Hummingbirds can absolutely drink out of a dish. In fact, providing hummingbirds with a dish of nectar is one of the most common and effective ways for people to attract and feed these tiny birds in their yards or gardens.
They have long, slender beaks adapted for accessing nectar from flowers.
Hummingbirds are the only birds that can hover in place, allowing them to feed while in flight. People enjoy feeding hummingbirds because they are beautiful and fascinating to observe up close.
Attracting hummingbirds to a yard with nectar dishes provides an opportunity to see their hovering and feeding behaviors.
Many homeowners wish to support hummingbirds that migrate through or nest in their areas.
Providing nectar dishes is a simple way to supplement the diet of these special birds.
The reddish-orange glowing throat of male hummingbirds and the emerald green backs of females offer stunning, living jewels to admire.
Observing their acrobatics in flight and fierce territorial displays make hummingbirds an endless source of entertainment.
Why Use a Dish for Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds have a few unique traits that make a dish an ideal feeding method for them:
- Hummingbirds eat a liquid diet mainly consisting of nectar from flowers. A dish allows you to easily offer nectar in a concentrated form that hummingbirds prefer.
- Hummingbirds have long, slender beaks perfectly adapted for drinking from flowers. These beaks can easily access nectar from the open top of a dish.
- Hummingbirds hover in place while feeding. A dish provides an open area for hummingbirds to hover over while drinking without needing to perch.
- Hummingbirds drink frequently throughout the day to maintain their high metabolism. A dish provides a consistent nectar source that hummingbirds can return to often for quick refueling.
For these reasons, a shallow dish with nectar is an inviting feeding station for hummingbirds.
The smooth edges and open top of a dish allows easy access for hummingbirds to extend their long beaks into the nectar while hovering comfortably over the dish.
Choosing a Dish for Hummingbirds
Studies show that hummingbirds respond most strongly to the colors red and orange, likely because these mimic the colors of flowers from which they feed.
Selecting bright red or orange dishes will help make a nectar station stand out to passing hummingbirds.
Flared dishes in these hot colors also aid hummingbird visibility when feeding by providing color contrast inside the dish.
Hummingbirds have a very sensitive sense of taste.
Plastic and glass dishes are recommended over metal ones, which can give nectar a metallic flavor hummingbirds dislike.
Materials like ceramic, plastic, or glass do not alter the sweet taste that attracts hummingbirds to the sugar water mixture.
Any shallow, open dish can work for offering nectar to hummingbirds. However, some dishes are better suited for hummingbird feeding than others:
- Bright colors – Red, yellow, orange. Hummingbirds are attracted to these colors.
- Wide, shallow shape – Gives open access for hovering and drinking.
- Smooth, flared edges – Makes it easy for hummingbirds to reach the nectar.
- Stable – Won’t tip over as hummingbirds feed.
- Easy to clean – Nectar needs to be changed every few days.
Specialized hummingbird feeders are designed with all of these features in mind. But simple dishes like a small plastic saucer or bowl, a jar lid, or a bottle cap can also work well.
Preparing a Dish of Nectar
Refined white sugar dissolved in water most closely mimics the natural nectar hummingbirds rely on.
Other types like organic, raw, or brown sugar contain impurities, minerals, and molasses flavors unfamiliar and unappealing to hummingbirds.
Bottled or boiled tap water avoids chlorines and minerals that filtered through the pipes.
Spoiled nectar can make hummingbirds sick. In hot summer weather above 85°F, nectar should be changed every 2-3 days as the sugar water solution ferments more rapidly.
Carefully cleaning dishes between each fresh nectar batch removes mold and bacteria growth accelerating spoilage.
Monitoring nectar clarity and watching for increased insect interest signals it is time for a replacement.
Filling a dish with homemade nectar creates an enticing feeding station for hummingbirds. Here’s how to prepare it:
- Let the nectar cool fully before filling the dish, so as not to burn the hummingbirds.
- Only prepare as much nectar as birds will consume in a day or two.
- Avoid adding food coloring, honey, or other additives – plain sugar water is best.
- Clean and rinse the dish fully before refilling with fresh nectar.
Place the dish of nectar in a location where hummingbirds are likely to see it such as near garden flowers or hanging plants. Keep an eye on the nectar level and refill as needed to provide a consistent food source.
Different Nectar Recipes
While white sucrose sugar dissolved in water is the standard base, some people experiment with additive-free alternatives like agave or corn syrups.
The key is providing a solution with a similar ratio of sugars that hummingbirds recognize as nectar when broken down by their digestive system.
Never use any artificial sweeteners, honey, or sugars with preservatives dangerous to hummingbird health.
Consult reputable resources like Audubon to find safe, natural sugar sources.
Test new mixtures in a separate dish to confirm hummingbirds accept the flavor before transitioning from your mainstay recipe.
Most additives provide no benefit and risk turning birds away or causing toxicity if too unfamiliar from typical flower nectar composition.
When in doubt, stick to basic sugar water for best results.
Preventing Bee Feeding
Bees are powered by sugary carbohydrates just like hummingbirds.
The sweet nectar solution in dishes can lure them in to compete for the food source. Large bees intimidate and sometimes injure smaller hummingbirds attempting to feed.
There are a few strategies to discourage bee interest in your designated hummingbird dishes.
Creating a 2-3 inch water moat with marbles or stones crossing to the dish blocks bees from direct access while permitting hummingbirds to fly down.
Bees also dislike the scent of menthol, so adding mint extract or rubbing mint leaves around the dish perimeter deters them.
For severe cases, consider moving the dish location away from beehives or flowers where bees originate.
Keeping the dish consistently full reduces urgency from bees.
Tips for Feeding Hummingbirds from a Dish
Follow these tips to create an optimal dish feeding station for hummingbirds:
- Set the dish up high enough for hovering – 3-5 feet off the ground.
- Protect it from ants and bees with a moat or petroleum jelly.
- Shelter it from direct sun to keep the nectar from spoiling.
- Clean with hot water and replace nectar every 2-3 days, or when it looks cloudy.
- Use red food coloring very sparingly or not at all.
- Gradually transition hummingbirds to plain sugar water if reducing food coloring.
- Avoid any honey, artificial sweeteners, or other additives in the nectar.
With the right dish and fresh nectar, you can provide nutritious meals for hummingbirds visiting your yard.
Observe as they hover gracefully to extend their slender beaks into the dish for repeated sips of nectar.
Potential Problems
Using a dish does come with some risks and drawbacks to be aware of:
- Bees and ants are attracted to open dishes of nectar.
- Nectar can ferment and spoil quickly in warm weather.
- Larger birds may consume nectar meant for hummingbirds.
- Wind can tip over lightweight dishes.
- Precipitation can dilute and contaminate the nectar.
Despite these potential issues, the simplicity and effectiveness of using a dish makes it a popular method for hummingbird feeding.
Taking basic precautions like changing nectar frequently, sheltering the dish from sun and rain, and preventing insects from accessing it can eliminate many of the problems.
Types of Dishes
There are many types of dishes, both homemade and commercial, that can be used to serve nectar to hummingbirds:
- Jar lids – Plastic lids from wide-mouth jars work well. Look for a diameter of 3 inches or more.
- Saucers – Shallow plastic saucers for potted plants come in bright colors to attract hummingbirds.
- Bottle caps – Large soda bottle caps at least 1 inch deep can serve as mini nectar dishes.
- Bowls – Small, colorful plastic or ceramic bowls. Choose a width of 3 inches or more.
- Commercial feeders – Shallow basin-style feeders designed specifically for hummingbirds.
The key when selecting a dish is to provide an open reservoir 2-3 inches deep and at least 3 inches wide for easy hummingbird access.
Durability, ease of cleaning, and stability are also important factors to consider.
Offering nectar in a small dish is a simple yet effective way to provide food for hummingbirds.
The dish allows these special birds to make use of their unique adaptation for hovering to access the nectar.
With some basic preparation and care, a dish can become a hub of hummingbird activity as these energetic birds buzz in and out for frequent small meals.
The joy of watching hummingbirds up close as they feed easily outweighs the minimal effort of maintaining a nectar dish in your yard.
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