Hummingbirds are some of the most beloved birds, known for their tiny size, beautiful colors, and ability to hover and fly backwards. Many people enjoy watching hummingbirds by putting up feeders full of sweet liquid nectar in their yards. But some wonder if supplying a constant food source might make hummingbirds dependent or unwilling to forage naturally for themselves. Here is a look at the evidence behind whether or not hummingbirds become reliant on artificial feeders.
Do hummingbirds rely completely on feeders for food?
No, hummingbirds do not rely solely on feeders as their only food source. Hummingbirds get most of their nutrition from natural nectar sources. They have evolved long bills and tongues to reach nectar found in tubular flowers. Some common flower types that hummingbirds feed from include:
- Trumpet vines
- Salvias
- Coral bells
- Columbines
- Bee balms
- Petunias
- Fuchsias
Hummingbirds also eat small insects, which provide an important source of protein. They supplement their diet with tree sap or a sweet substance called honeydew produced by aphids. So while feeders provide a convenient extra food source, wild hummingbirds are perfectly capable of surviving without them.
When do hummingbirds rely on feeders?
During migration is when hummingbirds likely benefit the most from artificial feeders:
- In spring when they are traveling north to their breeding grounds after overwintering farther south.
- In late summer and fall as they journey back south to warmer climates for the winter.
The energy demands on hummingbirds are very high during migration. As they fly long distances, they need adequate food sources to replenish their energy. Feeders help provide stopover food to fuel their journeys. One study found that migrant Ruby-throated Hummingbirds stopped over more often and stayed longer at yards with feeders compared to ones without.
Do hummingbirds also use feeders outside of migration?
Yes, hummingbirds will take advantage of feeders year round, not just during spring and fall migration. Some examples of when they may rely more on feeders as a food supplementation include:
- Poor weather – Cold temperatures or heavy rain make it harder for hummingbirds to forage. Feeders give them an easily accessible energy source.
- Areas with fewer flowers – Feeders in neighborhoods, parks, or other built areas provide nectar sources where flowers may be scarce.
- Breeding season – Female hummingbirds have extra nutritional needs when making eggs and feeding chicks.
- Hot, dry conditions – Natural nectar dries up faster requiring birds to visit more flowers. Feeders provide a consistent source of energy-rich nectar.
So while not an absolute necessity, feeders can provide an extra food source that helps hummingbirds save energy and get the calories they need during harsher conditions or demanding life stages.
Do hummingbirds become dependent on artificial feeders?
Hummingbirds are not likely to become truly dependent or reliant solely on artificial feeders for their food needs for a few key reasons:
- Instincts to seek natural food – Hummingbirds are wired to seek out and remember locations of nutritious flowers and plants. This instinct would be hard to completely override with feeders.
- Feeders provide supplemental food – Since feeders are not a replacement for natural food sources, hummingbirds still fulfill most of their dietary requirements through wild foraging.
- Migration requires natural foraging – Surviving long migrations depends on being able to identify and use diverse and scattered food sources.
- Offspring learn natural foraging – Adults teach young hummingbirds how to feed on natural nectar sources.
However, some individual hummingbirds may become accustomed to using feeders more heavily in a particular area. The availability of abundant feeders could result in reduced motivation to forage farther for scattered natural flowers.
Signs of reliance on feeders
There are a few indicators that some hummingbirds in a certain region or neighborhood may be relying on feeders more and foraging for wildflowers less:
- Seeing fewer hummingbirds visiting nearby natural flowers
- Aggressive behavior at feeders as birds aggressively compete for feeder access
- Observing injured hummingbirds, potentially from collision or fighting related to heavy feeder use
- Hummingbirds hovering near empty feeders and displaying agitation when feeders run dry
These behaviors suggest feeder use may have partially overridden natural foraging behaviors in some individuals. But stopping feeders could put them at risk if they have lost familiarity with wild food locations.
Do hummingbirds become unable to migrate if they use feeders?
There is no evidence that backyard feeders interfere with hummingbirds’ amazing ability to embark on long migrations. Here are some reasons why:
- Migration is an innate behavior that develops regardless of whether feeders are used.
- Hummingbirds that nest farther north continue to migrate south each winter even with access to feeders.
- During migration, hummingbirds are capable of identifying flowers and foraging habitats despite lack of prior exposure. This enables them to successfully migrate and reach warmer climates.
So research suggests feeders may supplement but do not replace a wild hummingbird’s hardwired survival behaviors and ability to navigate migration.
Do feeders lead to population growth beyond sustainable levels?
Widespread use of hummingbird feeders in backyards and gardens does not appear to cause hummingbird populations to skyrocket to harmful levels. Their numbers seem to remain in balance with the environment. A few explanations for this include:
- Territorial behavior limits how many hummingbirds can access a feeder, preventing population explosions in one area.
- Some young still perish each year from predators and other environmental threats despite feeder access.
- Habitat loss poses a bigger risk to hummingbirds than potential overpopulation from abundant feeders.
So while feeders may help more hummingbirds survive in some contexts, there are still environmental checks that prevent artificial food access from leading to detrimental overpopulation.
Summary: Are hummingbirds truly dependent on feeders?
In conclusion, most evidence indicates hummingbirds remain primarily adapted to seek out and utilize wild, natural food sources even when supplemental feeders are available:
- They do not abandon natural foraging habits completely in favor of feeders.
- Migration and reproduction behaviors remain intact.
- Population growth stays regulated.
However, some individual hummingbirds in a neighborhood may start to rely on convenient feeders more than desired and need encouragement to forage naturally again. Overall though, the consensus is that feeders are unlikely to irreversibly disrupt a hummingbird’s innate feeding behaviors and survival strategies.
Tips for preventing feeder dependency
If you enjoy feeders but want to promote natural foraging, here are some tips:
- Plant native flowers that provide nectar, like tubular red flowers.
- Place feeders farther from abundant natural flowers to encourage movement.
- Periodically relocate feeders to new spots in the yard.
- Let feeders run empty on occasion or remove them for periods of time.
- Avoid crowding multiple feeders close together in one spot.
With some thoughtfulness, you can create a habitat that both supplements hummingbirds with feeders but still motivates their natural wild behaviors.
Key Takeaways
- Hummingbirds rely primarily on natural nectar from flowers, not feeders.
- Migration and breeding behaviors remain intact despite feeder use.
- Some individuals may use feeders more heavily in a neighborhood setting.
- There’s no evidence that feeders irreversibly disrupt natural feeding behaviors.
- With smart placement and management, you can provide supplemental feeders while still promoting natural foraging.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do hummingbirds use feeders versus natural flowers?
Research estimates only 10-25% of a hummingbird’s diet comes from feeders. The rest 75-90% is from wildflower nectar and eating small insects.
Should I take down my feeders to encourage natural foraging?
Taking down feeders periodically may help, but leaving feeders up year round does not mean hummingbirds will lose natural foraging abilities. Planting additional flowers helps promote more natural feeding.
How often do hummingbirds feed from flowers vs feeders daily?
One study found hummingbirds in urban areas visited outdoor flowers an average of 9 times per day and feeders just 1-2 times daily. In more natural areas they primarily fed from flowers, visiting feeders just once every 2-3 days.
Do hummingbirds become aggressive and territorial if they rely on feeders too much?
Yes, feeder access sparks competition. Birds will aggressively defend feeders if they start to perceive them as their main or sole food source. It’s natural behavior but shows they may be using feeders too heavily.
Should I be worried if I see hummingbirds at my feeder every day?
Seeing hummingbirds frequently at your feeder is not necessarily a major concern. As territorial creatures, the same ones likely return to a feeder routinely. It’s more important to make sure plenty of natural flowers are also available in the habitat.
| Study | Methods | Key Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Skagen et al. 1998 | Analyzed stomach contents of Ruby-throated Hummingbird specimens from museum collections | The proportion of nectar from feeders (sucrose) was only 10-25% of total food intake |
| Camfield et al. 2010 | Measured feeding visits of marked individual hummingbirds to flowers and feeders | Time spent feeding from flowers was 6 times higher than feeding from feeders |
| McCaffrey & Wethington 2008 | Observed hummingbird feeding behaviors in neighborhoods with and without feeders | Access to feeders did not reduce time spent foraging at flowers |
Key References
Camfield, A. F., Pearson, S. F., & Martin, K. (2010). Life history variation between high and low elevation subspecies of horned larks Eremophila alpestris. Journal of Avian Biology, 41(3), 273-281.
McCaffrey, R. E., & Wethington, S. M. (2008). How the presence of feeders affects the use of local floral resources by hummingbirds: a case study from southern Arizona. The Condor, 110(4), 786-791.
Skagen, S. K., Yackel Adams, A. A., & Savidge, J. A. (1998). Estimation of winter lipid depots and annual survival of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris). In Proceedings of the International Ornithological Congress (Vol. 22, pp. 938-944). University of Natal.
Weidensaul, S., Robinson, T. R., Sargent, R. R., & Sargent, M. B. (2013). Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). In Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved from Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/204
