Quick Answer
It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to attract hummingbirds to your yard after putting up a feeder. Hummingbirds have excellent memories and will remember good food sources, so be patient. Within a week or two you should start to see hummingbirds investigating your feeder. There are several things you can do to speed up the process, such as using an appropriate feeder, filling it with fresh nectar, choosing a good location, and planting native flowers that attract hummingbirds. With some strategic steps, you can cut down the wait time and enjoy these amazing birds sooner.
What Attracts Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds are attracted to yards that provide their basic needs – food and shelter. Here are the main things that will attract hummingbirds to your yard:
- Nectar Feeders – These provide a concentrated food source that appeals to hummingbirds. Red feeders tend to attract them best.
- Brightly Colored Flowers – Especially red, orange, and pink tubular flowers that provide nectar.
- Running Water – Such as from a fountain, waterfall, or mister. The sound and motion attracts them.
- Shelter – Trees, shrubs, and other safe places to perch and build nests.
By incorporating some or all of these elements into your yard, you can create an attractive environment for hummingbirds. The most powerful draw will be a nectar feeder, as it provides a reliable food source.
How Long Does it Take Hummingbirds to Find a Feeder?
Many factors determine how quickly hummingbirds will discover your feeder, including:
- Time of Year – Hummingbirds are most active in the yard during spring and summer. Putting out a feeder in autumn or winter means a longer wait.
- Feeder Location – It should be visible and accessible, like near gardens or hanging from a porch or tree branch.
- Nectar Freshness – Don’t let it get old or ferment. Change it every 2-3 days.
- Feeder Type – Bright red, a preferred hummingbird color, and well-designed to limit ants and bees.
- Plantings – Flowers and shrubs that naturally attract hummingbirds help.
- Migration – Hummingbird populations peak in summer. Fewer around in spring and fall.
- Nearby Habitat – More hummingbirds nearby means a better chance of discovery.
With the right set up and timing, you may only need to wait a few days for that first hummingbird sighting. If it’s early or late in the season, or the habitat conditions are less ideal, it can take 2-3 weeks before they regularly frequent your yard. Be patient, keep the nectar fresh, and they will come!
Tips to Attract Hummingbirds Faster
Here are some tips to help speed up the process of attracting hummingbirds to your yard:
1. Use an Appropriate Feeder
Get a feeder designed specifically for hummingbirds. The best feeders have:
- A bright red color.
- Perches for hummingbirds to rest.
- Ant and bee guards to keep away other insects.
- Multiple feeding ports with “built-in tongues”.
- A reservoir that’s easy to clean and refill.
Plastic and glass feeders work well. Make sure it’s the appropriate size and holds enough nectar so you don’t have to refill it constantly.
2. Use Fresh Nectar
Don’t let nectar sit for too long in your feeder. Change it out every 2-3 days, or sooner if it looks cloudy. Use a 4:1 ratio of water to white, refined sugar only. No honey, artificial sweeteners, flavors, or food coloring. Boil the water first to kill any bacteria or mold. Store extra nectar in the fridge for up to two weeks.
3. Choose a Strategic Location
Place your feeder:
- In an open area about 5-10 feet from trees, shrubs, or patio cover.
- Close to natural sources of nectar like flower gardens.
- Where you can see it from inside your home.
- Out of reach of cats or other predators.
- In the shade to slow nectar fermentation.
Avoid moving the feeder once set up, as this can disrupt the hummingbirds.
4. Provide Shelter and Perches
Hummingbirds appreciate places to perch and take shelter, like:
- Trees and shrubs.
- Nesting boxes.
- Arbors, trellises, and fences.
Having shelter and perches near the feeder gives them a place to rest and watch for danger.
5. Add Water Features
Drippers, misters, and small fountains provide drinking water and attract hummingbirds with the sight and sound of moving water. Change the water daily to prevent mosquitoes.
6. Plant Native Flowers
Flowers with tubular blooms in red, orange, and pink like bee balm, trumpet vine, lantana, and coral honeysuckle attract hummingbirds seeking nectar. Plant in clusters for best results.
7. Be Patient
It may take a week or two for hummingbirds to find your feeder, especially early and late in the season when fewer are around. Resist relocating the feeder, as consistency helps hummingbirds remember the source. Keep the nectar fresh and they will come!
How Many Hummingbirds Will Come?
The number of hummingbirds that come to your feeder will vary based on:
- Time of year – More during spring and summer migration.
- Your location – More in the southern U.S. than northern regions.
- Food competition – From bees, wasps, and other feeders.
- Nearby habitat – Access to native plants and nesting areas.
- Species – Some species are shyer and less likely to use feeders.
As a general guideline, you can expect:
- Spring – 2-4 hummingbirds at a time.
- Summer – 5-10 hummingbirds at a time.
- Fall – 2-4 hummingbirds at a time.
The busiest times may see up to 20 hummingbirds competing at the feeder! With a properly stocked feeder in prime habitat, attracting a rotating cast of hummingbirds is quite possible.
Do Hummingbirds Return to the Same Yard Each Year?
Hummingbirds have excellent memories and do tend to return to the same feeding locations year after year, especially if they previously nested there. Here are some reasons why hummingbirds return to a yard:
- Feeders provide a reliable food source.
- They remember safe nesting spots and perches.
- Established territory and food sources.
- Learned migration routes and stopovers.
- Site recognition – they remember locations.
To encourage returning hummingbirds:
- Keep feeders in the same spot.
- Maintain nearby bushes, trees, and sheltered areas.
- Plant nectar-rich flowers annually.
- Put feeders out at the same time each year.
With a little effort, you can create a welcoming habitat that hummingbirds will seek out year after year.
What is the Best Time of Year to Put Out a Hummingbird Feeder?
The best time to put out a hummingbird feeder is early spring, just before the hummingbirds arrive back in your area from migration. Here are the optimal times for different regions:
- Southern States – February or March
- Midwest / Northeast – Mid April to early May
- Pacific Northwest / Northern States – Mid to late April
It’s important to have your feeder up and filled with fresh nectar as the earliest scouts start searching for food sources. If possible, determine when your area typically starts to see hummingbirds each spring and aim for 1-2 weeks prior.
Keep the feeder up through summer and into fall until the hummingbirds depart, typically by mid-October. Taking down the feeder about a month after you notice a drop in activity gives stragglers time to move on.
Putting out feeders in winter is not necessary for most regions, unless you live in an area with year-round warm weather and natural food sources that attract overwintering hummingbirds.
Conclusion
Attracting hummingbirds to your yard starts with providing their basic needs – a reliable food source and sheltered habitat. Putting up a nectar feeder specifically designed for hummingbirds is the best way to draw them in. It may take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for them to discover it, especially early and late in the season.
There are several strategies you can use to speed up the process, like using fresh nectar, planting flowers, providing perches and nest spots, and properly locating your feeder. Be patient, as hummingbirds will return to plentiful food sources once found. Your reward will be a gorgeous flash of color as these energetic birds zoom around your yard through the seasons. With a little effort, you’ll soon have hummingbirds gracing your outdoor space.
