How to Attract Hummingbirds: Feeders, Flowers & Placement
Hummingbirds are curious, bold and fiercely hungry — they need to eat every few minutes while they're awake. That makes them one of the easiest birds to attract once you understand what they're looking for: reliable nectar, insects, shelter and water. Here's a simple plan that works across most of the US.
The 6-step plan
- Hang a clean feeder with homemade nectar (1:4 sugar to water).
- Put it in a smart spot (more below).
- Plant native, tubular flowers that bloom from spring through fall.
- Skip pesticides — hummingbirds feed insects to their chicks.
- Add perches and shelter nearby.
- Keep it going: clean feeders often and keep them up through fall migration.
The nectar recipe
Mix 1 part plain white table sugar with 4 parts water (for example, ¼ cup sugar in 1 cup water). Stir until dissolved; boiling isn't required but can help it keep a little longer. Let it cool before filling.
- Don't add red dye. It's unnecessary — the red on the feeder attracts them.
- Don't use honey, brown sugar, raw sugar or sweeteners. Honey ferments and grows mold quickly.
- Change it often: every 2–3 days in mild weather, daily when it's hot. Cloudy nectar or black specks mean it's time to clean.
- Store extra in the fridge for up to about a week.
Where to hang a hummingbird feeder
A frequent question is where not to hang one. Placement matters for the birds' safety and for the nectar:
- Windows: place feeders either within 3 feet of a window or more than 30 feet away. Close up, a bird leaving the feeder can't build enough speed to be hurt if it bumps the glass; far away, it's less likely to fly toward the reflection.
- Shade: partial shade keeps nectar from spoiling as fast.
- Cover: a tree or shrub within 10–15 feet gives a perch and escape route.
- Away from cats and from spots where a predator can hide below.
- Visible: hang it where you can enjoy it — and where hummingbirds passing through will spot the red.
Got a bully?
Male hummingbirds defend feeders aggressively. If one bird chases off all the others, add a second or third feeder out of sight of the first — around a corner of the house works well. One bird can't guard them all.
Plant flowers hummingbirds love
Feeders help, but flowers are the foundation — and they also attract the small insects and spiders hummingbirds need for protein. Aim for something blooming from spring through fall. Natives for much of the eastern and central US:
| Plant | Type | Bloom |
|---|---|---|
| Red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) | Perennial | Spring |
| Coral (trumpet) honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) | Vine | Spring–summer |
| Bee balm (Monarda didyma) | Perennial | Summer |
| Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) | Perennial (moist soil) | Late summer |
| Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) | Vigorous vine | Summer |
| Native salvias, e.g. Scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea) | Annual / perennial in the South | Summer–fall |
Choose the native coral honeysuckle rather than invasive Japanese honeysuckle. Western gardeners can look at penstemons, California fuchsia and native sages — check the Audubon Native Plants Database for your ZIP code.
When to put feeders out (and take them down)
- Put out: about a week or two before hummingbirds usually arrive in your area — late February on the Gulf Coast, April in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, early May up north.
- Keep up: through fall, until about two weeks after you see your last hummingbird. Feeders don't keep them from migrating; they help stragglers refuel.
Extra touches
- Misters and drippers: hummingbirds love flying through fine spray more than bathing in deep water.
- Ant moats keep ants out of the nectar. Never put oil or grease on feeder parts.
- Perches: leave small bare twigs nearby — males use them as lookouts.
How to clean a hummingbird feeder
Dirty feeders are the most common reason hummingbirds stop visiting. Nectar ferments quickly in warm weather and mold grows in ports and crevices. A simple routine:
- Empty old nectar every time you refill.
- Rinse with hot water and scrub with a bottle brush; use small pipe-cleaner brushes for the ports.
- For visible mold, soak in a dilute bleach solution or white vinegar, then rinse very thoroughly.
- Let it dry before refilling.
Fill feeders only partway in hot weather, so you're not throwing away much nectar when you change it.
Ants, bees and wasps
- Ants: use an ant moat (a small water-filled cup above the feeder).
- Bees and wasps: saucer-style feeders keep nectar farther from the ports than bottle-style feeders, so insects can't reach it as easily. Avoid yellow feeder parts, which attract bees.
- Leaks: a dripping feeder draws insects. Check seals and avoid hanging feeders in direct afternoon sun, which makes nectar expand and drip.
- Never use oil, petroleum jelly or insecticide on or near a feeder.
A season-by-season checklist
| Season | To do |
|---|---|
| Late winter | Order native plants; clean and inspect feeders |
| Spring | Hang feeders before arrival; plant columbine and honeysuckle |
| Summer | Change nectar often; add a second feeder if one male dominates |
| Late summer | Expect the busiest feeders of the year as young birds and migrants arrive |
| Fall | Keep feeders up until two weeks after the last sighting |
Get set up
Our hummingbird collection includes glass feeders and garden pieces; more gear is in Backyard Gear.
Hand-Blown Glass Hummingbird Feeder, 33 oz with Perch RingShop now →
Mason Jar Hummingbird Feeder, 6 oz GlassShop now →
Double Shepherd's Hooks, 76 in, Set of 2Shop now →
Solar Hummingbird Wind Chime LightShop now →
FAQ
Where should you not hang a hummingbird feeder?
Avoid 3–30 feet from a window, hot full sun, and spots where cats can lurk underneath.
Do I need red nectar?
No. Plain 1:4 sugar water is best; the feeder's red parts do the attracting.
How long until hummingbirds find my feeder?
It can take a few days to a few weeks. Flowers nearby and a feeder hung in the open speed things up.
Do banana peels attract hummingbirds?
Overripe fruit attracts fruit flies, which hummingbirds do eat — but it also attracts wasps and makes a mess. Native flowers are a cleaner way to provide insects.
Sources & further reading
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