Hummingbirds are amazing little creatures that brighten up gardens and backyards with their beauty and energetic personalities. Their survival depends on accessing nutrient-rich nectar throughout the day, mainly from colorful tubular flowers adapted specifically to attract hummingbirds. This has led many people to want to provide nectar from feeders to help hummingbirds thrive. But is it OK to use store-bought nectar for this purpose? There are some important considerations when it comes to hummingbird nutrition and feeder maintenance.
The Natural Diet of Hummingbirds
In the wild, hummingbirds have coevolved with native plants that provide the ideal nutrition in their nectar. The main components are:
- Water – Nectar is comprised mainly of water, making up 60-80% or more.
- Sugars – Nectar contains simple sugars like sucrose, glucose and fructose which provide efficient energy.
- Electrolytes – Trace amounts of electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium are present.
- Antioxidants – Antioxidants like vitamin C and carotenoids are found in some nectars.
- Amino acids – Small quantities of amino acids are available in nectar.
- Enzymes – Nectar contains plant enzymes like invertase which aids digestion.
This natural nectar provides a complete nutritional profile to support hummingbirds’ high metabolism and energy needs. It’s estimated that to power their wings to beat up to 70 times per second, hummingbirds need to consume 1.5 to 2 times their body weight in nectar each day!
Challenges of Artificial Nectar
When using store-bought powdered nectar mixes or artificial liquid nectar as hummingbird food, there are some nutritional considerations:
- Sugar content – Artificial nectars may have much higher sugar concentrations than natural nectar at 25-50%, while plants secrete nectar that is usually 15-25% sugar.
- Sugar types – Many commercial nectars are sucrose-dominant rather than containing some combination of glucose, fructose and sucrose.
- Lack of micronutrients – Store-bought products won’t contain the electrolytes, antioxidants, amino acids and enzymes found in wild nectar.
- Artificial additives – Some nectar mixes have preservatives, artificial colors and sweeteners which hummingbirds don’t need.
The extremely high sugar content is the biggest concern. While hummingbirds have a strong appetite for nectar and a high metabolism, too much dietary sugar can still be problematic by inhibiting their absorption of nutrients like protein, raising fat levels, suppressing immune function and promoting weight gain or fatty liver disease over time.
Recommendations for Feeding Hummingbirds
Given the challenges of reproducing complete nutrition in artificial nectars, here are some tips for successfully feeding hummingbirds:
- Use plain white sugar instead of commercial mixes. A ratio of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water provides better 15-20% sugar levels.
- Avoid food dyes, artificial sweeteners and preservatives.
- Make small batches and change nectar frequently to prevent spoilage.
- Rinse feeders thoroughly before refilling to limit bacterial growth.
- Avoid trauma from territorial fighting by providing multiple feeder sites spread apart.
- Include bee-friendly native plants in gardens to supplement feeder nectar sources.
With some adjustments, sugar-water feeders can reasonably provide supplemental nutrition to hummingbirds in habitats low on natural food sources. But they likely don’t fully replace the ideal components of natural nectar. Providing diverse flowering plants, keeping feeders clean and limiting sugar content helps better support hummingbird health and satisfaction when relying on store-bought nectar.
Pros and Cons of Store-Bought Nectar for Hummingbirds
There are some advantages and disadvantages when using commercial nectar mixes or making homemade sugar water for hummingbird feeders:
Potential Pros
- Convenient and widely available.
- Offers supplemental energy from sugar calories.
- Allows people to enjoy feeding hummingbirds.
- Can sustain birds in nectar-scarce habitats like urban areas.
Potential Cons
- Often has excessively high sugar content compared to natural nectar.
- Lacks micronutrients like electrolytes, antioxidants and amino acids.
- Risk of inexpert formulation causing nutritional imbalances.
- Can grow bacteria like Salmonella if not changed frequently.
- May promote territorial aggression when feeders are too concentrated.
Overall, commercial nectar should be an occasional supplemental food source rather than the sole sustenance for hummingbirds. Supporting native plants, intelligent feeder placement and proper maintenance can help mitigate risks when offering store-bought nectar.
Making the Best Homemade Hummingbird Nectar
While no homemade nectar can fully replicate the complex nutrition of natural flower nectar, you can still make your own basic sugar water formula to reduce risks compared to commercial products.
Simple Sugar Water
A basic 1:4 ratio of white granulated cane sugar dissolved in water makes a reasonable homemade nectar:
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 cups water
This produces a 20% sugar concentration resembling natural nectar. Avoid turbinado or raw sugar which has slightly toxic compounds. Do not add food dyes, sweeteners or unnecessary additions.
Nutrient-Enhanced Sugar Water
For a more nutritious formula, consider adding a small pinch of these optional ingredients:
- Sodium-free salt for electrolytes
- Powdered vitamin C for antioxidants
- Tiny amount of amino acid powder
This approximates some of the micronutrients in natural nectar. Avoid excess salt and amino acids which can do more harm than good.
Other Tips
- Refrigerate unused portions.
- Discard old nectar after 2-3 days.
- Change feeders every few days.
- Rinse feeders thoroughly before refilling.
- Use boiling water to kill any bacteria.
- Avoid leaks, bees and ant infestations.
Proper technique helps limit microbial contamination in homemade nectar. With some adjustments, you can provide a safer nutritional product for hummingbirds compared to store-bought options.
FAQs About Store-Bought vs. Homemade Hummingbird Nectar
Is it bad to give hummingbirds plain white sugar water?
Though it lacks nutrients compared to natural nectar, a basic white sugar and water mixture is better than commercial products with excessive sugar, dyes, and preservatives. Plain sugar water avoids these risks, and hummingbirds digest sucrose well when not overloaded with it.
Do you have to boil homemade hummingbird nectar?
Boiling nectar before use isn’t strictly necessary with proper cleansing of equipment. However, briefly boiling then cooling nectar helps kill any bacterial contaminants and can extend the safe lifespan by preserving sugar water longer.
Can you use organic sugar for hummingbird nectar?
Yes, refined organic cane sugar makes a good choice for homemade nectar. It provides the same sucrose as regular white sugar but avoids pesticides and additives during processing. Other natural options like coconut palm sugar also work well.
What is the best bottled nectar for hummingbirds?
Some better commercial options include Perky-Pet and Sweetwater brands’ basic sucrose-based mixes without additives. Audubon’s or Kaytee’s organic nectars are also safer bets. Always select a 20-25% sugar concentration product.
Should hummingbird nectar be refrigerated?
Refrigeration can help homemade or store-bought nectar last longer before spoiling. It’s recommended to refrigerate unused portions of nectar. But don’t offer cold nectar to hummingbirds; take out smaller amounts and let sit at room temperature for use in feeders.
| Nectar Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Store-bought mixes | Convenient, widely available | Often has excessive sugar and lacks nutrients |
| Homemade – Basic | Less risky sugar levels | No micronutrients |
| Homemade – Enhanced | Added electrolytes, vitamins, amino acids | Can be challenging to formulate properly |
Conclusion
Hummingbirds thrive on the complex nutrition provided by natural flower nectar. While store-bought powders or ready-made liquid nectar can offer convenient supplemental energy from sugar, these commercial products often lack key micronutrients and encourage excess sugar intake.
With some adjustments like choosing products without additives and diluting to proper sugar concentrations, commercial nectars can be suitable in moderation. But homemade sugar water made with care provides a healthier alternative, especially when enhanced with small electrolyte, vitamin and amino acid additions to better resemble natural nutrition profiles.
The best approach is offering homemade nectar as an occasional supplemental food source rather than a sole diet. Taking steps to properly handle and serve nectars reduces microbial risks. Most importantly, providing diverse flowering plants supports hummingbirds’ needs for complete nutrition from time-tested natural nectar sources co-evolved just for their specialized diets.
