Why do I only have 2 hummingbirds?

There are a few potential reasons why you may only have 2 hummingbirds visiting your feeder or garden:

Not enough feeders

Hummingbirds are territorial and will defend feeders as their own. If you only have 1 or 2 feeders, there may not be enough spots for more than a couple of hummingbirds to feed. Try putting out more feeders, spacing them well apart to allow multiple territories. The general recommendation is to have one feeder per hummingbird pair. So if you want to attract more, put out more feeders.

Need more flowers

In addition to feeders, hummingbirds need flowers to feed on nectar. Make sure your yard has plenty of hummingbird-attractive flowers and plants available through the season, such as:

• Lantana
• Bee balm
• Cardinal flower
• Trumpet vine
• Petunias
• Salvia
• Fuchsia
• Verbena
• Gladiolus
• Columbine
• Morning glory

Planting more red, orange, pink, or purple flowers that provide nectar will encourage more hummingbirds to visit and stick around.

Competing feeder

You may have other birds competing for the feeder and scaring hummingbirds away. Try moving hummingbird feeders out of reach from larger birds. Hanging them from tree branches, shepherd hooks, or other supports several feet off the ground can help.

Also make sure feeders have adequate perch space. If too many birds crowd a feeder, the less dominant hummingbirds may not have room.

Migration timing

Hummingbird populations can fluctuate throughout the seasons as they migrate. In early spring or late fall when most hummingbirds have migrated, you may only see a couple stragglers. During peak migration and breeding times in summer, populations will be higher.

Here is an approximate hummingbird migration calendar for areas east of the Mississippi in the U.S.:

During the peak spring and summer months you should see more hummingbirds. But early in migration or late in the season, low populations are normal as they’ve migrated elsewhere.

Insufficient food/nectar

If your feeder is not being adequately maintained, hummingbirds may lose interest. Make sure to:

• Clean feeders every few days
• Change nectar every 2-3 days, more often in hot weather
• Use proper sugar-to-water ratio of 1:4 – boil to mix and properly dissolve the sugar
• Avoid food coloring, bleach, or artificial additives

Dirty, spoiled, or artificially flavored nectar can deter hummingbirds. Keep feeders clean and nectar fresh to encourage more consistent use.

Availability of natural food sources

Hummingbirds’ reliance on feeders and gardens varies depending on the natural food sources available nearby. In urban or suburban areas with minimal native flowers/plants, feeders may represent a critical food source. But near parks, woodlands, or natural areas with plentiful flowers and plants, feeders are less critical.

If you live near an abundance of hummingbird-friendly native plants that provide ample nectar through the season, the birds may not need to visit feeders as often. Your yard may attract fewer birds not because it lacks something, but because the surrounding habitat already provides sufficient food.

This is generally a good thing – native plants support hummingbirds naturally without human intervention. Enjoy the visitors your feeders attract, but don’t be concerned if numbers seem low when natural food thrives nearby.

Predators

Hummingbirds can fall prey to certain predators that may discourage them from visiting feeders if they don’t feel safe. Potential predators include:

• Cats – keep pet cats indoors
• Hawks
• Jays
• Squirrels
• Orioles

Positioning feeders in open spots away from dense bushes, trees, and overhangs can help minimize ambush opportunities. Avoid areas where cats, jays, or squirrels frequently harass feeders. Predation pressure could deter some hummingbirds.

Territorialism and chasing

Dominant male hummingbirds can be quite territorial and chase other males or juveniles away from feeders. If you have an aggressive dominant male in your yard, he may prevent other hummers from using the feeders.

To support multiple birds, have multiple separated feeders and introduce them gradually. Start with one new feeder, allow it to be claimed, then add another. The gradual expansion can work better than overwhelming with many new feeders at once.

Variation by species

There are over 300 hummingbird species in the Americas. In the U.S. and Canada, common visiting species include:

• Ruby-throated hummingbird
• Rufous hummingbird
• Allen’s hummingbird
• Anna’s hummingbird
• Calliope hummingbird
• Black-chinned hummingbird

Each species has slightly different behavioral and habitat preferences that impact their likelihood of feeder visitation. For example, Ruby-throated hummingbirds dominate on the East Coast because other species rarely overlap there. In the West there is more diversity and competition among several species.

If you live outside the normal range for a particular species, you generally won’t see them no matter what you do to attract them. Know which hummingbird species occur in your region and focus efforts on meeting their needs.

Conclusion

To summarize, if you want to attract more hummingbirds, consider the following tips:

• Increase the number of feeders, spacing them adequately apart
• Plant more natural flower nectar sources
• Position feeders to avoid other birds and predators
• Maintain fresh nectar and clean feeders
• Be patient during migration seasons
• Focus on common species for your area

With good habitat and a diversity of healthy, protected feeders, you should be able to support a stable hummingbird population. But don’t necessarily expect to attract huge flocks – a handful of birds visiting your feeders regularly is still an enjoyable experience!