Hummingbird Food Recipe: How to Make Hummingbird Food

Hummingbirds are some of the most fascinating backyard visitors, with their iridescent colors, miniature size, and lightning-fast wings. A selection of flowers is a great way to attract hummingbirds to your garden but another way to ensure these little beauties visit is by offering a reliable source of nectar. While store-bought hummingbird food is available, making your own at home is cheaper and incredibly easy!

In this guide, we’ll go over the perfect hummingbird food recipe, some key feeding tips, and best practices to keep your tiny guests happy and healthy.

The Perfect Hummingbird Food Recipe

Making homemade hummingbird food requires just two ingredients: sugar and water. That’s it! Avoid adding anything else and yes, that means red food dye too. Make sure your sugar is just plain old sugar and doesn’t contain any surprise additives. This recipe works with simple parts, so if you want to make more in one batch just stick to the 1:4 ratio. The reason we stick to this ratio is because it mimics natural nectar. If your solution has too much sugar in it it can cause dehydration and if there isn’t enough, the hummingbirds might just ignore your feeder.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white granulated sugar (refined)
• 4 cups water

Instructions:

1. Bring the water to a boil. This helps eliminate any potential bacteria or impurities.
2. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar until fully dissolved.
3. Let the mixture cool to room temperature before filling your feeder.
4. Store any extra nectar in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Do You Need to Boil Hummingbird Food?

If using tap water, it might be best to bring it to a light boil to remove chlorine and impurities. However, boiling isn’t necessary if using clean, filtered water. The short answer is no but boiling helps dissolve sugar quickly and can kill bacteria or mold spores.

Why You Shouldn’t Use Red Dye or Honey

Many store-bought hummingbird foods contain red dye, but this is unnecessary and potentially harmful. Hummingbirds are naturally attracted to red feeders, so there’s no need to add artificial colors. Similarly, honey should be avoided, as it can promote fungal growth that is dangerous for hummingbirds.

Choosing the Best Hummingbird Feeder

Not all feeders are created equal! When selecting a hummingbird feeder, consider the following:

• Bright Colors: Red feeders work best since hummingbirds are naturally drawn to them.
• Easy to Clean: Opt for a feeder with removable parts to prevent mold and bacteria buildup.
• Multiple Feeding Ports: This allows more hummingbirds to enjoy the nectar at the same time.
• Ant Moat or Bee Guards: Helps keep unwanted pests away from the nectar.

Popular choices include glass or plastic feeders with a built-in perch so hummingbirds can rest while they sip.

Where to Place Your Hummingbird Feeder

Placement is key to attracting hummingbirds! Here’s where you should (and shouldn’t) put your feeder:

Best Locations:

• Near flowers or plants, they naturally visit
• In a shaded or partially shaded area to prevent nectar from spoiling too quickly
• Close to a window for easy viewing
• At least 4-5 feet off the ground to keep them safe from predators

Try and avoid placing your feeder in direct (all-day) sunlight. You should similarly have it in a more secluded area of your garden if possible where there is a bit less human activity. Hummingbirds are quite territorial also so leaving it away from other feeders should also bring the best results.

Keeping Your Feeder Clean

Dirty feeders can be harmful to hummingbirds, leading to moldy nectar and bacterial infections. To keep your feeder safe:

• Clean it every 2-5 days, or more frequently in hot weather.
• Use hot water and a mild brush—avoid soap or detergents.
• If mold appears, soak the feeder in a vinegar and water solution (1:4 ratio) before rinsing thoroughly.

Other Foods Hummingbirds Love

While nectar is their main source of energy, hummingbirds also enjoy small insects for protein. You can naturally attract more hummingbirds by planting nectar-rich flowers and providing a pesticide-free environment.

• Trumpet Vine
• Bee Balm
• Salvia
• Fuchsia
• Columbine
• Petunias

Planting a variety of these flowers will create a natural buffet that keeps hummingbirds coming back!

Final Thoughts

Making homemade hummingbird food is a simple and rewarding way to attract these fascinating birds to your yard. By providing fresh nectar, maintaining a clean feeder, and creating a bird-friendly environment, you’ll have a lively hummingbird haven in no time!

So, grab your sugar and water, set up a feeder, and enjoy the magic of hummingbirds visiting your backyard!