Hummingbirds are fascinating little creatures that bring joy to backyard birdwatchers everywhere. With their lightning-fast wings and energetic personalities, it’s no wonder people love seeing them visit their gardens.
One of the most common ways people attract hummingbirds is by setting up feeders, usually filled with a liquid nectar solution. This gives the hummingbirds an easy source of food energy in the form of sucrose. When setting up a hummingbird feeding station, a question that often comes up is whether the feeder needs a perch.
In this article, we’ll look at the reasons for and against having a perch on a hummingbird feeder. We’ll explore the feeding behaviors of hummingbirds and how perches may help or hinder them. Using scientific research and expert recommendations, we’ll provide guidelines on whether perches are necessary or even potentially harmful.
Do hummingbirds use perches?
Hummingbirds are unique among birds in that they can hover in midair and even fly backwards. This allows them to approach flowers and feeders in any direction without needing to land. So unlike most other birds, hummingbirds don’t necessarily need a perch in order to reach food sources.
However, hummingbirds will readily use perches and branches near feeders when available. Here are some reasons why hummingbirds may choose to use a perch:
– Resting – Hovering takes a lot of energy, so hummingbirds need to take frequent breaks. A perch gives them a place to stop and conserve energy in between feeds.
– Watching for danger – A higher vantage point allows hummingbirds to watch for potential predators or competing hummingbirds. Perches let them observe before approaching the feeder.
– Waiting their turn – In areas where feeders attract many hummingbirds, a dominant male may claim the feeder. Less dominant birds can wait on a nearby perch for their turn.
– Guarding territory – Male hummingbirds are territorial and may use an elevated perch to guard “their” feeder from intruders.
So while not strictly necessary, perches can serve some useful purposes for hummingbirds in terms of saving energy and observing their surroundings. This explains why even talented hovering birds will gladly make use of perches near feeding areas.
Potential benefits of feeder perches
Given that hummingbirds will naturally use perches around feeding stations, some people choose to incorporate perches into their feeder setups. Here are some of the potential benefits:
– Energy saving – The primary rationale is to provide a place for hummingbirds to conserve energy. Hovering burn calories rapidly. Perches allow hummingbirds to take a break from the energetic demands of hover feeding.
– Feeding access for juveniles – Young fledgling hummingbirds may not be as strong at hovering. Perches provide a place for them to land and feed more easily.
– Feeding access for migrant species – Some migrating hummingbird species like rufous hummingbirds are more likely to use a perch while feeding. They may not be as adapted to hovering in place.
– Reduced ant access – Perches elevate the feeder, making it harder for ants and other crawling insects to access the nectar. The drawn-out base also obstructs their path.
– Feeding space access – With a perch to wait on, less dominant birds may stand a better chance to approach the feeder when the dominant bird is occupied.
– Natural appearance – The addition of a perch may make a feeder setup seem more natural and attractive to hummingbirds.
These potential benefits explain why many commercial hummingbird feeders come equipped with built-in perches. For those that don’t, perch accessories are sold that can add a perch to any existing feeder.
Downsides of perches on hummingbird feeders
Despite the benefits outlined above, experts have identified some potential downsides associated with perches on hummingbird feeders:
– Promotes territoriality – A perch near a feeder allows dominant males to perch and guard the feeder. This can intimidate other less dominant birds from approaching.
– Risk of bees and wasps – Bees, wasps and other flying insects are attracted to the sugar nectar and may also use the feeder perch, potentially chasing away hummingbirds.
– Crowding at feeders – Hungry and sometimes aggressive hummingbirds may physically clash on a small perch as they jockey for position.
– Increased disease transmission – With birds clustered closely together on a perch, any diseases birds have may pass more readily between individuals.
– Perches can break – Excess weight and pressure can cause perches, especially cheap plastic ones, to eventually crack and break over time.
– May limit feeder placement – Finding a suitable location for a feeder with a large rigid perch may be more difficult compared to a feeder that hangs freely.
– Extra cleaning required – Any additional feeder parts means more surfaces that need periodic cleaning to prevent mold, bacteria, and fungi.
– May attract other birds – Sparrows, finches and other non-hummingbird species may be tempted to perch and try to feed, potentially scaring hummingbirds away.
The possible increased disease transmission and crowding issues are some of the more serious drawbacks to feeder perches that hummingbird experts point to. This has led many to recommend feeders without perches.
Expert recommendations on feeder perches
With potential pros and cons to both approaches, what do expert wildlife organizations have to say about the use of perches on hummingbird feeders? Here are the recommendations from some leading hummingbird authorities:
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
The Cornell Lab’s advice is to avoid perches on hummingbird feeders when possible. Their experts say that perches promote aggressive guarding of feeders and potentially increase the spread of diseases that could sicken or even kill hummingbirds. Their feeders distributed in their signature green color are intentionally designed without perches for these reasons.
The Audubon Society
Audubon also recommends avoiding attached perches on hummingbird feeders. They agree that perches allow dominant males to monopolize the feeder. Audubon suggests providing separate natural perching sites around your yard at least several feet away from the actual feeders. This allows the birds to rest nearby without inciting feeder guarding.
The National Wildlife Federation
The NWF suggests that perches may be fine for solitary feeders, especially for fledglings learning to feed. But at busier feeders they recommend avoiding attached perches. Like Audubon, they suggest placing natural perch sites like branches or posts near, but not directly on, the feeder. The NWF also notes perches attract bees, wasps and ants.
The Hummingbird Society
This group monitors hummingbird research studies and distills the information into recommendations. Their experts suggest avoiding bottle-type feeders with a single central perch, as these are prone to crowding and guarding behavior. They recommend instead using a perimeter-style feeder with multiple feeding ports in a circle. If using single-port feeders, adding a separate freestanding perch nearby can work.
Conclusion
The consensus from ornithology experts seems to be that avoiding attached perches on hummingbird feeders is the best approach for minimizing aggressive behavior and disease transmission between birds.
However, selectively adding a perch nearby, about 3 feet away from single-port feeders, can allow hummingbirds to rest in between feedings without inspiring feeder guarding. Multiport feeders may reduce the need for a separate perch.
Providing natural pokes and branches around the yard will encourage the birds to pause and survey the area before approaching the feeder. Ultimately though, hummingbirds do not require a perch to feed, so perch-less feeders allow ample access for these athletic hover masters.
By balancing hummingbird health needs and behavior, bird lovers can provide the best possible feeding experience. Thoughtful feeder placement and layout will attract these winged jewels without unduly disrupting their natural daily rhythms. With some care and planning, we can marvel at their aerial skills while also giving them a safe place to refuel.
