What birds besides hummingbirds drink sugar water?

Hummingbirds are well known for drinking nectar from flowers and feeders filled with sugar water. However, they are not the only birds that enjoy a sweet sip of sugary liquid. Other bird species also drink and eat sugar for energy, especially during migration or cold winter months when natural food sources are scarce.

Orioles

Orioles such as the Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole are frequent visitors to hummingbird feeders containing sugar water mixes. Orioles are drawn to the bright colors of many commercial hummingbird feeders. They also have a taste for sweets to supplement their diet of insects and fruit. An oriole’s strong beak allows them to puncture deeper flower blossoms and thicker hummingbird feeder ports designed for their larger size.

Making An Oriole Feeder

To attract orioles, set up an oriole feeder stocked with sugar water. You can convert a hummingbird feeder into an oriole feeder by switching the port for a larger size the oriole can easily insert their beak into. Alternatively, try an open-design feeder made specifically for orioles. Make sure to change the sugar water every few days to keep it fresh.

Sugar Water Ratio For Orioles

The ideal concentration of white refined sugar to water for orioles is 1:4. This means 1 part sugar dissolved thoroughly into 4 parts water. You can also supplement the sugar water with a small amount of orange juice for added appeal.

Woodpeckers

Though primarily known for eating insects and excavating holes in trees, downy woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers, red-headed woodpeckers and other woodpecker species will occasionally supplement their diet with sugar water. They like to cling to the side of hummingbird feeders for a quick drink. Woodpeckers also known to sip tree sap for its sugar content.

Sugar Feeders For Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers can be deterred from clinging onto hummingbird feeders by installing a woodpecker-specific feeder. These feeders have larger perches better suited for a woodpecker’s feet. The feeding ports are also vertical slits that comfortably fit a woodpecker’s long tongue.

Sugar Water Ratio For Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers prefer less concentrated sugar water than hummingbirds and orioles. A good ratio for woodpeckers is 1 part sugar dissolved into 8-10 parts water. Make sure to clean and rotate any woodpecker feeders regularly to prevent fermentation.

Tanagers

Tanagers such as scarlet tanagers and summer tanagers are occasional sugar water drinkers. They visit hummingbird feeders when other food sources are low. Their diet mainly consists of insects and fruit. A tanager’s thick bill allows it to drink from specialized hummingbird feeder ports. Provide sugar water as an extra food source tanagers can take advantage of during migration and cold months.

Sugar Water Ratio For Tanagers

Tanagers prefer less concentrated sugar water mixes, similar to woodpeckers. Use a ratio of 1 part sugar to 8 parts water. You can also try adding a couple drops of fruit juice to make the sugar water more enticing.

Warblers

Very small warbler species including the ruby-throated warbler may consume sugar water from time to time. Their thin pointed beaks allow them to lick up small amounts of nectar from hummingbird feeders. Due to their insectivore diet, they likely won’t rely on sugar water as a significant food source.

Sugar Water Ratio For Warblers

Warblers do best with a weak 10:1 ratio of water to sugar. The lower sugar concentration and finicky feeding style of warblers means you probably won’t see them too often at your feeder. But providing an extra energy source like sugar water can give migrating warblers a much-needed boost.

Fruit-Loving Birds

Many fruit-eating birds like cedar waxwings, mockingbirds and thrashers will sample sugar water, especially if they see another bird feeding. They associate the sugar water with the sweet taste of fruit. A 10:1 sugar-to-water ratio will likely satisfy most fruit-loving birds at your feeder.

Finches

Finch species such as purple finches and house finches may try sugar water from time to time. They tend to prefer nyger thistle seeds and millet as their primary food source. But finches could go for the sugar water if other birds make the feeder seem appealing. The thinner sugar water mix for warblers and fruit-loving birds will work for finches as well.

Sparrows

Large sparrow species including the white-throated sparrow occasionally snack on sugar water. They are primarily seed-eaters, but will sample sweets, especially when their natural food supplies are low in winter. Sparrows can perch on the edges of feeders to sip sugar water.

Chickadees

Chickadees such as the black-capped chickadee have a taste for sweets and are intelligent birds that will copy the feeding behaviors of others. Offering them a sugar water station can provide extra energy when insects and seeds are scarce in winter. Use a 10:1 sugar water ratio for chickadees.

Conclusion

While hummingbirds are the most common visitors to sugar water feeders, orioles, woodpeckers, tanagers, warblers, fruit-loving birds, finches, sparrows and chickadees may also stop by for a sweet snack. Adjusting the sugar concentration, feeder style and placement can help make your sugar water station accommodating to a wider variety of bird species.