Hummingbirds

Most ornithologists agree that the nectar in your feeders should be as close as possible to that provided by nature..

Flowers that co-evolved with hummingbirds usually produce nectar that is relatively weak in sugar, containing 15-25% sucrose (white table sugar). This is why we recommend not more than 1 part sugar to 4 parts water.

It is thought that higher sugar concentrations, although enticing to the bird (think ice cream sundaes at every meal), could cause kidney damage and being sticky, we know they make it difficult for the bird to preen and that they need to find a source of fresh water to dilute concentrated syrups.

In rehabilitation, juvenile hummingbirds will dehydrate at concentrations greater than 1:6. However, birds in the wild have other sources of dietary water and so further dilution of our 1:4 recipe is not necessary. Some scientists also think that the large water volumes obtained from nectar, may be necessary to assist with cooling. Imagine how much water you would go through flying out in the heat of a mid-summer day!

Every time a hummingbird dips its tongue into the liquid, it is adding microbes. These will grow and convert the sugar to acid and alcohol. In warm weather the microbes will ruin the nectar in a couple of days. Birds generally avoid spoiled nectar, but if resources are limited, can end up drinking it out of desperation. They could even end up drunk during hot and dry spells when there is no other liquid available.

Read our Safe Feeding in Warm Weather to learn more about this problem.

The sugar provided by plants that evolved with hummingbirds is primarily sucrose (white sugar).

*NEVER use honey, brown sugar, icing sugar, juice or artificial sweetener*

Honey contains sugars that are less palatable to hummingbirds. It also ferments (makes alcohol) rapidly when diluted in water, which causes a rapid build up of bacteria in your nectar.

Brown sugar contains molasses, but more importantly, it has 5 times more iron than white sugar. Since iron is relatively rare in a hummingbird diet, its body hoards the metal, and it can be poisoned.

Icing sugar contains anti-caking agents such as corn starch, which can promote fermentation.

Juice ferments (makes alcohol) rapidly.

Artificial sweetener does not provide the calories that a hummingbird needs to live.

Most commercial hummingbird food products are a waste of money.

Hummingbirds can taste sugar and will return to a good clean supply of sweetness. Their main indicator of where food might be is the presence of bright colour. Many hummingbird flowers are red, which explains why feeders that mimic this natural advertisement are so successful. However, plants do not colour or scent their nectar and it is probably best that we do not either.

Some commercial nectar contains artificial colouring. This could harm the birds, especially in the amounts consumed from feeders. Certainly, the red dye can be seen in their urine when they have used a dyed food source.

Commercial preparations have preservatives to keep stored fluid from spoiling. These are of concern given the volumes of nectar that hummingbirds may consume. Even low doses of heavy metals such as copper could be toxic if consumed in large volumes. Also, preservatives are likely to disrupt the gut microbiome, which is vital for things like putting on fat for migration and immunity.

Let’s use the precautionary principle. Simple is better. The red plastic on the feeder should be a sufficient indicator that food is available.

Never add protein to nectar.

Hummingbirds do need protein, but they also need to regulate the amount they take in depending on where they are in the breeding cycle. There is plenty of protein around, even in winter, and we should be not be supplementing it.

The birds can find lots of invertebrates (insects and spiders primarily) in the trees and in plantings around houses. So.... while it is very helpful to provide them with the sugar they need, we should be extremely cautious about introducing any protein into their liquid diet, as they will be scavenging invertebrates as well.

An urban myth being circulated is that hummingbirds eat ants. This is categorically untrue and has been harmful in cases where birds have been given ants by well meaning individuals. We have been researching their diet for a number of years and they don't eat ants. Hummingbirds eat soft bodied invertebrates such as small flying insects. If you would like to know more about what hummingbirds actually eat and feed their chicks, please read our research.

Feeders do not prevent birds from migrating.

There is an unfortunate urban myth that if people supply food for hummingbirds, they will not migrate south and risk death from freezing. This is not true.

The instinct to be on the move overrides any temporary supply of plenty. Our migratory birds have evolved with breeding grounds that always go into winter, which means food scarcity. So even if there is an abundance of food at the end of their breeding period, birds that migrate are more likely to successfully survive the winter months (where food supply is more abundant on the wintering grounds) This creates a strong evolutionary pressure against birds that might stay.

Anna's Hummingbirds have a late season migration, They are also undergoing a rapid range expansion and feeders are thought to have played a part. Every year there are more late season birds in unexpected places. In general, these birds will return to the warmer coast for breeding during the winter months. But some will try to survive in challenging over-wintering conditions. With climate change new areas can be successfully colonized. However, their success or failure in these new habitats defines their range. Please do not attempt to capture or relocate an Anna’s Hummingbird.