful hand-blown sunset blue colored bird feeder with a silicone gasket around the lid to prevent leakage. The hand-blown glass adds value to your outdoor decor.
Pros
- Vibrant color attracts hummingbirds
- Can accommodate multiple birds at a time
Cons
- No ant moat to prevent ants
Ratings: 4.4 out of 5
Capacity: 24 ounces
Price: $18
Brand: Perky-Pet
Description: The wide top opening of the jar enables you to fill nectar without the mess. Various feeding ports in the shape of flowers can attract multiple hummingbirds to feed. The beautiful purple-colored glass bottle adds up to an aesthetic outdoor decor.
Pros
- Capacity to hold 24 ounces of nectar
- Can feed multiple birds simultaneously
Cons
- Fragile to the wind.
- Drains from the flower-shaped feeding ports
Ratings: 4.3 out of 5
Capacity: 8 ounces
Price: $17
Brand: Bird Choice
Description: The circular-shaped hummingbird feeder allows four birds to feed simultaneously. It has a capacity of 8 ounces which means that your little hummingbirds can enjoy fresh nectar more often. The round-shaped feeder has a high-view perch that enables your visitors to rest as they feed upon the nectar.
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Vibrant colors captivate the attention of hummingbirds
- Four feeding ports means simultaneous feeding
Cons
- It’s an attraction to wasp and yellow jackets
- The way the feeding ports are designed, bees can easily attack the nectar
Ratings: 4.1 out of 5
Capacity: 8 ounces
Price: $7
Brand: Greenbrier
Description: Rated 4.1 out of 5, this hummingbird feeder is made of a see-through plastic material. The container can easily screw-open, which enables the users to refill the nectar without much hassle. The bright red color provides a source of attraction to the hummingbirds. This ensures a frequent visit by these tiny creatures.
The container has a capacity of 8 ounces which means you can provide fresh nectar twice daily.
Pros
- A see-through plastic material that enables you to see when the container needs to be refilled.
- Easy screw-opening makes cleaning an easy task.
Cons
- Not durable.
- Refills are frequent.
- Thin plastic material can result in leakage.
What’s So Good About Hummingbird Feeders?
Having a hummingbird feeder is not only beneficial to the bird itself but can also be of great advantage to your household.
1. Adds Value to Outdoor Decor
Hanging a hummingbird feeder in your backyard can uplift your previously not-so-appealing outdoor decor.
2. Frequent Visitors
It becomes easy for you to make these birds fly to your yard and keep them coming back every day. You can hear soft whistles echoing in your lawn throughout the day.
3. Rescuing the Endangered Species
By having a hummingbird feeder, you provide nectar for those birds which may appear late in the season while migrating.
Due to various climatic conditions, some species may not be able to get a sufficient amount of nectar from a natural source. In such circumstances, homemade sugar solutions provide nourishment through bird feeders.
The Cons of Hummingbird Feeders
There is always a positive and a negative side to everything. Hummingbird feeders may sound like a wonderful idea to keep them coming over to your place and get them their required nourishment. However, the alternating of natural procedures to synthetic ones has its consequences.
1. Pollination is Deterred
When a hummingbird feeds on a flower, it leaves spores from other flowers to the one it is feeding on. This refers to the process of pollination. When hummingbirds feed on nectar contained in a bird feeder, the bird does not pollinate. Therefore, we can say that probing flowers is essential for plants and the bird both.
2. May Cause A Disease to Spread
Having birds traveling from long miles may be an alarming situation since they’re most likely to carry germs and viruses from wherever they come. You may love these little birdies and like to see them around often, but a single infected bird can cause great harm in unimaginable ways.
3. Flight May Crash
Since these birds keep hovering around, they are at a constant threat of crashing into something.
It is highly unlikely that they won’t join you in your lounge if they have already explored your lawn. It indicates that they may not only be at a threat of crashing into a window, but in the worst-case scenario, they can get tangled up in your ceiling fan.
4. An Open Invitation to Insects
Sugar water is an attraction towards ants. Bird feeders can be a great source for their interest if they don’t have an ant moat to prevent them from the unwanted guests.
Keep Reading!
The bird may have a mean trait and is known for being antisocial. Regardless, you can still make them your friends if you provide them a friendly environment by using the various tips that have been mentioned above.
To make them come back more often, you need to make them feel comfortable around the habitat that you build for them. And the best way to make them feel like home is to choose a perfect hummingbird feeder to have hung in your backyard.
If you love hummingbirds just like we do and wish to find out more about them, I know just the post that you could read. Head over to learn everything you need to know about a hummingbird’s nest.
Have you been looking for everything on hummingbird nests? Well, we’ve got you covered. Here is a compilation of this bird’s nesting habits.
By
David A. Swanson
Bird Watching USA
My name is David and I'm the the founder of Bird Watching USA! I started Bird Watching with My father-in-law many years ago, and I've become an addict to watching these beautiful creatures. I've learnt so much over about bird watching over the years that I want to share with the world everything I know about them!
Posted in: