Hummingbirds are amazing little creatures. Their fast flapping wings and ability to hover in midair make them a joy to watch. These tiny birds have extremely high metabolisms and must consume up to twice their body weight in nectar each day to survive. This has led many people to wonder – does the sugary hummingbird food they provide have any real nutritional value?
The Role of Nectar in a Hummingbird’s Diet
In the wild, hummingbirds get most of their nutrition from flower nectar and the small insects they eat. Flower nectar provides a high-energy food source in the form of sugars, allowing hummingbirds to power their rapid wing beats and stay active throughout the day. While nectar is an important part of their diet, it has minimal nutritional value on its own. It lacks the protein, vitamins, minerals, and fat hummingbirds need to thrive.
This is why hummingbirds rely on catching and eating insects to provide the essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals missing from their nectar-based diet. Small spiders and insects make up about 25-30% of total food intake for many hummingbird species. The protein gained from these prey items allows hummingbirds to maintain muscle mass and function properly.
When people put out hummingbird feeders with that red “nectar” in their yards, they are supplementing the bird’s natural food sources with an easy, plentiful supply of energy-rich sugar water. The sugar ratios in commercial hummer nectars aim to be close to the natural concentration found in flowers favored by wild hummingbirds. This supplemental food provides a convenient source of fuel for hummingbirds nearby, especially in areas where flower nectar is less available. However, it lacks the essential proteins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals hummingbirds need.
Nutritional Content of Store-Bought Nectar
Most commercial “nectars” designed for hummingbird feeders contain just two ingredients – white granulated sugar and water. Some may also include red food coloring to help attract the birds. The nutritional value in these products comes almost entirely from the sugar content.
Let’s look at the details of one popular brand of powdered hummingbird food:
Nutrition Facts | Per 1 tbsp concentrate (9g) |
---|---|
Calories | 36 |
Carbohydrates | 9 g |
Sugars | 9 g |
As you can see, this concentrate provides 36 calories and 9g of sugar (carbohydrates) per serving. Diluted with water at a 1:4 ratio to make nectar, this amount of concentrate would provide about 140 calories per 4oz serving. The nutrition is nearly 100% carbohydrates in the form of sucrose sugar.
There are minimal amounts of some vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron, and potassium in white sugar. However, the quantities are negligible. Refined white sugar contains less than 2% of the Daily Value for any vitamin or mineral per teaspoon. It is considered an “empty calorie” food, providing carbohydrate energy with almost no essential micronutrients.
Do Hummingbirds Benefit from Nectar Nutritionally?
Given the lack of protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, store-bought hummingbird nectar provides minimal direct nutritional value. The birds do not gain the essential micronutrients they need from the sugar water alone. However, they benefit nutritionally in a different way:
- The nectar provides a convenient source of energy. Hummingbirds can access the calories they need without expending as much time and effort foraging for flower nectar.
- More available energy from feeders allows hummingbirds to divert more time to catching insects. This gives them access to more of the protein, amino acids, and micronutrients they require.
- In cold climates early in spring or late in autumn when insects are scarce, the sugar water can help hummingbirds conserve crucial fat and protein reserves.
- Nectar feeders provide a reliable source of food in areas impacted by habitat loss, pesticide use, and other environmental factors that may limit natural food supplies.
While the nectar itself might lack nutrients, by supporting the hummingbird’s overall nutrition and energetics it still provides health benefits. The sugar calories give hummingbirds the fuel to perform their impressive hovering feats and power energy-expensive behaviors like courtship displays.
Adding Nutritional Value to Hummingbird Nectar
Some people like to add nutritional boosters to their homemade nectar mixes, but is this necessary? Given that commercial nectars have been sustaining hummingbirds for generations, supplements likely provide minimal benefit in most cases.
With that said, including certain additives in your DIY nectar recipe can provide some nutritional value. Options include:
- Amino acids – Branched chain amino acid supplements provide protein building blocks used for muscle growth and maintenance.
- Electrolytes – Trace amounts of minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium support nerve signaling and muscle contraction.
- Vitamins – A vitamin supplement can provide B vitamins for energy metabolism as well as antioxidants like vitamin C.
- Food-grade dyes – Coloring made from fruit rather than artificial dye provides trace nutrients like iron and anthocyanins.
While studies on the benefits of supplementing hummingbird nectar are limited, the amounts of protein, vitamins and minerals found in enhanced nectar recipes are fairly negligible. The sugar water itself will still provide the majority of calories. If you wish to provide added nutrition, just stick to very small amounts of supplements to avoid an improper electrolyte or nutrient balance.
The Importance of Insects in Hummingbird Diets
In the end, while home-made nectars can be altered to include more nutrients, nothing can fully replace the importance of insects and spiders in hummingbird nutrition. Some tips to provide natural food sources:
- Avoid pesticides that reduce insect populations – hummingbirds will benefit from more natural prey.
- Plant flowers and shrubs that attract more insects to your yard.
- Consider putting out traps like hanging fruit traps to catch bugs.
- Let spiders build webs around your yard – they catch extra bugs for hummingbirds.
Attracting more insects to your yard or simply avoiding practices that kill them off in excess can ensure hummingbirds have access to a balanced diet. This is a much more effective way to support their nutritional needs than altering nectar.
The Bottom Line
Does hummingbird nectar provide nutritional value by itself? Unfortunately, the answer is no. The refined white sugar in commercial nectars contains negligible vitamins, minerals, protein, or healthy fats on its own. However, by providing a convenient source of energy, it does help supplement the diet hummingbirds obtain from wild flowers and insects.
Sugar water enables hummingbirds to thrive by powering their metabolically expensive lifestyles. Access to plentiful nectar means they can divert more time to getting protein from insects and spiders. So while plain white sugar water may not be nutritious per se, it does play an important role in supporting hummingbird nutrition when provided alongside natural food sources.