Hummingbirds are amazing little creatures. They are the smallest birds in the world, yet they have incredible speed and endurance that allows them to hover in midair and fly backwards and upside down. Their unique attributes make caring for them a bit different than other backyard birds.
The Role of Nectar in a Hummingbird’s Diet
Nectar is the primary food source for hummingbirds. The nectar they drink provides them with the carbohydrates they need for energy. They get other nutrients from catching insects and spiders.
Hummingbirds have special evolutionary adaptations that allow them to survive on their high-sugar diet. Their extremely fast metabolism causes them to burn energy quickly. To keep up with their energy needs, they go into a hibernation-like state called torpor several times a day to conserve energy. Their rapid heart rate and breathing allow them to meet their high oxygen needs.
While hummingbirds get most of their nutrition from nectar, it does not provide everything they need. They get protein from insects and spiders. They also consume tree sap for nutrients like fats, minerals, and additional carbohydrates.
The Natural Diet of Hummingbirds
In the wild, hummingbirds get their food from specialized tubular flowers. The nectar from these flowers has evolved along with the hummingbirds and their feeding abilities. The nectar contains three key components:
- Water – This makes up the majority of natural nectar.
- Sugars – Typically 15-25% of natural nectar.
- Amino acids – These provide protein.
This natural nectar provides the ideal nutritional balance that hummingbirds need. When you are offering supplemental nectar for hummingbirds in your yard, it is important to try to mimic their natural food sources as much as possible.
The Role of Water in Natural Nectar
Water makes up 60-80% of natural nectar. This high water content serves several important purposes:
- It meets hummingbirds’ high fluid needs. Hummingbirds have a very fast metabolism. They can beat their wings up to 200 times per second and take 250 breaths per minute while at rest. This rapid respiration rate causes them to expire a lot of water vapor. They need to replenish this fluid constantly to avoid dehydration.
- It prevents overload of sugars. The water dilutes the sugars, so hummingbirds don’t take in too many carbohydrates at once.
- It aids digestion. The water helps the kidneys flush out excess ions produced when metabolizing the sugars in nectar.
Providing nectar with the proper balance of water and sugar helps hummingbirds get all the benefits of the sugars without the potential downsides of too concentrated a sugar source.
Risks of Honey with Water for Hummingbirds
When you mix honey with water for hummingbirds, you are dramatically altering the nutritional profile from natural nectar. Here are some of the potential risks:
Too Much Sugar
Honey is much more concentrated than natural nectar. Whereas nectar is typically 15-25% sugar, honey can have a sugar content from 30-44%. When you dilute honey with water, you still end up with a higher proportion of sugars than natural nectar. Consuming too much sugar at once can overwhelm the hummingbird’s system.
Risk of Obesity
Too high a concentration of sugar can lead hummingbirds to gain excessive weight. In the wild, hummingbirds have a big challenge getting enough calories each day from nectar and insects. However, when presented with an artificial feeder with overly concentrated sugar water, they can easily take in too many calories. This puts them at risk for obesity and fatty liver disease.
Digestive Issues
The incorrect balance of sugars to water can cause problems by not properly diluting the nectar. Undiluted sugars create more work for the kidneys to filter out excess minerals. This can lead to kidney stones in extreme cases. The extra work of the kidneys also leads to more urine production. In young fledglings especially, the excess urine can cause dehydration.
Lack of Nutrients
Honey lacks the protein and amino acids found in natural nectar. While hummingbirds get insects and tree sap to round out their diet, they may not get proper nutrition if honey water makes up too much of their calories. Essential amino acids help hummingbirds maintain muscle tissue as they burn through energy.
Lack of Water
Even when diluted with water, honey does not contain enough water to meet hummingbirds’ needs. Providing honey water means they are missing out on the hydration that makes up 60-80% of natural nectar. Dehydration is a serious risk for these rapid metabolizers.
Risk of Fungal and Bacterial Growth
The types of sugar in honey support fungal and bacterial growth. Mold loves to grow on hummingbird feeders, especially when sugar content is high. This introduces unhealthy microbes into the birds’ diet. Honey’s sugar and pH profile increases the risk of dangerous black mold as well as fermentation by yeast.
Making Safe Artificial Nectar
Rather than honey, an artificial nectar solution made of white refined sugar and water is the best choice for hummingbirds. Here are some tips:
- Use a ratio of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. This approximates the 25% sugar content of natural nectar.
- Use plain white sugar rather than honey, agave, or artificial sweeteners.
- Do not add red food dye. This provides no health benefits.
- Change the nectar every 2-3 days to prevent spoilage. More often in hot weather.
- Clean feeders thoroughly before refilling. Use a 10% bleach solution monthly.
With the right ratio of sugar and water, you can provide essential fuel for hummingbirds without the risks of overconcentrated nectar.
Should You Provide Any Honey for Hummingbirds?
While honey with water is not an ideal daily food source, in certain situations it can provide quick energy:
- Migration: Pure honey can offer quick calories during migration. Hummingbirds burn a tremendous amount of energy while flying thousands of miles.
- Cold temperatures: Honey helps hummingbirds survive cold snaps or nights. The glucose provides instant energy to keep their metabolism running.
- Illness or injury: Honey’s antibacterial properties may help hummingbirds recover from sickness or injury. The glucose aids recovery.
In these situations, it’s acceptable to provide small amounts of pure honey. Make sure to discontinue once the urgent need has passed.
Signs Hummingbirds Are Unhealthy from Honey
Look for these signs that the hummingbirds at your feeders may be experiencing issues from honey water:
- Lethargy or excessive sitting still
- Loss of appetite
- Ruffled or dull feathers
- Labored breathing
- Weight gain or obesity
- Change in droppings
Discontinue honey immediately if the birds exhibit symptoms. Switch to the proper ratio of refined sugar and water. Also be sure the feeders are cleaned well to prevent spread of disease.
FAQs
Is honey completely unsafe for hummingbirds?
Honey should not make up the bulk of hummingbird diet. However, in emergency situations like migration or cold weather, the quick glucose in honey can provide life-saving energy. Use it sparingly for short-term needs.
What about raw honey?
Raw honey has the same drawbacks as traditional honey for hummingbird nectar. It is still too concentrated with sugar and lacks nutrients and water compared to natural nectar.
Can’t I just use honey in the winter?
Hummingbirds do have higher energy needs in cold weather. But honey should only be used for emergency situations for a day or two. Provide artificial nectar with the proper ratio of sugar to water to meet their ongoing winter needs.
What about honey for orioles or other birds?
Honey is not recommended as the primary food source for orioles, woodpeckers, tanagers, and other birds. Like hummingbirds, they require a healthy balance of nutrients. Use artificial nectar with refined sugar and small amounts of honey for emergency situations.
Conclusion
Hummingbirds have very specialized nutritional needs due to their unique metabolism. While honey contains sugars that provide quick energy, it does not have the ideal nutritional profile to meet hummingbirds’ needs on an ongoing basis. Diluting honey with water creates an overly concentrated sugar solution.
The best approach is to mimic natural nectar by using white sugar dissolved in four times as much water. This provides the right balance of carbohydrates, dilution of sugars, and hydration that hummingbirds thrive on. Reserve pure honey for occasional emergency situations to provide quick calories and energy.
By understanding what hummingbirds eat in the wild and the role of each component, you can support their health. Stick to an artificial nectar solution with the proper ratio of sugar and water for your regular feeding. Your hummingbirds will appreciate the effort you put into giving them a nutritionally balanced diet.
