Hummingbirds are fascinating little creatures. Their fast wings flutter at up to 80 beats per second, letting them hover in midair as they draw nectar from bright, tubular flowers. To help attract these iridescent jewels to your own yard, you might set out a store-bought or homemade hummingbird feeder. Fill it with sugary liquid, and the hummingbirds will soon find it.
But hummingbird feeders don’t need to be limited to only liquid nectar substitutes. Consider using your feeder to offer hummingbirds a more varied diet. Here are some other options for what to put in a hummingbird feeder.
1. Fruit
In addition to nectar, hummingbirds eat small fruit and tree sap in the wild. They like pulpy, soft fruits like berries, grapes, bananas, and melon. Fruit in hummingbird feeders should be cut into small pieces to make it easier for the birds to eat.
Try offering bite-sized bits of fruit in a feeder made with larger ports or reservoirs. Mesh bags or small trays hanging near your regular nectar feeder are other easy ways to serve fruit to hummingbirds.
Good Fruit Options
- Berries – raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries
- Grapes – red, green, or purple grapes cut in half
- Banana – small slices of peeled banana
- Melons – watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew cubed
- Oranges, tangerines, pineapple – small wedges without rind
- Apples, pears – chopped or sliced
2. Fruit Juice
In lieu of fruit pieces, you could try offering hummingbirds diluted fruit juice in a nectar feeder. Make sure to thoroughly mix and dilute the juice so it has a similar consistency to nectar. Juices that are too syrupy or concentrated may be difficult for hummingbirds to digest.
Some good fruit juice options to try include:
- Orange juice
- Pineapple juice
- Grape juice
- Apple juice
Dilute fruit juice with an equal part or more water before putting it in feeders. Clean and disinfect feeders regularly to prevent mold.
3. Tree Sap
In the wild, hummingbirds are attracted to the sap of certain trees like maples, birches, and cottonwoods. While you won’t want to start drilling holes into trees in your yard, you can mimic sweet tree sap with homemade nectar-like solutions.
Boil 2-3 cups of water with 1 cup of brown sugar or molasses. Cool the mixture before filling feeders. This gives a rich, syrupy solution that imitates the consistency of sap. Add a dash of nutritional yeast for extra nutrients.
4. Honey
Like tree sap, honey offers hummingbirds a concentrated source of quick energy. While plain honey could be used in very small amounts, it’s safer for birds if well diluted.
Make a nectar substitute by mixing 1 part honey with at least 10 parts water. Heat the solution to help the honey dissolve evenly. Let cool before pouring into feeders.
Tips for Using Honey
- Use only plain, clear honey. Flavored honey has risks.
- Look for raw, unfiltered honey for more nutrients.
- Discard old honey solution daily to prevent spoilage.
- Clean feeders super well to avoid stickiness.
5. Flower Nectar
Why not go straight to the source and fill feeders with real flower nectar? Collecting nectar from your own yard or neighborhood is a neat way to get hummingbirds to connect your feeders with real flowers.
To collect nectar, find flowers with long, tubular blooms that give good access. Carefully wash the flowers, then use an eyedropper to draw up the sweet nectar from inside. Popular flowers to “steal” nectar from include:
- Honeysuckles
- Trumpet vines
- Coral bells
- Columbines
- Foxgloves
- Daylilies
Avoid flowers that are multi-colored or heavily scented, as these tend to have less appetizing nectar. Only take small amounts of nectar from each flower so as not to damage the plant.
Pros and Cons of Natural Nectar
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free | Time consuming to collect |
| Natural source adaptation | Low nectar yields |
| Links feeders to flowers | Risk of mold or spoilage |
6. Insects
Hummingbirds get protein from eating small insects like fruit flies, aphids, spider mites, and gnats. While specialized feeders are made to hold live insects, they can be tricky to maintain.
An easier option is to fill a shallow tray feeder with mosquitoes, ants, fruit flies, or other tiny insects that you collect yourself. Place the feeder in a shady spot to help keep the insects alive longer.
Tips for Feeding Live Insects
- Collect insects from pest-free areas.
- Avoid insects from plants treated with pesticides.
- Change insect offerings daily.
- Clean tray feeder thoroughly to prevent disease.
7. Sugar Water for Flowers
Rather than put sugar water directly into your feeders, you can also use it to boost the nectar supply in your flower gardens. Mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts hot water until dissolved. Let cool, then pour into a spray bottle.
Lightly mist the solution onto flowers, especially tubular blooms, once a week or so. This will give the flowers extra sweet nectar that helps attract and nourish visiting hummingbirds.
Good Flower Targets for Sugaring
- Fuchsias
- Coral Bells
- Columbines
- Petunias
- Cannas
- Daylilies
- Sages
- Firecracker flowers
Don’t overwhelm flowers with too much solution. And avoid spraying at peak heat when the sugar water could scorch or damage plants.
8. Nutritious Additives
For a nutrition boost, add small amounts of vitamins, electrolytes, proteins or antioxidants to your homemade nectar solutions. Good options include:
- Electrolyte powder
- Liquid children’s vitamins
- Amino acids
- Organic cane sugar
- Molasses
- Fruit juice
- Green tea extract powder
- Food-grade colors
Research indicates that carotenoid pigments may be especially beneficial for hummingbirds. Add a tiny pinch of color from natural sources like paprika, fruit powders, or edible flowers.
Vitamin-Enhanced Nectar Recipe
An easy way to add nutrients is with a multivitamin powder made for hummingbirds. Follow package directions or mix as below:
- 1 cup white sugar
- 4 cups water
- 1 teaspoon vitamin powder
Heat until sugar dissolves fully, let cool, and fill feeders. Change solution every 2-3 days to keep vitamins potent.
9. Spices and Herbs
For an intriguing flavor twist, add tiny amounts of spices and herbs to homemade nectar mixes. Extracts like vanilla, almond, and mint are options, but use pure extracts, not artificial flavorings.
Some spices to try are cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cardamom. Use no more than 1/8 teaspoon spice per 1 cup of solution. Flavor lightly so as not to overwhelm the birds’ senses.
Herb and Spice Blend Idea
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 cups water
- 1/8 tsp vanilla
- Pinch of cinnamon
- Pinch of ginger
Simmer ingredients together in a saucepan until sugar fully dissolves. Let cool completely before filling feeders.
10. Nectar Thickeners
Thickening agents help homemade nectar solutions achieve a more natural consistency. A touch of cornstarch, pectin, or gelatin can be used to slightly thicken the liquid.
For 1 cup of sugar solution, add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of thickener. Simmer ingredients together so the powder blends smoothly. Don’t over-thicken the nectar or it could clog feeders.
| Thickener | Amount per 1 cup Sugar Water |
|---|---|
| Cornstarch | 1/8 to 1/4 tsp |
| Pectin | 1/8 tsp |
| Gelatin | 1/4 tsp |
Thickened nectar may need to be changed more frequently to prevent mold. Clean feeders thoroughly between fillings.
Conclusion
With a little creativity, hummingbird feeders can be used to provide a diverse and nourishing diet. While traditional sugar water should be the main offering, consider occasionally adding fruit, natural nectars, nutritious boosters, herbs, and more.
A varied diet will attract more hummingbirds while also supporting their health. Just be sure to follow safe practices by properly cleaning feeders and using fresh ingredients. With a little thought, you can turn your feeder into a hummingbird cafe!
