Hummingbirds are amazing little creatures that bring joy to backyard birdwatchers everywhere. Their ability to hover mid-air and drink nectar from flowers is quite spectacular. However, sometimes hummingbirds can be picky about the nectar they drink. If you’ve put out a feeder full of homemade or store-bought nectar but notice that the hummingbirds don’t seem interested, there are a few possible reasons why. In this article, we’ll explore the most common explanations for why hummingbirds won’t drink the nectar you’ve put out and provide tips to help attract these special birds to your yard.
Is the sugar content too low?
Hummingbirds need a lot of energy to power their wings for hovering and staying warm. Because of this, they seek out sugary, high-calorie nectar for food. Most experts recommend making a 4:1 ratio of water to white granulated sugar when making homemade nectar. If your nectar is too watery and doesn’t have enough sugar content, the hummingbirds simply won’t be interested. To remedy this, try adding more sugar next time until you get the mixture to the proper sweetness. You can also purchase premixed powdered nectar from a bird store or make your own sugar water solution. Just make sure to avoid any type of artificial sweetener, honey, or fruit juices, as these do not provide the proper nutrition that hummingbirds need.
Is the nectar fermented?
Natural nectar straight from a flower generally stays fresh and unspoiled for 24-48 hours at a time. However, homemade hummingbird food can sometimes ferment and develop alcohol if left out too long, especially in hot weather. Fermented nectar loses its appeal to hummingbirds and can even make them sick if they ingest too much. To prevent this, change your feeder nectar every 2-3 days at minimum if temperatures are above 80°F. Keep an eye out for any cloudy or bubbly looking nectar, which means fermentation is taking place. Rinse your feeder well with hot water before refilling it with a fresh nectar mixture. Avoid using metal nectar feeders, which accelerate fermentation. Instead use glass or plastic feeders.
Are there competing food sources?
Hummingbirds are highly active and burn through calories rapidly due to their turbo-charged lifestyle. If there are abundant natural food sources nearby, such as flowers, shrubs, and trees in bloom, the hummingbirds may ignore your feeder in favor of fresh nectar straight from the plants. Some native plants that attract hummingbirds include:
- Trumpet vine
- Bee balm
- Butterfly bush
- Cardinal flower
- Columbine
Try incorporating some of these into your garden to provide options for the hummingbirds. Just make sure to continue maintaining your feeder even if the birds seem more interested in the live flowers. Their blooming periods are temporary, and the feeder will provide dependable food in between.
Is the feeder placed in a poor spot?
Hummingbirds are territorial and competitive when it comes to food sources. They won’t expend unnecessary energy flying to a feeder located in an inconvenient spot. Placing your feeder near areas where hummingbirds tend to frequent, such as gardens with preferred flowers, is key. Feeders should also be placed in somewhat open areas away from dense foliage to make it easy for the tiny birds to access and see any threats coming. Installing multiple feeders around your yard helps reduce squabbling between hummingbirds too. Try moving your feeder to several locations to see where the birds prefer feeding. North or east-facing spots are ideal to provide shade and minimize nectar spoilage.
Is the feeder dirty?
Like all birds, hummingbirds have a very weak sense of smell but a strong sense of sight. Dirty feeders covered in mold, fungi, algae, or debris are unappetizing. The sight of a grimy feeder is enough to deter hummingbirds from drinking there. Every 1-3 days, scrub your feeder with hot water or a mild vinegar solution to remove gunk, films, and mineral deposits. Rinse thoroughly and allow to fully dry before refilling. Do a sniff test on any nectar in the feeder before refreshing it to check for sourness. Keeping feeders squeaky clean will make your yard much more attractive to hummingbirds.
Are ants or bees taking over?
Hummingbirds are highly territorial, but they must compete for feeders with other sugar-loving creatures. Ants and bees adore sugary hummingbird nectar and can slowly overwhelm a feeder through sheer numbers. Once ants have staked a claim to your feeder, they will aggressively swarm any hummingbird that tries to access it. Similarly, bees may intimidate hummingbirds away from the feeder as they buzz around it to lap up any sweet drops. There are a few tricks to deter these sugar bandits:
- Use a feeder with a built-in ant guard that seals off access points to the nectar reservoir
- Coat the feeder’s hanging wire with petroleum jelly or oil to block ants from crossing
- Install a bee guard around the feeder ports to keep bees away from the openings
- Move the feeder often to disrupt ant scent trails back to the nectar source
Keeping the area around your feeder clean will also help prevent ant colonies from taking up residence near the free food source.
Is there competition from other birds?
Hummingbirds are bold but tiny, weighing in at just 2-6 grams normally. They can easily be bullied away from feeders by larger aggressive birds like robins, jays, and sparrows. Larger birds may come to view your feeder as their territory and chase away any hummingbirds that dare visit. There are a couple strategies to make your feeder a hummingbird-only zone:
- Use a feeder with small perch-free feeding ports that larger birds can’t access
- Install a cage or wire mesh around the feeder to keep big birds at bay
- Place multiple smaller feeders around your yard to reduce squabbling
- Consider using a feeder with weighted perches since hummingbirds prefer to hover-feed
Discouraging bigger bullies from your feeder will give the hummingbirds a chance to dine in peace.
Do the birds seem stressed or lethargic?
If you notice the hummingbirds in your yard appearing weak, lethargic, or disinterested in visiting your feeder, there may be something amiss with their health. Like all birds, hummingbirds can suffer from diseases, parasites, and lack of nutrients if their needs aren’t met. Some signs of a sick hummingbird include:
- Feathers missing or damaged
- Wheezing or coughing sounds
- Crusty eyes or nostrils
- Trouble perching or hovering
Stressed birds may also stop visiting your feeder as frequently. Make sure you are changing the nectar frequently enough and that no mold or fungus is accumulating in the feeder itself which could spread disease. Avoid using any pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals in your garden that hummingbirds could inadvertently be exposed to through the nectar and flowers. Supplement their diet with additional hummingbird feeders and live flowers to provide proper nutrition. If the birds do not recover, contact a local wildlife rehabilitation center for advice.
Conclusion
While hummingbirds can be picky about nectar sources, there are definite ways you can make your feeder as enticing as possible to these energetic pollinators. Focus on keeping your feeder exceptionally clean, the nectar fresh and unspoiled, and deterring competitors like ants, bees, and big bullies. Mimic natural flower nectar with the proper 4:1 water-to-sugar ratio. Supplement the feeder with native flowering plants the hummingbirds are evolved to seek out. With a few tweaks and troubleshooting, you can convert your yard into an attractive hummingbird paradise. The joy of watching these little birds buzz around your home feeding on the nectar you’ve put out is worth the small effort. So keep trying to attract the hummingbirds – with the right habitat and a well-maintained feeder, they will surely come and reward you with their beauty and lively antics.
