Bring More Hummingbirds to Your Yard with These Feeders

Many people love placing bird feeders in their yards to enjoy the natural beauty that birds bring. Some people who set up bird feeders also try to lure certain species of birds to their yard, either through the design of the feeder or the type of food they place inside. The hummingbird species is especially loved, as shown by the various feeders created specifically to attract them. Unlike other types of bird feeders, these models are designed to hold and dispense liquid rather than seed or other solid foods. This construction is special because hummingbirds primarily exist off of a diet of nectar from flowers, so a hummingbird feeder filled with sugar water will draw these quick, colorful little birds to your yard. Hummingbird feeders are primarily made of glass or plastic and tend to come in tube or bottle form, with unique feeding ports for the birds. Colorful models are most effective since hummingbirds are drawn to bright, vibrant flowers to feed. If you live in a place where flowers don’t bloom all year, a hummingbird feeder is ideal for ensuring your local population always has a reliable food source. Here are a few fantastic hummingbird feeders we recommend.

What to Consider in a Hummingbird Feeder

Here are a few things to think about before buying a hummingbird feeder:

• Type: Inverted feeders are bottle or tube-style models and are the most common construction for backyards. These make it much easier to keep an eye on the sugar water levels, tend to have the largest capacities, and are harder for non-hummingbird species to access. If you want an inverted feeder, look for models with bee and ant guards to keep insects out of the contents. Keep in mind that inverted feeders also run the risk of leaking as they are more challenging to fill and require in-depth cleaning. Saucer feeders are extremely easy to fill, clean, assemble, and mount and often have perches that may encourage hummingbirds to linger in your yard longer. However, they hold less liquid and will need to be refilled more often. They also allow other bird species and bugs easy access to the sugar water inside. If you don’t have a spacious backyard or any yard space at all, there are also window-mounted feeders that are an ideal alternative for apartments and condos.
• Cleanliness: Since hummingbird feeders are filled with sugar water, it’s important to look for a model that is easy to disassemble and clean. Not only does sugar ferment, but bacteria and mold love to grow in sugar water. Thus it’s important that the contents of your feeder are not only changed every few days (daily in hot weather) but that the feeder itself is as easy to clean as possible to prevent this from occurring. Look for a large filling hole that you can slip a bottlebrush inside and then scrub thoroughly. You may also prefer to avoid feeders in unusual shapes, as these may create angles or crevices that are hard to reach.
• Capacity: Hummingbird feeders are available in quite a range of sizes with different capacities. The smallest feeders hold only 1 or 2 ounces of sugar water, while the largest may have a capacity as high as 32 ounces. If you live in an area that sees limited hummingbird visits, a lower-capacity feeder is a better choice so that you don’t risk the sugar water inside going bad or fermenting. If you see a high volume of hummingbird traffic, you’ll want not only a larger model but one with more feeding ports. This added space gives more birds access to the feeder and discourages their natural territoriality. Some people in hummingbird-heavy areas find that buying and hanging several smaller hummingbird feeders in packs draws in and maintains more birds than one large feeder.

Best Design: Muse Garden Hummingbird Feeder for Outdoors, Hand Blown Glass

Hummingbirds are naturally drawn to bright, vibrant colors like those found on flowers, so it follows that a brightly colored feeder will attract more of them to your yard. This gorgeous, unique, multicolored hummingbird feeder fits the bill. It’s made out of recycled, hand-blown glass, which means that no two feeders are exactly alike. The lovely blue glass is decorated with brilliant, multicolored dots to offer a wide assortment of colors to draw in more hummingbirds. If you don’t like the blue base color or if it doesn’t match your yard’s aesthetic, similar models in orange or green are also available. The base has four feeding stations, a leakproof gasket, a perch for birds to rest on, and ant moats to discourage insects. All the materials are nontoxic and lead-free to ensure the safety of your hummingbird visitors. The entire feeder is designed to be easy to put together and fill, and the oval shape is equally easy to clean.

Most Feeding Ports: Juegoal Hanging Hummingbird Feeder

If you want the convenience of a saucer-shaped hummingbird feeder, you can’t go wrong with this red-lidded model. The bright red lid is colorful enough to attract hummingbirds, while the base is clear so that you can keep an eye on the sugar water to see when it needs replacing. It has a 12-ounce capacity, with an impressive eight ports on the lid to feed more birds at once. The lid also has a built-in perch, so hummingbirds have the option to sit while they eat or when they need a rest from flying. It can be detached for easier filling and cleaning. The insect moat in the spout ensures that ants and other bugs can’t get inside to drink or pollute the sugar water. The included hanging rod is made of solid brass, so the feeder can hang securely from a hook, tree branch, or any other place you wish to place it. You also have the option of mounting this hummingbird instead.

Most Size Options: MEKKAPRO Outdoor Hummingbird Feeder

Whether you want a hummingbird feeder that is on the smaller or larger side, this classic inverted tube model gives you the option to choose which you prefer. You can buy this model with a 10- or 20-ounce capacity, whichever is more suitable for the number of hummingbirds that tend to visit your yard. Both options come with five feeding stations and a perch in front of each, so the hummingbirds have the opportunity to rest as they drink rather than fluttering in midair. The clear glass container makes it easy to see when the sugar water needs refilling. When you do need to restock the tube, the wide-mouthed opening makes it convenient to fill, with plenty of room to fit your hand inside. The flower-shaped yellow bee guards positioned above each hole prevent bees from getting inside, while the built-in ant guard in the interior keeps out smaller insects like ants. The hanging loop at the top can easily be slipped around a hook or branch and adjusted to fit its exact size.

Best Value: SEWANTA Hummingbird Feeder Set

If you want to attract lots of hummingbird visitors to enjoy your feeder’s sugar water, you have the choice between buying an extra-large feeder or hanging two in your backyard. While either feeder will supply the hummingbirds with plenty of food, the option of having multiple models allows you to place the feeders strategically around your yard rather than requiring all the birds to flock to the same one. If you want to buy more than one hummingbird feeder, this pair provides an excellent value deal. Both hold 16 ounces of sugar water and have 10 feeding ports, so 20 different hummingbirds can drink all at once. The circular perches surround the entire base of both inverted tube feeders to allow the hummingbirds to rest and eat from any angle they find comfortable. The bright red will catch their eye and draw them in while avoiding the pitfalls of the yellow ports that sometimes attract bees and wasps. The reservoirs and base are made of hard, durable plastic, and the adjustable hanging chains are rust-resistant to withstand the outdoor elements. The wider mouth is easy to fill and insert a brush into for cleaning. The base separates into two parts so that you can wash every nook and cranny. It also comes with a built-in hermetic, a screw-in seal that prevents sugar water from leaking out and rainwater from leaking in. For best results, hang it 5 feet off the ground.