Quick Answer
Most experts recommend using white, refined sugar rather than brown sugar in hummingbird feeders. The concern with brown sugar is that the molasses can promote bacterial growth in the nectar, potentially making hummingbirds sick. White sugar dissolves more readily in water and does not carry the same risk of bacteria.
What Type of Sugar is Best for Hummingbirds?
When it comes to choosing between brown and white sugar for hummingbird feeders, white sugar is generally considered the better option for a few key reasons:
Dissolves More Readily
White, refined sugar dissolves more easily and completely in water than brown sugar. This allows the nectar to have a uniform consistency that hummingbirds can lap up efficiently with their long tongues. Brown sugar’s molasses content can make it harder for the sugar to fully dissolve.
Less Risk of Fermentation and Mold
The molasses in brown sugar provides additional nutrition for microorganisms like yeast, which can lead to fermentation and mold growth. This is less likely to happen with white sugar’s pure sucrose content. Keeping feeders clean is important in any case, but white sugar avoids giving bacteria extra fuel.
Pure Taste Hummingbirds Expect
Hummingbirds have a good sense of taste and expect floral nectars to have a pure, sweet taste. The slight molasses flavor of brown sugar could potentially put them off. White sugar best replicates the taste profile they are adapted to from natural flower nectars.
Downsides of Brown Sugar in Feeders
While brown sugar might sound more “natural” than white, there are some specific downsides that make it a poor choice for hummingbird feeders:
Bacterial Growth
The microorganisms that create molasses during sugar refining can continue to live and multiply in brown sugar. In a hummingbird feeder, this can lead to increased bacterial growth, fermentation, and spoilage of the nectar. Illness may result.
Mold Risk
With the higher microbial activity happening in brown sugar solutions, mold blooms are more likely. Exposure to mold can be dangerous for hummingbirds and other nectar-feeding birds. Keeping feeders extremely clean could help avoid this, but white sugar is a simpler solution.
Gritty Texture
Unless thoroughly dissolved, which is difficult, brown sugar can give the nectar solution a gritty, syrupy texture. This may deter hummingbirds from feeding or make it physically difficult for them to eat if the sugar crystals coat their slender tongues.
Lower Concentration
Since brown sugar has up to 10% molasses content, it results in a lower sucrose concentration when mixed into water. Hummingbirds prefer higher sugar concentrations closer to 25% in their nectar. White sugar allows for mixing stronger solutions.
Excess Minerals
Molasses provides trace minerals like iron, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. While small amounts of minerals are fine, excess amounts can be problematic. High iron or calcium can cause renal failure over time. Excess minerals are more easily avoided with white sugar.
Benefits of Using White Sugar
Here are some of the biggest benefits of using regular white table sugar in hummingbird feeders:
Dissolves Rapidly
White sugar consists of pure sucrose that easily dissociates into a supersaturated solution. The fine crystals dissolve almost instantly in water, providing rapid energy.
Minimizes Bacteria
With no additional nutrients beyond sucrose, white sugar does not promote microbial growth. There are fewer concerns over spoiled nectar batches harming hummingbird health.
Provides Pure, Sweet Taste
Refined sugar perfectly matches the sweet flavor profile hummingbirds expect in flower nectar. This stimulates their taste receptors and appetite.
Allows Adjustable Sugar Concentration
By controlling the ratio of white sugar to water, you can obtain different nectar concentrations catering to hummingbird preferences. Concentrations of 20-25% work well.
May Be More Affordable
White sugar is the default table sugar in many regions. When bought in bulk, it typically costs less per pound than specialty brown sugars. This makes white sugar accessible and budget-friendly.
Won’t Cause Gritty Buildup
No need to worry about undissolved particles coating thefeeder and clogging hummingbird beaks. The pure sucrose solution avoids gritty texture issues.
How to Mix White Sugar Nectar
Making homemade nectar with white sugar for your hummingbird feeder is easy:
1. Use a 1:4 Sugar to Water Ratio
Mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts water by volume. For example, 1 cup of sugar with 4 cups water.
2. Heat the Water First
Heating the water before mixing will help the sugar dissolve most readily. Avoid boiling to prevent evaporating off water.
3. Stir Continuously
Add sugar gradually while stirring constantly until it fully dissolves into the warm water.
4. Let Cool Before Filling
Allow the nectar solution to cool to room temperature before pouring it into the feeder. Hot nectar could damage plastic feeders.
5. Store Leftovers Sealed in Fridge
For any extra homemade nectar, store it in a sealed container in the refrigerator. It will keep up to two weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is brown sugar really that bad in hummingbird feeders?
Brown sugar isn’t inherently dangerous, but it does carry higher risks of bacterial growth and fermentation compared to white sugar. Given how small hummingbirds are, it’s generally better to be cautious and stick with white sugar.
What if I run out of white sugar?
In a pinch, brown sugar can work short term until you can purchase more white sugar. Just be extra diligent about feeder cleaning and nectar replacement. Limit use to 2-3 days.
Can I use raw sugar instead of white sugar?
Raw, turbinado, or demerara sugar are very similar to white sugar in that they lack molasses. So they can work well. The slight flavor differences are unlikely to deter hummingbirds.
Is liquid sucrose solution better than white sugar?
Premixed solutions eliminate mixing, but white sugar is far cheaper. As long as you fully dissolve it, the homemade version works the same. Just avoid added dyes and preservatives.
Which is the absolute best sugar for hummingbirds?
Pure sucrose is ideal, which is found in plain white sugar. There is no need for more “natural” sugars if they introduce potential issues with fermentation or grittiness. White sugar is perfectly safe and effective for hummingbird nectar.
Conclusion
White refined sugar is widely recommended by experts over brown sugar for hummingbird feeders. The pure sucrose completely dissolves into an evenly sweet solution that avoids bacterial growth. This reduces health risks and provides hummingbirds with the ideal nectar flavor they expect. While brown sugar can work in a pinch, white sugar is affordable and reliable for homemade hummingbird nectar. Just be sure to fully dissolve it and regularly clean feeders. With a little white sugar and water, you can easily create an inviting nectar buffet for neighborhood hummingbirds.
