How do you attract hummingbirds in Massachusetts?

Hummingbirds are some of the most fascinating birds to observe. With their iridescent feathers and incredible flying abilities, it’s no wonder birdwatchers love seeing these tiny creatures zoom around their yards. If you live in Massachusetts and want to attract more hummingbirds to your home, there are several strategies you can try.

What Hummingbirds Are Found in Massachusetts?

There are three main species of hummingbirds that breed in Massachusetts:

• Ruby-throated Hummingbird
• Rufous Hummingbird
• Calliope Hummingbird

The ruby-throated hummingbird is the most common and the only species that nests in Massachusetts. However, rufous and calliope hummingbirds may pass through Massachusetts during migration or occasionally spend the summer there.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird in eastern North America. Males have a bright red throat patch (called a gorget), white chest, and metallic green upperparts. Females lack the red throat and are duller overall, with green upperparts and white undersides.

Rufous Hummingbird

The rufous hummingbird breeds in the Pacific Northwest and migrates through the western half of North America. It is uncommon but regular in Massachusetts, mostly during fall migration in August and September. Males are bright orange-red on the back and belly with a green crown.

Calliope Hummingbird

The calliope hummingbird is the smallest breeding bird in North America. It nests in the mountain west but migrates through Massachusetts in small numbers. Males have colorful streaks of magenta and green across their throats, with dark upperparts. Calliopes are more likely to be seen in western Massachusetts.

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Massachusetts?

Here are the typical spring arrival dates for hummingbirds in Massachusetts:

• Ruby-throated hummingbird: late April to mid-May
• Rufous hummingbird: mid-August to early September
• Calliope hummingbird: mid-August to late September

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the earliest to return, arriving to breed and nest. Rufous and calliope hummingbirds pass through later in fall migration.

How to Provide Food for Hummingbirds

The key to attracting hummingbirds to your yard is providing a consistent, reliable food source. Here are some tips:

Get a Hummingbird Feeder

Fill a hummingbird feeder with nectar (1 part sugar to 4 parts water). Use plain white table sugar only, no honey, artificial sweeteners, or red dye. Place the feeder in a visible location like a garden, porch, or tree branch.

Choose the Right Flowers

Plant native flowers and plants that hummingbirds are naturally attracted to. Good choices include:

• Trumpet vine
• Bee balm
• Cardinal flower
• Impatiens
• Petunias
• Salvia
• Fuchsia
• Coral bells
• Columbine

Don’t Use Pesticides

Avoid pesticides and herbicides in your yard, as they can poison hummingbirds. Herbicides also kill many natural wildflower sources of nectar.

Provide Small Perches

Hummingbirds will use small branches and poles to perch and rest when feeding. Place perches about 5-10 feet away from the feeders or flower beds.

Tips for Deterring Bees and Wasps

Bees, hornets, and wasps can also be attracted to the sugar water in hummingbird feeders. Here are some tips to prevent them from keeping hummingbirds away:

• Use a feeder with bee guards that surround the feeding ports
• Choose a saucer-style feeder, which gives hummingbirds space to feed away from flying insects
• Use a moat-style feeder surrounded by water to deter crawling insects
• Move the feeder to different locations periodically
• Clean the feeder with a diluted bleach solution every few days to prevent mold and bacteria buildup

When to Switch to Sugar Water in Fall

Ruby-throated hummingbirds will stop coming to feeders about a week after they migrate south, usually by early October in Massachusetts. However, western hummingbird species may still be passing through in late September and October. Here are some tips for fall hummingbird care:

• Keep feeders up through mid-October in case late migrating hummingbirds stop by
• Switch to a sugar-only mix in early October when flower nectar starts to decline
• Gradually transition feeders to a 3:1 sugar water ratio as it gets colder out
• Bring feeders inside at night if temperatures drop below freezing

How to Provide Water for Hummingbirds

In addition to nectar, hummingbirds need plain water for bathing and drinking. Here are some ideas:

• Mist foliage, branches, and lawn area in early morning when humid to create artificial dew
• Install a low water feature, small fountain, or mister near vegetation
• Fill a shallow bird bath or saucer with pebbles for perching
• Suspend drip irrigation lines or place a water tray high in a tree

Best Plants to Attract Hummingbirds in Massachusetts

Here are some of the top native plants in Massachusetts to attract hummingbirds to your yard:

Designing a Hummingbird Garden

Follow these tips to design a garden to provide food, water, shelter and nesting sites for hummingbirds:

• Plant a variety of blooming plants that flower at different times to provide nectar spring through fall
• Include plants with tubular, trumpet-shaped and clusters of small flowers
• Plant in groups of the same species to better attract hummingbirds
• Arrange plants in clusters of reds, oranges, purples, and whites to create color zones
• Include trees, shrubs, and vines to create protected spaces and perching sites
• Incorporate running water, misters, fountains or drippers for drinking and bathing
• Supplement with feeders and create open flight paths between flowers and feeders
• Avoid pesticides and provide insects for food

Shelter and Nesting for Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds often nest in trees and shrubs in gardens. Here are some tips for providing nesting sites:

• Leave dead trees and branches for perching and nesting
• Don’t prune all vegetation back in fall since birds nest early
• Allow native vines like honeysuckle and trumpet vine to grow on fences and arbors
• Plant dense shrubs and trees to provide shelter from wind and rain
• Ruby-throats prefer nesting in deciduous trees like maple, magnolia, dogwood, and hickory

Overwintering Hummingbirds in Massachusetts

Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate south in fall, but western species like calliope and rufous hummingbirds may try to overwinter in Massachusetts in some years when food is plentiful. Here’s how to increase chances of winter survival:

• Keep feeders clean, undamaged, and unfrozen with sugar water all winter
• Use a nectar recipe with a higher sugar concentration
• Move feeders to protected spots on warmer south-facing walls
• Wrap outdoor feeders or bring inside at night if below freezing
• Plant late-blooming fall flowers like fuchsia and impatiens
• Avoid pruning trees and shrubs to leave shelter and nests

With attention and care, overwintering hummingbirds can survive in Massachusetts during unusually warm winters with enough food.

Troubleshooting Hummingbird Feeders

Here are some common troubleshooting tips for hummingbird feeders:

Not attracting hummingbirds:

• Check nectar level and freshen solution every 2-3 days
• Make sure feeder is clean without mold, debris, or insects
• Try moving feeder to a different location
• Use only plain white sugar for nectar, no honey, dyes, or artificial sweeteners
• Ensure there are plenty of flowers and food sources nearby

Ants in the feeder:

• Clean the feeder and rinse with diluted bleach
• Coat the feeder hanger with petroleum jelly or hot pepper gel repellent
• Use a feeder with a water moat feature
• Elevate feeder on a tall pole with a baffle

Bees, wasps, and other pests:

• Try a feeder with built-in bee guards around ports
• Use a feeder base with water moat or perches too small for bees
• Eliminate nests or hives nearby if possible
• Move feeder location frequently and clean often

Leaking or deteriorating feeders:

• Replace worn gaskets, caps, and base pieces
• Tighten all joints, lids, and parts
• Replace cloudy, scratched feeding ports
• Consider switching feeder styles if issues persist

Conclusion

Attracting hummingbirds to your yard in Massachusetts can be extremely rewarding. Follow the tips in this article to provide food, water, shelter and nesting habitat to draw in these special birds. With the right flowers, feeders, water sources, and other features, you’ll be able to enjoy watching hummingbirds hover, feed, and nest in your own backyard.