A hummingbird feeder is the easiest way to add a summer species to your yard, and the easiest feeder to get wrong. Most of the work isn't the recipe, which is simple. It's keeping the sugar water fresh. This guide gives the recipe that the National Audubon Society, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Smithsonian's National Zoo agree on, and a temperature-based cleaning schedule.
The recipe: 1 part sugar to 4 parts water
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Refined white sugar | 1 part (e.g. ¼ cup) | Plain table sugar only |
| Water | 4 parts (e.g. 1 cup) | Audubon uses boiling water; the Smithsonian says boiling isn't required |
| Red dye | None | "Not necessary and could also prove harmful" (Audubon) |
| Honey or other sweeteners | None | Honey "can promote dangerous fungal growth" (Audubon) |
Steps (Audubon): mix ¼ cup of refined white sugar into 1 cup of boiling water until it dissolves, let it cool, then fill the feeder. The Smithsonian's National Zoo gives the same ratio in any unit, for example 1 cup of sugar to 4 cups of water, and says to stir until the sugar is fully dissolved. Cornell's All About Birds Ruby-throated Hummingbird account also recommends about one-quarter cup of sugar per cup of water, with no food coloring.
Need a different amount? The nectar calculator works it out for any batch size.
When to make it stronger
Cornell's Lab of Ornithology says flower nectar is "roughly comparable" to sugar water of a quarter to a third cup of sugar per cup of water. In hot, dry weather, keep the mix "no stronger than a quarter cup of sugar per cup of water," because hummingbirds risk dehydration. During cold, rainy spells you can go "up to about a third cup of sugar per cup of water." Cornell says this "won't hurt your birds and may help them."
Storing extra nectar
The Smithsonian says to keep extra sugar water in the refrigerator and use it within one week. Throw it out if you see mold.
How often to change nectar and clean the feeder
Warm sugar water spoils fast. Cornell warns that old sugar water can grow mold and undergo "deadly fermentation." The International Hummingbird Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, publishes this schedule by daytime temperature:
| Daytime high | Change nectar and clean |
|---|---|
| Below 60°F (15°C) | Weekly |
| 60–70°F (15–21°C) | Every 5–6 days |
| 70–80°F (21–27°C) | Every 3–5 days |
| 80–90°F (27–32°C) | Every 2 days |
| 90°F+ (32°C+) | Daily or every other day |
Other authorities are a little stricter, so treat the table as a maximum:
- Cornell (Feeding Hummingbirds): never leave sugar water out more than two or three days, and change it daily in very hot weather.
- Cornell (How to Clean Your Bird Feeder): change sugar water every 3 to 5 days, more often in hot weather, and clean the feeder at least once a week.
- Smithsonian's National Zoo: change and clean the feeder every other day.
In every source, cloudy nectar means change it now. The Hummingbird Society says to empty the feeder whenever the nectar looks cloudy or has debris floating in it, whatever the schedule says.
How to clean a hummingbird feeder
- Weekly basics (Cornell): hot water and a bottle brush. Don't use soap or detergent. A dilute bleach solution is an option if you rinse thoroughly and let the feeder air dry.
- Vinegar soak (Hummingbird Society): for a deep clean, soak the parts in 1 part white vinegar to 4 parts water for an hour, then rinse well.
- Buy for cleaning: Cornell suggests choosing a feeder with a fill hole wide enough for a bottlebrush and crevices that are easy to scrub.
- Don't just top off. The Hummingbird Society says to clean feeders between refills instead of adding fresh nectar to old.
Where to hang feeders
- Several small feeders beat one big one. Cornell says "more feeders are usually better than larger feeders." Hummingbirds are territorial, and four single-port feeders spread around the house will hold more birds than one eight-port feeder.
- Keep them out of direct sun, which spoils the solution quickly. Bottle feeders in sun can also leak as the trapped air expands.
- Size to demand. Cornell suggests sizing feeders so the birds empty them every day or two.
Ants, bees and wasps
- Saucer feeders with ports on top are fairly bee- and wasp-proof (Cornell).
- An ant moat filled with plain tap water stops ants climbing down the hanger.
- Don't put oil or sticky substances near the feeding ports, because they can contaminate the nectar (Cornell). Yellow bee guards may actually attract bees.
Which hummingbird will you see?
East of the Great Plains, it will almost certainly be a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Cornell calls it eastern North America's only breeding hummingbird, and it beats its wings about 53 times a second. Males may start migrating by early August, and the birds head to Central America by early fall. For spring arrival and fall departure dates by region, see when to put out hummingbird feeders. Western yards host several species. See our common backyard birds profiles to start.
Sources
- How to Make Hummingbird Nectar — National Audubon Society
- Hummingbird Nectar Recipe — Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute
- What's the Best Recipe for Hummingbird Nectar? — All About Birds, Cornell Lab
- Feeding Hummingbirds — All About Birds, Cornell Lab
- How to Clean Your Bird Feeder — All About Birds, Cornell Lab
- How to Clean Hummingbird Feeders and When to Change the Nectar — The Hummingbird Society
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab