Hummingbirds are one of the most beloved backyard birds. Their diminutive size, iridescent feathers, and amazing flying abilities make them a joy to watch. Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world and one of the few bird species that can hover in midair and even fly backwards. They get their name from the humming sound created by their rapidly beating wings which flap 12-80 times per second depending on the species.
Hummingbirds are native to the Americas and there are over 300 different species found from Alaska to Chile. In the United States, the most common hummingbird species seen at backyard feeders are the Ruby-throated Hummingbird in the Eastern United States, the Black-chinned Hummingbird in the Southwest, the Anna’s Hummingbird on the West Coast, and the Rufous Hummingbird in the Northwest.
While hummingbirds are attracted to backyard gardens and feeders, their populations have been declining in recent decades due to habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, and other threats. However, homeowners can take action to support hummingbirds by providing food, water, shelter, and nesting areas to attract them and increase their numbers. This article provides tips on how to create an optimal hummingbird habitat and increase the number of hummingbirds visiting your yard.
Provide Food
The most effective way to attract hummingbirds to your yard is to put up hummingbird feeders. Fill the feeders with homemade nectar made by mixing 1 part white granulated sugar with 4 parts water. Do not use any red food coloring, honey, artificial sweeteners or brown sugar in the nectar as they are unhealthy for hummingbirds. Place the feeders in bright, open areas of your yard so the hummingbirds can easily spot them.
Hang multiple feeders around your property and space them at least 10 feet apart to reduce aggression and allow multiple hummingbirds to feed. Keep the nectar fresh by cleaning and refilling the feeders every 2-3 days, especially in hot weather when the nectar spoils faster. Providing a consistent, plentiful nectar source from early spring through late summer will establish your yard as a dependable location for hummingbirds to feed.
In addition to feeders, planting nectar-rich flowers will help attract and nourish hummingbirds. Some of the best hummingbird flowers include:
- Trumpet Creeper
- Bee Balm
- Cardinal Flower
- Impatiens
- Petunias
- Salvia
- Fuchsia
- Morning Glory
- Columbine
- Honeysuckle
Choose varieties of these flowers in different colors like red, orange, purple, pink, and white to appeal to hummingbirds’ vision and preference for bright blooms. Plant the flowers in beds, borders, hanging baskets, and containers where the hummingbirds can easily access them. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous reblooming.
Provide Water
In addition to food, providing a clean water source is crucial for attracting hummingbirds. Installing a hummingbird bath or dripper near the feeders gives hummingbirds a place to bathe and drink. Use a shallow basin, fountain, or mister that includes various heights for perching. Change the water daily to keep it clean and fresh. Adding a few rocks or leaves to the water will give juvenile hummingbirds a place to perch before taking the plunge into the bath. The sound and movement of dripping or running water is an additional enticement.
Provide Shelter
Hummingbirds appreciate gardens with plenty of trees, shrubs, and vines that provide shelter and places to perch and nest. Here are some plants that offer good cover:
- Oak Trees
- Pines
- Birch
- Maple
- Mimosa
- Beech
- Hackberry
- Crepe Myrtle
- Lilac
- Rhododendron
- Azalea
Include plants of varying heights. The taller trees and shrubs provide high perches and nest sites while the smaller plants offer protected spaces near the ground. Arrange the plants strategically around your yard so the hummingbirds have sheltered spaces to rest as they go about their daily routines.
Provide Nesting Areas
Hummingbirds use a variety of materials like spider webs, buds, moss, and lichens to build their tiny cup-shaped nests in trees and shrubs. They typically nest along branches hidden by dense foliage. You can encourage nesting by letting dead leaves, twigs, and debris accumulate naturally beneath your trees and shrubs rather than removing them. The birds use this material to form their nests which are about the size of a walnut.
Some other ways to provide nesting sites are:
- Leave dead or damaged limbs and branches on trees instead of pruning them
- Allow Spanish moss to grow undisturbed
- Plant woody vines like trumpet creepers on fences or trellises
- Set out nesting materials like pet hair or coconut fiber inmesh bags
Position the nesting areas close to your feeders and flower beds which provide food sources but make sure they are discreetly located and not easily disturbed. The female hummingbird sits on the nest for about two weeks as the eggs incubate and is very protective, so give her plenty of undisturbed space.
Avoid Using Pesticides
Refrain from using chemical pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides which are toxic to hummingbirds. These chemicals contaminate nectar sources and can poison the birds. Practice natural, organic gardening techniques instead like cultivating native plants which are naturally resistant to pests and using beneficial insects to control harmful ones. Keep your garden healthy by improving the soil with compost which fosters vigorous plant growth and do not apply any chemicals.
Provide Natural Habitats
Hummingbirds thrive in gardens that replicate their native, wild habitats. The best landscape for hummingbirds contains a diversity of flowering plants and trees which provide food as well as areas of dense shrubs and brush for shelter, nesting and roosting. Water sources like creeks, ponds, and waterfalls also create good habitat. Develop your landscape by using native plant species adapted for your climate and mimicking natural environments like meadows, woodland edges, riparian corridors, and mountain slopes which hummingbirds naturally frequent. Avoid pruning trees and shrubs excessively and allow leaf litter to accumulate as it does in nature. A naturalized landscape sustains the insects and ecosystems hummingbirds rely on.
Avoid Disturbing Existing Nests
Hummingbirds often return to the same nesting sites each year. Once you have established nesting areas on your property, take care not to disturb them when the nesting season arrives. Do not prune branches or remove vegetation around active nests. Also keep animals, children, bicycles, ladders, and other disturbances away from the nests. If you have a tree or shrub that needs to be trimmed, do it before or after the nesting season. Removal or destruction of an active nest with eggs or hatchlings will decrease productivity and survival. Protecting existing nest sites is key for increasing future nesting and bolstering hummingbird populations.
Report Marked Birds
Some hummingbirds are banded with tiny metal ID bands placed around their legs by biologists. Reporting marked birds provides vital information on migration routes, longevity, population status and other research questions. If you observe a banded hummingbird, note the colors and code on the band and report it at www.reportband.gov. Include the date, location, band specifics, and bird behavior details. By contributing sightings, you support important hummingbird monitoring and conservation efforts.
Avoid Outdoor Cats
Free roaming outdoor cats are a major predator of hummingbirds. Cats kill billions of wild birds in the U.S. every year. To protect hummingbirds, keep your cats securely contained indoors and encourage your neighbors to do the same. Cats allowed to roam not only disrupt local hummingbird populations but also face dangers themselves like getting hit by cars. For the safety of birds and cats, promote responsible pet ownership and containment of cats in your community.
Conclusion
With a little preparation and planning, you can convert your home landscape into a hummingbird haven that attracts these special birds and provides critical food, shelter, and nesting habitat. By offering supplemental nectar sources, lush natural vegetation, nest materials, and secluded spaces, you can help foster thriving hummingbird populations. Eliminate threats like pesticides and predators while supporting hummingbird research and conservation groups. With each added food source, nesting site, birdbath, and native plant, you make a difference for hummingbirds. The reward will be more of these tiny, glittering birds gracing your yard with beauty, activity, and magical flight. Do your part to reverse hummingbird declines and your yard will come to life with the high-speed antics, brilliant color flashes, and melodic buzzing of these energetic, acrobatic jewels of the bird world.
