Hummingbirds have very specific nutritional needs that require energy-rich nectar. While it may seem harmless to offer them human foods, many can actually be quite dangerous. When caring for hummingbirds, it’s important to understand what foods to avoid giving them.
Sugary liquids
Hummingbirds live on nectar from flowers, which is essentially sugary water. While you may think sugary drinks like soda would make a good substitute, the truth is they do not provide the nutrition hummingbirds need. Soft drinks contain no nutritional value and can even disrupt the balance of electrolytes in a hummingbird’s tiny body.
Other sugary liquids like syrup, molasses, and fruit juices are also not appropriate. They are too concentrated with sugar and do not contain necessary nutrients and minerals. Even sugar water alone is not ideal, as it lacks the electrolytes hummingbirds need.
Fruit
While hummingbirds will sometimes feed on the nectar inside certain fruits, the fruits themselves can be problematic. Many fruits contain chemicals that are difficult for hummingbirds to digest. They may also contain fungal spores that can cause infection.
It’s best not to offer sliced fruit pieces to hummingbirds. Even bananas, which are often recommended online, may ferment quickly and grow mold. Berries or other soft fruits could also pose a choking hazard for their small throats.
Meat and eggs
Hummingbirds are specialized nectar feeders. Their diet consists of sugars for energy, not protein from animal sources. Meats and eggs could disrupt their delicate digestive systems.
While female hummingbirds do consume small insects for protein while breeding, they ingest these insects whole. Offering chopped up bits of meat or hardboiled egg could lead to intestinal blockages or other issues.
Bread, crackers, pretzels
Starchy foods like bread, crackers, chips, and pretzels are unhealthy choices for hummingbirds. These foods do not contain the nutrients hummingbirds need and are difficult for them to digest properly.
Additionally, dry starchy foods pose a choking risk. As hummingbirds use long skinny tongues to sip nectar, they are not well equipped to swallow larger pieces of solid foods.
Rice and pasta
Cooked grains like rice, quinoa, and pasta seem soft, but they are still unsuitable for hummingbirds. The starch expands in their tiny stomachs and could rupture their digestive tracts.
These complex carbohydrates also do not offer the simple sugars hummingbirds require for energy. They lack key nutrients needed in a hummingbird’s diet.
Processed sugar substitutes
Avoid offering hummingbirds any nectar made with artificial sweeteners like Splenda, Sweet n’ Low, Equal, or xylitol. While these may seem like lower calorie options, they do not provide any nourishment.
Artificial sweeteners can also negatively impact healthy gut bacteria hummingbirds need to digest their food and absorb nutrients properly.
Plain water
Hummingbirds can die within hours without adequate energy from nectar sugars. Plain water does not provide the quick calories they need to survive. While essential, water alone is not sufficient.
Providing plain water could lead to starvation, hypoglycemia, or water toxicity if they drink too much while lacking nutrients from nectar.
Salty foods
High salt foods like chips, pretzels, and salted nuts have no place in a hummingbird’s diet. Salt dehydrates hummingbirds and disrupts their electrolyte balance.
Offering salty foods could put hummingbirds at risk of sodium poisoning. Ingesting too much sodium can cause seizures, weakness, and death.
Moldy or fermented nectar
It’s crucial to keep hummingbird feeders clean and nectar fresh. When nectar starts to ferment or grow mold, it can make hummingbirds sick.
Contaminated nectar can lead to fungal infections in the mouth and tongue area. Look for any signs of cloudiness or black specks, and promptly discard old nectar.
Insecticides
Never apply insecticides near hummingbird feeders or plants they visit. Pesticides and herbicides can be lethal even in very small amounts.
The chemicals may drift into nectar or coat plants hummingbirds feed from. Consuming or touching toxins can be fatal.
Key Takeaways
- Avoid sugar liquids like soda, syrup, juice as they lack nutrients
- Do not offer fruit pieces due to choking hazard and difficulty digesting
- Meat and eggs can disrupt their digestive systems
- Bread, crackers, chips pose choking risks and contain unsuitable carbs
- Rice/pasta expand in the stomach and lack nutrients
- Artificial sweeteners provide no nourishment
- Plain water causes starvation and electrolyte imbalance
- Salt dehydrates hummingbirds and disrupts electrolyte balance
- Discard moldy or fermented nectar immediately
- Never use insecticides near hummingbird feeders or flowers
With very high metabolisms and special nutritional needs, hummingbirds must have nectar that provides the right balance of sugars and electrolytes. Avoid anything that seems unnatural for a tiny bird to consume. When in doubt, stick to specialized commercial nectar mixes or simple DIY recipes of sugar and electrolytes to keep hummingbirds healthy and energized.
