Hummingbirds are amazing little creatures that many homeowners enjoy having visit their gardens. With their beautiful, iridescent colors and incredible hovering flight, it’s no wonder that people want to attract hummingbirds to their outdoor spaces. However, a common frustration that many hummingbird enthusiasts encounter is dealing with bees invading their feeders. Bees can quickly take over feeders intended for hummingbirds and scare the hummingbirds away. So what is the best way to keep bees out of your hummingbird feeders?
Why do bees go to hummingbird feeders?
Bees are attracted to the sugar water (nectar) in hummingbird feeders. They love the taste of the sweet “nectar” just as much as hummingbirds do. Bees also don’t have the ability to hover in place like hummingbirds, so they need a place to land to access the nectar. The feeder ports and perches provide the perfect landing platform for bees. Once a few scout bees discover the feeder, they quickly recruit more bees to join them. Before you know it, you may have dozens or even hundreds of bees crowding your feeder.
Do hummingbirds and bees compete for food sources?
Hummingbirds and bees rely on many of the same flower nectar sources in nature. However, bees are much more aggressive competitors than hummingbirds. Bees can sting to defend food sources, whereas hummingbirds do not have a defense mechanism against bees. So when bees invade a hummingbird feeder, the more timid hummingbirds will avoid it and find nectar elsewhere.
Tips to deter bees from hummingbird feeders
Here are some tips to help prevent bees from taking over your hummingbird feeders:
Use a feeder with bee guards
Specialized hummingbird feeders have integrated bee guards built into their design. These feeders have flower-shaped ports with petal barriers that keep bees from accessing the nectar. However, the slender beak of a hummingbird can easily slip between the petals to reach the nectar.
Choose a saucer-style feeder
Saucer-style feeders (also called dish feeders) have shallow reservoirs of nectar that make it difficult for bees to land and drink. Hummingbirds have an easier time lapping up nectar from the more exposed surface.
Use red nectar
Adding red food coloring to your nectar mimics the red flowers that bees cannot see. The red dye essentially camouflages the nectar from bees but not hummingbirds.
Try a moat feeder
Moat feeders are designed with a water-filled moat surrounding the nectar reservoir. Bees have a hard time navigating to the nectar over water, but hummingbirds fly right over with no problem.
Use an entrance hole
Having an entrance hole on the feeder allows hummingbirds to access the nectar while keeping larger bees out. Look for feeders with 0.5 to 0.6 inch diameter holes.
Hang feeders away from vegetation
Bees typically travel along vegetation as they search for food. Hanging feeders well away from trees, shrubs, and flowers discourages bees from finding them.
Clean feeders regularly
Bees are more attracted to dirty feeders contaminated with bee saliva, fungi, and fermented nectar. Cleaning feeders at least once every 2-3 days helps reset the attraction.
Use bee guards
Plastic bee guards can be purchased or homemade to attach around feeder ports. The guards prevent bees from landing near the nectar flow.
Try natural bee repellents
Applying natural repellents like vegetable oil, petroleum jelly, or cinnamon around feeder ports may help deter bees but allow hummingbirds to feed.
Best hummingbird feeders to exclude bees
If you want to attract hummingbirds but deter bees, consider these top-rated hummingbird feeders designed with bee exclusion in mind:
| Feeder | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Perky-Pet Bee Guard Feeder | Plastic flower-shaped ports with petal barriers |
| Aspects Hummzinger HighView Feeder | Long bee guards and yellow colored nectar reservoir |
| Woodlink NATUBE3 Feeder | Moat design with water to deter bees |
| Blossom Hummingbird Feeder | Dish-shaped reservoir and bee exclusion holes |
| Grateful Gnome Bee Free Hummingbird Feeder | Dome shaped to prevent bee landings |
The important features to look for are flower-shaped ports, moats, entrance holes only large enough for hummingbirds, and dish-shaped nectar reservoirs. All of these design elements make it difficult for bees to access the nectar while allowing hummingbirds to freely feed.
Perky-Pet Bee Guard Feeder
The Perky-Pet Bee Guard Feeder uses little plastic “flowers” to cover the feeding ports. The petal barriers prevent bees from landing near the nectar flow. But hummingbirds can easily insert their long beaks in between the petals to reach the nectar. This feeder also has a capacity of 2-5 ounces, a circular perch, and brushed copper accents.
Aspects Hummzinger HighView Feeder
The Aspects Hummzinger feeder has an integrated long bee guard that surrounds the feeding port to block bees. This feeder also uses yellow colored nectar which is visually unappealing to bees but attractive to hummingbirds. Other features include a large 10 ounce capacity, weather resistant glass reservoir, and raised flower feeding ports.
Woodlink NATUBE3 Feeder
The Woodlink NATUBE3 utilizes a water moat to prevent bees from walking across the surface of the feeder. The water forms a barrier that bees will not cross. But hummingbirds easily hover over the water to access the feeding ports in the center. This feeder can hold up to 24 ounces of nectar.
Blossom Hummingbird Feeder
The Blossom Hummingbird Feeder has a unique dish shaped reservoir that makes it difficult for bees to land or drink from it. The shallow saucer design allows hummingbirds to lap up nectar while denying bees a suitable landing platform. It also has smaller feeding ports that accommodate hummingbirds but exclude bees.
Grateful Gnome Bee Free Hummingbird Feeder
The Grateful Gnome Bee Free Feeder uses a dome-shaped reservoir that causes bees to slide off the curved surface. Like the saucer feeders, the lack of flat space deters bee landings. The nectar flow is also concealed under a little roof structure. And the feeding ports are set at an angle that is tricky for bees to navigate.
Conclusion
Preventing bees from invading hummingbird feeders is possible with the right equipment and strategies. Using specialized feeders designed with obstacles like moats, petal guards, and sloped reservoirs can effectively exclude bees. Maintaining cleanliness, adding red dye, and positioning feeders away from vegetation can also help. With a little trial and error, you can enjoy watching hummingbirds feed without the frustration of bees taking over.
The key is finding a feeder adapted to the unique drinking style of hummingbirds. Their hover-and-sip method allows them to access nectar in ways bees simply cannot. Take advantage of this along with deterrents like water moats and sloped surfaces unsuitable for bees. Then relax and delight in the sight of vibrant hummingbirds flocking to your garden free of pesky bees.
