Why do people color hummingbird nectar?
There are a few reasons why people choose to color their homemade hummingbird nectar:
- Attract more hummingbirds: The bright colors of dyed nectar can help catch the attention of hummingbirds and attract them to your feeders.
- Monitor consumption: Coloring the nectar allows you to see how quickly the birds are drinking it down so you know when to change and refill the feeder.
- Avoid spoilage: Some people believe coloring the nectar can help deter bacterial growth and spoilage, though this effect is debated.
- For fun: Kids often enjoy making colorful “hummingbird juice” as a fun hands-on learning activity about hummingbirds.
While commercial pre-made nectar is often dyed red, many experts actually recommend avoiding food coloring in homemade solutions. The dyes don’t provide any nutritional benefits and may even be harmful to hummingbird health. That said, clear nectar can be used to attract hummingbirds equally well.
What foods can be used to naturally color hummingbird nectar?
If you want to add color to your homemade nectar without artificial dyes, there are some natural food options:
- Fruit juices: Small amounts of red fruit juices like cranberry or pomegranate can safely tint nectar. Limit to about 10-20% juice to nectar ratio.
- Herbal teas: Brewed hibiscus or rose hip tea can lend a red hue. Let tea cool fully before mixing into nectar.
- Vegetable juice: A few drops of beet juice can safely color nectar pinkish-red.
- Flower petals: Soaking red flower petals like roses or hibiscus in nectar for a few hours can extract a light color.
When using any natural colorants, be sure to strain out any bits of pulp or sediment before filling your feeder. And limit yourself to only very small amounts of coloring to avoid altering the nectar’s nutritional makeup. Excessive dilution with juices or teas can lead to an improperly balanced diet.
What are the best practices for coloring hummingbird nectar?
If you do opt to color your homemade nectar, here are some tips to do it safely:
- Always use natural colorants like fruit juices instead of food dyes.
- Limit juice or tea to no more than 10-20% of the nectar volume.
- Use just enough to tint the nectar slightly – don’t make it strongly colored.
- Avoid filtered, clarified, or preserved juices as they lack nutrients.
- Don’t use honey, molasses, or other sweeteners besides plain white sugar.
- Stick to tried and true red shades rather than other colors.
- Mix up a fresh batch after 3-4 days to replace old nectar.
- Rinse feeders thoroughly before refilling to prevent mold.
- Consider leaving some feeders with plain clear nectar as well.
Moderation is key when altering hummingbird nectar from its simple traditional recipe of 4 parts water to 1 part sugar. Any colored nectar should still contain at least 80% water and plain white sugar only for carbohydrates.
Is it safe to use food coloring in hummingbird nectar?
While artificial dye is commonly used to color commercial nectars red, relying on food coloring to tint homemade solutions is somewhat controversial:
- Evidence on health effects is mixed – some studies show no ill effects, while others demonstrate Accumulation of dye in liver and kidney tissues over time.
- Many artificial food dyes are derived from petroleum.
- There are no nutritional benefits from artificial coloring.
- Coloring may encourage leaving nectar out too long by obscuring signs of spoilage.
- Some states restrict the types of dyes that can be used in hummingbird nectar.
- Clear nectar is just as effective at attracting hummingbirds.
Given the lack of any advantages and potential health risks, most experts advise avoiding food dyes in homemade nectar. The safest approach is to either leave nectar its natural clear color or use only very small amounts of natural fruit or flower colorants.
What are some examples of artificial food dyes that should not be used?
Here are some specific artificial food dyes that are not recommended for coloring hummingbird nectar:
- Red Dye #40 (Allura Red): One of the most commonly used red dyes. Linked to cancer in some animal studies.
- Red Dye #3 (Erythrosine): Associated with thyroid tumors in rat studies. Banned in many countries.
- Blue Dye #1 (Brilliant Blue): Contains small amounts of carcinogenic contaminants.
- Blue Dye #2 (Indigo Carmine): May cause skin rashes and asthma-like allergic reactions in some people.
- Citrus Red Dye #2: Toxicity concerns led to discontinued use in human food, but still found in some nectar products.
- Tartrazine (Yellow Dye #5): Linked to cellular oxidative stress and potential neurotoxicity.
All artificial dyes carry some level of health risk with no benefit, so it’s best to avoid using any of them in homemade nectar.
Conclusion
Coloring hummingbird nectar with artificial dyes is unnecessary and potentially harmful. For those who wish to tint their nectar, natural options like small amounts of fruit juice offer a safer alternative. But clear, plain white sugar nectar will attract hummingbirds just as readily without any added colors. By taking a minimalist approach to alterations, you can provide your local hummingbirds with healthy, nutritious nectar they’ll flock to all season long.
