How do you attract hummingbirds in the Pacific Northwest?

Hummingbirds are some of the most beloved backyard birds in the Pacific Northwest. With their tiny size, stunning iridescent colors, and incredible flying skills, it’s no wonder why people love seeing them visit their gardens. Attracting hummingbirds to your yard in the Pacific Northwest is fun and rewarding. By providing the right habitat, flowers, feeders, and other features, you can easily transform your outdoor space into a hummingbird haven.

When do hummingbirds arrive in the Pacific Northwest?

Most hummingbirds arrive in the Pacific Northwest in early spring and stay until late summer or early fall. Here are the typical migration and breeding timelines for common hummingbird species in the region:

• Rufous Hummingbird – These hummingbirds arrive as early as February and stay until July/August. They breed in the Pacific Northwest.
• Anna’s Hummingbird – Anna’s hummingbirds live year-round in much of the Pacific Northwest. Some northern populations migrate south in winter.
• Calliope Hummingbird – Calliopes pass through the Pacific Northwest in April/May on their way to breeding grounds further north. Some return south through the region in late summer.
• Black-chinned Hummingbird – These hummingbirds migrate through the Pacific Northwest in spring and fall on their way to breeding areas further north or south.

By providing food and habitat from early spring through late summer, you can attract hummingbirds residing in or migrating through the Pacific Northwest.

What do hummingbirds eat?

Hummingbirds get most of their nutrition from drinking nectar. They have specialized tongues perfectly adapted for slurping up sugary nectar from tubular flowers. Hummingbirds particularly like red tubular flowers with no scent.

Some favorite nectar sources for hummingbirds in the Pacific Northwest include:

• Fuchsia
• Columbine
• Penstemon
• Lilies
• Delphinium
• Salvia
• Petunia
• Honeysuckle

Hummingbirds also eat small insects for protein. They capture tiny insects like fruit flies, gnats, spiders, and aphids either while flying or gleaned from flowers and leaves. Providing flowering plants that attract insects will help attract hummingbirds looking for a meal.

Best flowers to attract hummingbirds

Here are some of the best flower varieties to plant in your Pacific Northwest garden, porch, or yard to provide food sources for hummingbirds:

Aim for clusters of flowers in the colors hummingbirds are attracted to like red, orange, pink, or purple. Tubular or trumpet-shaped flowers are ideal. Plant flowers so there is bloom from early spring through late summer to provide a constant food source.

Best trees and shrubs to attract hummingbirds

In addition to flower beds, certain trees and shrubs provide excellent foraging and nesting habitat for hummingbirds. Here are some great options:

• Flowering currant – Produces hanging clusters of tubular red flowers in early spring that hummingbirds love.
• Western redbud – Has magenta pea-like blooms in spring that attract hummingbirds.
• California fuchsia – Bright red tubular flowers bloom from summer into fall.
• Weigela – An ornamental shrub with trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of pink, red, and white.
• Crabapple tree – Provides both spring flowers and nesting sites for hummingbirds.
• Lilac – Has fragrant blooms in spring that draw in hummingbirds.

Prioritize trees and shrubs with seasonal flowers. They provide food and shelter in one attractive package.

Hummingbird feeders

Another essential way to attract hummingbirds is by providing specialized feeders. Offering hummingbird feeders allows these smallest of birds to sip energy-rich nectar on demand. Follow these tips for successful hummingbird feeders:

• Use a feeder made specifically for hummingbirds, with appropriately sized feeding ports.
• Fill with a 1:4 ratio of sugar to water. Boil the water first and let cool before mixing.
• Avoid food coloring, as it provides no benefit and may be harmful to the birds.
• Clean and disinfect feeders at least once a week to prevent mold and bacteria.
• Place in a shady spot to slow nectar spoilage.
• Use red components on the feeder, as this color attracts the birds.

Having multiple hummingbird feeders around your yard means more birds can feed at once. Try different styles like saucer, window, or basin feeders to see what the hummingbirds prefer. Bring feeders in at night to prevent freezing.

When to put out hummingbird feeders

Put out your hummingbird feeders based on when hummingbirds arrive in your area:

• Western Washington – February/March
• Eastern Washington – Mid March to early April
• Southern Oregon and Southern Idaho – Mid March
• Central Oregon – Late April
• Northern Idaho and Western Montana – Early May

Leave feeders up through September/October when most hummingbirds migrate south again for the winter.

Water features

Hummingbirds enjoy drinking and bathing in water sources like misters, fountains, waterfalls, and birdbaths. The sound and movement of water will help grab their attention. Here are some tips for successful water features:

• Use a shallow birdbath or include rocks for perching.
• Keep water fresh and free of mold and mosquitoes.
• Move water with a fountain or bubbler.
• Site in a sunny area for bathing.
• Include drippers or misters that hummingbirds can fly through.

A water feature with a nearby perch like a dead tree branch or trellis makes an enticing spot for hummingbirds to stop and rehydrate while visiting your yard.

Shelter

In addition to food, hummingbirds need places to perch, rest, nest, and take shelter from weather and predators. Here are some ways to provide shelter in your yard:

• Leave dead trees, stumps, and woody brush intact for perching and nest sites.
• Plant dense, flowering shrubs they can hide in.
• Install trellises and arbors covered in vines.
• Hang wind chimes or moveable perches they can rest on.
• Keep feeders under the eaves for escape from rain.
• Site feeders and water features near trees so hummingbirds have a place to retreat.

Having a diversity of plants and structures gives hummingbirds spots to escape from predators like falcons, hawks, and cats. Shelter from wind, rain, and mid-day sun also helps hummingbirds conserve energy.

Other landscaping tips

Some other landscaping tips to make your yard as attractive as possible to hummingbirds include:

• Avoid pesticides that reduce insect populations hummingbirds rely on.
• Allow leaf litter and dead wood to decompose to harbor insect prey.
• Plant a diversity of flowering plants that bloom in succession.
• Include more native plants suited to your climate.
• Reduce the amount of lawn and increase plantings of trees, shrubs, and flowers.

Developing a natural landscape with layers of vegetation will provide essential food and habitat. Let your property be a bit more wild to create an ideal refuge.

How can you tell if hummingbirds are using your yard?

Here are signs that hummingbirds are making use of the habitat you’ve provided:

• Seeing hummingbirds visiting and feeding from flowers, feeders, or water features.
• Hearing the distinctive buzzing sound of their rapidly beating wings.
• Noticing them gathering spider webs and insect cocoons to build nests.
• Spotting their tiny lichen-covered nests in trees and on branches.
• Observing them resting momentarily on perches before zooming off.
• Finding feeders with sugar water or flower nectar disappearing more quickly.

Patience is the key, as it may take time for hummingbirds to discover and get accustomed to new food sources. But once they find your yard, they will likely come back year after year!

Conclusion

Providing the right mix of flowering plants, feeding stations, water sources, perches, nest sites and overall inviting habitat is the perfect way to attract beautiful, energetic hummingbirds to your yard. With their incredible flying abilities and insatiable appetite for nectar, watching hummingbirds buzz around your garden is a rewarding experience. By following these tips for food, water, shelter and habitat in the Pacific Northwest, you can enjoy the company of these special birds all season long.