Do Bats Drink Sugar Water From Hummingbird Feeders?

When we backyard birders put sugar water feeders out, we’re expecting to bring in our favorite hummingbirds—but keep your eyes peeled. Unusual sightings often include butterflies or other birds such as woodpeckers, orioles and warblers, which can come as a surprise to homeowners and inspire questions.

With that said, some may get a truly unexpected sight swooping in at their sugar water feeders: bats! Here’s why this isn’t as shocking as you might think, and why a bat would choose a hummingbird feeder as a food source.

Why Is a Bat at My Hummingbird Feeder?

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First things first: a bat at your hummingbird feeder isn’t anything to be worried about. Chances are excellent that there’s nothing wrong with the bat. There’s probably nothing wrong with your feeder, either.

Simply put, bats that feed on fruits (called frugivores) will occasionally visit hummingbird feeders for the sugary nectar. They’ll stop by more frequently if there’s a shortage of food available through natural sources.

Because bats are nocturnal, you shouldn’t expect to see one in your yard during the day. In fact, the only indicator that a bat has stopped by might be a lack of food in your feeder when you wake up in the morning. It’s important to note, though, that while the missing sugar water might require you to make another batch (psst—here is the hummingbird nectar recipe), there is no harm being done.

Bats aren’t harmed by sugar water because they need the calories to fuel their flying, and the bats won’t harm the hummingbirds, either (however, you should watch out for these hummingbird predators).

The bats also shouldn’t cause any damage to your feeders. For the sake of the bats’ (and hummingbirds’) health, though, you should always keep your hummingbird feeder clean.

Which Bats Drink From Hummingbird Feeders?

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Three types of nectar-feeding bats migrate to the southwestern U.S. If you’re located in the states of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, you might find a bat at your hummingbird feeder. The Mexican long-tongued bat, Mexican long-nosed bat, and the lesser long-nosed bat migrate up from Mexico in the spring to breed and then make the trip back south in the fall.

Northern birders, however, shouldn’t expect to see bats sipping nectar at their feeders. In other parts of the U.S., bats tend to be insect-eaters. They won’t seek out sugar-water as a food source.

For those who would still like to help bats, consider installing a bat box or growing native plants that attract insects to your yard.

Sources

• Pima County Public Library, “Bats and Hummingbird Feeders“
• National Audubon Society, “How Hummingbird Fans Are Helping to Protect a Border-Crossing Bat“
• ASU Ask a Biologist, “What Foods Do Bats Eat?“
• National Wildlife Federation, “Journey of the Nectar Bats“