When it comes to hummingbird feeders, two of the most popular materials are glass and plastic. But does it really make a difference whether you choose a glass hummingbird feeder or a plastic one? There are pros and cons to both materials that are worth considering.
Quick Answers
Here are some quick answers to common questions about glass vs. plastic hummingbird feeders:
- Glass feeders allow you to easily see how much nectar is left, while plastic feeders often use a built-in gauge or marker to indicate fill level.
- Plastic feeders are generally less expensive, more durable and lighter weight than glass feeders.
- Glass feeders often have a more elegant, decorative appearance than plastic ones.
- Plastic feeders come in a wider range of colors, shapes and designs than glass feeders.
- Glass is easier to keep clean and sanitize than plastic, which can scratch and harbor bacteria.
- Uncolored, clear glass allows hummingbirds to easily see the nectar level, while colored plastic can obscure visibility.
- Plastic feeders are safer for young children as they do not pose a risk of broken glass.
Visibility of Nectar Level
One of the key differences between glass and plastic hummingbird feeders is the visibility of the nectar level. With a glass feeder, it’s easy to see at a glance how much nectar remains inside the bottle or reservoir. The transparency of glass allows you to check the nectar level without having to take the feeder down.
Plastic feeders often obscure visibility, since the plastic is opaque rather than see-through. Plastic feeders have found ways around this problem, however. Many feature built-in nectar level indicators that float as the nectar is consumed, providing an external gauge of how full the bottle is. Others have clear stripes or an exterior filling scale to track the volume.
Advantage: Glass
When it comes to quickly and easily seeing how much nectar remains, glass feeders are the clear winner. The transparency of the material means you don’t have to rely onplastic gauges that could potentially get stuck or malfunction. You can get an accurate, instant reading on the nectar level at a glance.
Durability
Hummingbird feeders take a lot of abuse from the elements and boisterous birds. Durability is key to a long-lasting feeder. Plastic generally has the advantage here, being impact resistant and flexible enough to bend rather than shatter. Glass, on the other hand, is prone to breaking if hit hard enough or dropped.
However, higher quality borosilicate glass is exceptionally strong, and some glass feeders are surprisingly sturdy. But plastics can generally sustain more blunt force than glass. Plastic feeders also tend to weigh less than glass, putting less strain on hanging hardware and brackets.
Advantage: Plastic
When it comes to durability, plastic feeders tend to win out. The flexibility and impact resistance of plastic makes it less prone to breaking from drops or hard knocks. The lighter weight also reduces wear and tear on hanging attachments.
Appearance
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to glass and plastic hummingbird feeders. For many people, the elegant, delicate look of glass is more attractive than the often more utilitarian design of plastic feeders. Glass can be blown and shaped into beautiful configurations that add an ornamental element. The clarity of the material also allows the color of the nectar itself to add visual interest.
However, plastic feeders have their decorative advantages too. They come in a huge range of bright colors and can be molded into a diverse array of shapes and styles. Things like embossed textures and patterned designs are easier to achieve with plastic. So while glass may be more elegant, plastic offers more variety and whimsy with feeder appearances.
Advantage: Personal preference
Glass and plastic both have aesthetic merits. Glass provides an ornate, sophisticated beauty, while plastic offers countless colorful options. It comes down to whether you prefer the elegance of glass or the diversity of plastic.
Ease of Cleaning
To avoid harmful mold or bacteria growth, hummingbird feeders need to be cleaned and disinfected regularly. This is an area where glass really shines. Glass feeders can simply be washed with soap and water, then rinsed thoroughly. There are no tiny crevices in the smooth glass surface for germs to hide.
Plastic feeders, even if labeled “dishwasher safe,” can develop scratches over time where bacteria can grow. And the molded designs that make plastic feeders decorative also create nooks that are tough to access and fully clean. Simply run plastic feeders through the dishwasher regularly.
Advantage: Glass
Glass is the clear winner when it comes to ease of cleaning and sanitizing. The ultra-smooth surface and transparency of glass makes it easy to thoroughly wash and rinse. Plastic can harbor hidden bacteria in crevices and scratches.
Variety of Styles
When it comes to the diversity of feeder shapes, colors and designs, plastic reigns supreme. Manufacturing processes allow plastics to be injection molded into virtually endless variations. From realistic flowers to gazing balls, miniature chalets to hummingbird feeders shaped like hummingbirds themselves, plastic offers seemingly infinite possibilities.
The handcrafted nature of glass blowmolding simply limits how many configurations are feasible. While stunningly beautiful, glass feeders come in a comparatively narrow selection of shapes and colors. For novelty and variety, plastic hummingbird feeders are hard to top.
Advantage: Plastic
If you want options, plastic is the undisputed winner for variability. The molding process allows plastics to take virtually any imaginable shape and color. Glass is constrained by the inherent limitations of hand-blown production.
Safety
For households with small children, safety is an important consideration in choosing a hummingbird feeder. Glass, of course, can shatter into sharp fragments if dropped or knocked over, posing a serious risk to children’s hands and eyes.
Plastic feeders all but eliminate this hazard. Being impact resistant, plastic is far less likely to break from a fall in the first place. Even if damaged, plastic will not produce dangerous shards. So for homes with curious young kids, plastic is by far the safer choice.
Advantage: Plastic
With no risk of shattered glass, plastic feeders are a much safer option around children. For injury prevention and peace of mind, plastic is clearly safer.
Cost
Price is often a consideration in choosing any bird feeding accessory. Here plastic feeders tend to have the advantage. Being easier to manufacture en masse, plastics are generally cheaper than artisan blown-glass feeders. You can find quality plastic feeders in big box stores for under $15 in some cases, versus $40 or more for high-end glass.
That said, lower-end plastic models may need replacement more often than quality glass would. But if price is a limiting factor, you can find very serviceable plastic feeders for much less than decorative glass versions.
Advantage: Plastic
If keeping costs down is important, plastic feeders win for affordability. Inexpensive but functional plastic models are widely available for lower prices than glass.
Nectar Temperature
Nectar temperature is important, since hummingbirds prefer warm nectar. In very hot conditions, plastic feeders may heat up more than glass feeders in the sun. However the difference is marginal, and any danger of overheating exists for either material.
More importantly, properly mixing white granulated sugar into water prevents fermentation, which is the real threat if nectar overheats. Follow nectar mixing guidelines and change nectar regularly, and neither glass nor plastic feeders will have an issue with getting too warm.
Advantage: Neither
While plastic may heat up slightly faster, the practical temperature difference is negligible. Preventing fermentation through proper nectar mixing is far more important. So glass and plastic feeders end up equal here.
Visibility of Nectar
Hummingbirds use excellent vision to locate nectar sources in the wild. The red color of feeders helps attract them, but seeing the nectar itself adds further enticement. The transparency of glass makes the nectar highly visible as it moves within the bottle. This can potentially help draw in more hummingbirds.
Plastic obscures a clear view of the nectar inside. So while plastic feeders can be made very colorful to attract attention, glass allows hummingbirds to see the nectar that awaits them.
Advantage: Glass
By providing a clear view of the nectar itself, glass feeders offer an advantage in attracting hummingbirds visually. The tantalizing sight of fresh nectar entices them.
Insulation
On hot summer days, the nectar inside a feeder can ferment more quickly once temperatures rise. The innate insulating properties of plastic help resist heat transfer slightly better than glass. This may keep nectar fresher marginally longer on sweltering days.
However, as mentioned earlier proper nectar mixing and changing are far more impactful for controlling fermentation. In practical use, neither material has a decisive edge when it comes to insulation against heat.
Advantage: Neither
In actual performance, plastic provides no meaningful insulating value over glass. They essentially perform equally here.
Weight
The heft of a full hummingbird feeder can put a lot of strain on hooks, brackets, and hangers, especially cheaper plastic models. Repeated hanging and removal for cleaning and refilling takes its toll over time.
The lighter weight of plastic puts less physical stress on hanging hardware. Given that cheaper plastic hooks and chains are common, this reduced weight makes them less prone to failure and breakage over time. Durability wins out.
Advantage: Plastic
With a lighter weight when full, plastic feeders cause less wear and tear on hanging attachments. This improves the durability of cheaper hanging hardware.
Leakage
Nectar leaking out of the feeding ports or base of the feeder is a common problem. Bees and wasps are drawn to the sugar water, creating a nuisance situation. The smooth surfaces and tight seals of glass bottles make them less prone to leaking issues in general.
Plastic feeders often have more crevices and molded surfaces where leaks can develop without careful manufacturing. However, high quality plastics can certainly achieve leak-free feeding as well through solid construction.
Advantage: Glass
The tight seals and smooth surfaces of glass make it less susceptible to leakage issues. Dripping nectar is less common with quality glass feeders.
UV Resistance
Constant exposure to sunlight can cause color fading and material degradation in plastic feeders after 1-2 seasons. Glass is unaffected by UV radiation, maintaining its appearance year after year.
However, many plastics are now formulated with UV-inhibitors that prevent photo-damage and fading. So while glass inherently resists UV issues, many plastics hold up equivalently thanks to advanced stabilizers.
Advantage: Neither
While glass is impervious to UV damage, modern stabilizers give plastics equal resistance. Both materials hold up well against sunlight degradation.
Security
Theft of hummingbird feeders is unfortunately common, particularly in urban environments. Lightweight plastic feeders are easier targets for grab-and-go thieves. The weight of glass makes removing them quickly a challenge.
However, plastic feeders can be securely attached and locked in place just as effectively as glass. Detachable feeding chambers also allow the essential components to be removed at night. So properly installed, plastic and glass feeders are equally secure.
Advantage: Neither
With the right mounting, both glass and plastic feeders can be locked down securely. When installed properly, the material has minimal impact on theft prevention.
Conclusion
So which is better, glass or plastic hummingbird feeders? When all factors are considered, the differences are fairly minor from a functional standpoint. Both materials work effectively to dispense nectar. The main advantages of each are:
Glass Advantages:
- Allows visual monitoring of nectar level
- More elegant decorative appearance
- Easier to thoroughly clean and sanitize
- Enables hummingbirds to see nectar contents
- Less prone to leaking issues
Plastic Advantages:
- More durable and impact resistant
- Lighter weight puts less strain on hanger
- Provides more styles and design options
- Lower cost on average
- Safer for use around children
For many people, the aesthetic beauty of glass is the deciding factor in choosing it over plastic. Hummingbirds likely have no preference. But the visibility of nectar contents may aid in attracting them. Plastics offer far more variety and whimsy in shapes and colors. But they lack the elegant sophistication of fine glasswork.
Ultimately both deliver sweet nectar equally well, so either material is a good option. Let your personal priorities and preferences guide you in choosing glass or plastic when buying a hummingbird feeder.
