
Learn the secrets to attracting hummingbirds to your yard.
Hummingbirds are amazing creatures, with the ability to fly backward using wings that beat about 30 times a second. It’s no wonder folks all over their range are attracting hummingbirds to their yards to enjoy them up close. Learn how to feed them and more about their behavior as birding expert George Harrison answers some of our most frequently asked questions.
Feeding Hummingbirds
What’s the recipe for sugar water?
Mix four parts water to one part sugar. While some people don’t boil their water, it’s best to boil and then let it cool just to be safe. Be sure to change out the sugar water every few days. You can store extra sugar water in your refrigerator for a week or more.
Is it okay to add red food coloring to the sugar-water mixture?
One of the older red food colorings was found to be toxic to birds, but with the new formulations, I don’t believe that’s still true. However, it isn’t necessary to dye sugar water for hummingbirds under most circumstances. The feeders usually have red parts, which provide enough color to attract hummingbirds. Clear sugar water will work just fine when feeding hummingbirds.
When should I hang my hummingbird feeders for the return of my feathered friends?
Early May is a good time to hang up your hummingbird feeders. In the South, migratory hummingbirds begin tapping sugar-water feeders in backyards in early April. The funny thing about it is that if you don’t get them up early enough, the hummingbirds will often remind you by coming to the spot where the feeders were last summer and hover there looking for them.
I’ve planted a hummingbird garden, but I haven’t seen a hummingbird. Why don’t they visit?
Try placing a hummingbird nectar feeder close to or among the red flowers in your garden. This should create a target area for the birds and make attracting hummingbirds to your garden much easier.
Early May is a good time to hang up your hummingbird feeders. In the South, migratory hummingbirds begin tapping sugar-water feeders in backyards in early April. Don’t be in a hurry to take them down in fall. There’s a myth that if you leave your sugar-water feeders up, then the hummingbirds won’t migrate. This isn’t true. Don’t be afraid to leave your feeders up through migration season. This way, you’ll catch any late travelers as they fly through your area.

A mother feeding hummingbird nestlings. Angella Parker
Hummingbird Behavior
How do hummingbirds feed their young?
Hummingbirds usually feed tiny insects and spiders to their young. They insert them right into the mouths of their babies. They’ll also feed nectar and pollen to the young birds. They do this by holding it in their throats and then squirting it into the mouth of the nestlings. Sometimes this will cause the youngster’s throat to swell temporarily, resembling a goiter.
Do hummingbirds sing?
Hummingbirds will often twitter or chatter while resting or when in pursuit of other hummingbirds. These high-pitched calls, which are slightly different for each species, may be considered their songs because the birds use them to establish territories and for courting.
Do hummingbirds drink by suction?
This is a bit of a tricky one. Hummingbirds seem to use their tongues in a way that scientists never expected – a hummingbird tongue’s tubes open down their sides when they insert it into a flower or feeder. When they pull the tongue back in, the tubes zip closed around the nectar, bringing it back into the bird’s mouth. They are one of the few species of birds that swallow liquid without throwing their head back to allow gravity to help them swallow.
How do hummingbirds fly 600 miles nonstop over the Gulf of Mexico during migration?
The simple answer is that hummingbirds store enough fat to allow them to cross the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, they begin this storage before they even leave their nesting grounds. You may notice that in late summer, just before they begin to migrate south, hummingbird behavior changes a bit and they eat more food more often. They stop to feed along the way, too, and store as much energy as possible. That’s why it’s important to maintain sugar-water feeders at least through September, even after hummingbird activity subsides.

The hummingbird behavior shown here is torpor, and is no cause for alarm. Julie Kennedy
I saw a yellowish hummingbird at my feeder. Is this common?
Though rare, some bird species will produce a yellow version of themselves. This condition is called xanthochroism, an abnormal yellowing of the plumage. It is thought to be caused by a loss of dark pigment (melanin) in the bird’s feathers. If the mystery visitor was much smaller than a hummingbird, it could be a sphinx moth, also called a hummingbird moth. This is a diurnal moth (meaning it’s out during daylight), and one variety is yellow in color and common in gardens in the summer.
Why did I see a hummingbird hanging upside-down?
Hummingbirds can shut down their metabolism to conserve energy and may appear to be dead. This condition, called torpidity, is employed most often at night. Yet reports of hummingbirds becoming torpid at sugar-water feeders during daylight are common. If you see a hummingbird in such a state, there is no cause for concern.
Kristen says
How do I keep the big birds from hanging on the big hummer feeders and spilling the food?
Micki Smith says
I see pictures of feeders with 4+ hummingbirds on it at one time. We have 2 feeders and the birds fight each other if one is feeding and another one tries to feed. What can we do?
Melanie says
Hang another feeder where they will not be able to see each other
Mike Solomons says
I’ve done that in the past, however, if one can see both feeders from a tall tree, don’t be surprised if it goes back and forth, running other hummers away – fun to watch!
Wendy Uncles says
One bird chases every other hummer around. We used to have dozens, but now, there is one very selfish male that chases from every one of our four feeders. We miss the gang. Is there any idea of how we can change it? We can’t move the feeders. The feeders aren’t all in view of each other.
Michele says
I had that problem when I first started feeding hummers many years ago. I now have 8 feeders and 50-60 hummers at a time and there’s very little fighting. You can either separate the feeders or hang a few more. Certain breeds are more territorial than others.
As you attract more birds, they can’t defend the feeder from so many so they just give up and get along.
Elizabeth Taft says
I live in California’s central valley foot hills of the sierra Nevada mountains. I have year round hummers. Is there anything special to do for the winter birds.
Barbara says
I’ve read that adding a little more sugar than usual in winter months helps the hummers with fewer natural nectar sources, and also helps keep the sugar water from freezing as quickly. I do this.
Mary says
I can never get more than one hummer at a feeder. I have them in my front yard and back. How can I get them to be more communal?
TT says
I had a hummer lay upside down on a Salvia leaf once. It was amazing! Wish I had my camera!
sandi says
I cant get hummingbirds in our yard. I live in central Fla. I have a butterfly garden an feeders. What am I doing wrong??
PAULETTA BERTRAM says
SANDI–I TOO CANT GET HUMMINGBIIRDS TO COME. I HAVE TWO FEEDER AND PLENTY OF FLOWERS. I THINK MAYBE BECAUSE I LIVE IN TOWN IN OHIO AND NOT IN A OPEN SPACE THEY MAY NOT COME AROUND. THEY ARE PLENTIFUL AT MY KIDS PLACE IN THE COUNTRY. THEY ARE MY FAVORITE BIRDS AND ITS SO SAD NOT TO GET ANY I LOVE [ BIRDS AND BLOOMS] ITS MY FAVORITE BOOK
TJ says
I live in the city and get plenty of hummingbirds especially in August…
Joan says
I just had a hummer (male) hanging upside down on my feeder and another male poking at it with its beak. The window was open so I moved around to make them stop and the one flew away but the hanging one stayed exactly as it was. It was awake. I took the screen off and actually touched it. It casually flew away after hanging a little longer. What the heck?
Trudy Cox says
We have one hummingbird guarding the feeders and will not let other hummingbirds feed. What to do?
Amanda says
I see all of these pictures with a bunch of humming birds at the feeders. I seem to only have one at a time. Last year I had one that would guard the feeder and I kept seeing him chase away the others. How do you attract more?
Janice McMillan says
The hummingbirds at our cabin site in the Clearwater National Forest remind us each spring when it is time to put up the feeders by buzzing us. I so enjoy being reminded and get right to the task to make them happy. My guess is they are needing the nutrition after the long flight back to their nesting grounds.
Deb White says
I have 2 hummingbird feeders, one in the front yard & one in the back yard. The same male hummingbird goes back & forth between the 2 feeders, guarding them & scaring off all others from feeding. What should I do? Hang more feeders??
Emmy Gilliland says
I can’t seem to attract hummingbirds to my feeders. I have a few, many flowers and shelter and vines. I have lots of other birds, could that be the reason?I live in southern Ontario.
Rita Bird says
I don’t have a comment. I have a question? I have been feeding regular birds in our yard at a bird seed container.My problem is: We had a hummingbird come around for 2 days then it left? Why? We wonder if the hummer was afraid of the other birds? I want our hummers back. What can i do to get them coming back?
I even quit feeding the other birds hoping it will come back I live in Sylacauga, Ala.
Lee Ann says
I live in the country in southern Indiana. I have several hummers visiting my feeder. What is the size of their territory?
Patti says
We have hummingbirds all year round. What do we do if we are going away and can’t feed them. Will they come back?