If you’ve ever spotted a hummingbird in your backyard already, then you probably already know how amazing they are to watch. If not, well, here’s the thing: they’re one of the cutest, most colorful birds in North America and they’re quite small!
“Know Your Foe”, as the army of mine would say.
Hummingbirds are also symbols of the beauty that nature has to offer. Wherever they are, they’re usually the most remarkable sight around. And these tiny little birds have excellent qualities but one of their most obvious traits are the feathers on their body.
“Oh, they’re so fluffy! They look so beautiful,” you say.
Here is a little bird secret: they’re really good at flying due to their body feathers but these feathers are also one of their weak points. Their feathers have a tendency to fade or even become damaged or destroyed if they are exposed to elements like the weather, molds, bacteria, and even UV radiations from sunlight.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| First Nature 3055 32-ounce Hummingbird Feeder | Best Overall |  |
| More Birds Ruby Hummingbird Feeder | Budget Pick |  |
| Grateful Gnome | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. First Nature 3055 32-ounce Hummingbird Feeder
Pros:
- Wide feeder mouth and removable red baffle
- No-drip extra-large flower design
- Has a bright red base
- Comes with bee guards, ant moat, and ant caps
- Easy to clean
- Large, refillable reservoir with a no-drip ant moat
- Made from durable, UV-resistant plastic
- Large flower design features a wide brim
- Removable ant moat
- Removable red ant and bee guards
Cons:
- Does not have a drainage hole
- Removable red ant and bee guards are easily misplaced
Number one on the list of hummingbird feeders is the First Nature 3055 32 oz Hummingbird Feeder. This hummingbird feeder has an extra-large flower design with a wide brim and a large reservoir to supply nectar for your feathered friends. This hummingbird feeder is made from UV-resistant plastic and can easily hold 32 ounces of nectar.
The large hummingbird feeder design also has a removable ant moat to prevent ants from climbing into the feeder and to keep wasps away from the nectar solution. The base of the feeder features a bright red color to attract hummingbirds to the feeder. A few related accessories for this hummingbird feeder are bee guards, ant moat, and ant caps.
2. More Birds Ruby Hummingbird Feeder
Pros:
- Easy to use and clean
- Small, easy to refill reservoir
- Multiple feeding ports
- Sturdy, durable construction
- Attracts more birds than other feeders
Cons:
- Needs to be filled every 5-7 days
- Prone to leaking
- Small volume of nectar
4-Inch Dia.
If you want to know more about hummingbird feeders, please click here.
3. Grateful Gnome
4. ShinyArt Hummingbird Feeder
Pros:
- Easy to make sugar water
- Good price
- Durable
- Easy to clean
- Pretty and colorful
Cons:
- Not the prettiest design
- The ant moat isn’t very effective
- Plastic and fairly rugged materials won’t break easily on it’s own, but your cats might accidentally break it
- Takes a little while to attract the hummingbirds
The ShinyArt hummingbird feeder is for the backyard enthusiast or professional with a garden. The well-designed, clear plastic container holds 38 ounces of hummingbird food and is easy to clean, but the food’s aroma isn’t overpowering so the goldfinches won’t be tempted to steal. It’s a relatively small feeder, so it’s best for people with smaller gardens or in urban settings where it’s not too hard to keep on an eye on it. The ant moat is quite effective, but if you have ants yourself, you might need a long stick or a friend to take the feeder down when you need to clean it.
5. Perky-Pet 785 Mason Jar Hummingbird Feeder,Blue Mason Jar
Pros:
- Great for preserving flowers as well
- Affordable price
- Comes with easy-to-follow instructions
- Includes cleaning brushes and ant moat
- Quality of glass is high
- Attractive design
Cons:
- Not ideal for cold weather conditions
- Smaller opening may be hard for hummingbirds to reach
- Not very attractive
Feeder Value Bundle with Table Stand and Cleaning Kit, Large 2 Pack, 8-Ounces.
Feeding birds is a lot of fun, and everyone likes to watch them. Perky-Pet has a very good solution to the problem of feeding these feathered creatures. This feeder can hold up to 48 ounces of up to 3 different nectar. You can choose from four different designs. The Perky-Pet Mason Jar hummingbird feeder has a removable base that is exceptionally easy to clean.
Perky-Pet also makes nectar mixes to help attract more hummingbirds. These mixes include appropriate ingredients to ensure that the ants that often get attracted to bird feeders don’t infest the jars. This feeder says it’s built to last. It’s entirely made of glass, and it can be used to preserve flowers as well.
6. Juegoal Hummingbird Feeder
Pros:
- Durable silicone construction
- Easy to clean
- One of the most reliable feeders available
- Easy to assemble
- Holds 12 oz of liquid
- Air circulation improves the taste of the nectar
If you want a quality hummingbird feeder that’s easy to clean and maintain and easy to use, this is the one for you. Firstly, this feeder is made from FDA-approved food grade silicone, making it less harmful to both the birds and the environment.
Since the feeder comes with a three-part base and a wide mouth for easy cleaning, you can easily boil it to sterilize and wipe it down. It also has a water drainage hole to keep the sugar syrup fresh.
The Juegoal feeder has a patented 9-sugar tube to reduce contact with liquid and a premium anti-drip design. Additionally, this model is easy to use with the built-in perches and bright flowers on the feeder. It’s also easy to assemble and comes with a 24-month warranty.
7. More Birds Glory Hummingbird Feeder
Pros:
- Attractive feeder with a glass bottle and a wide mouth opening
- Comes with a built-in ant moat
- Affordable
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with the hangers
- Short warranty
Solar Blue.
This is another affordable feeder which fits in every price range. This lovely hummingbird feeder from More Birds Glory wins the first place on our list of the best hummingbird feeders. The More Birds Glory is very pleasant to the eyes, simple, and inexpensive. With a capacity of approximately 14 oz., this feeder can be a perfect choice for you.
The construction is plastic and is colored in black. The base is made of a wide mouth jar with a glass bottom which makes it really easy to clean the container. The jar is made of green plastic. The feeder comes with a built-in ant moat and drainage holes which allow excess liquid to run off.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best feeder for hummingbirds?
For households that enjoy watching hummingbirds every day, a hummingbird feeder with nectar is the solution for providing tasty treats to the hummingbirds. The wide variety of feeders on the market makes hummingbird care very simple.
The best hummingbird feeders have a window on the top so you can watch the hummingbird drink nectar. It’s also important that the hummingbird feeder you opt for has a wide mouth to accommodate the long and skinny bill of hummingbirds.
Apart from that, these feeders should also be in a spot that’s easily visible to you while ensuring that it’s out of the reach of cats, dogs, and other predators.
If you’re looking for tips on how to choose hummingbird feeders, remember these important points:
What should you not feed hummingbirds?
Other common foods that hummingbirds love but should not be incorporated in the diet are sweeteners like sucrose, honey, corn syrup, and molasses. The reason behind this is that birds need water to metabolize sugar, and any excess sugar just takes up space that should be taken up by water.
What sugar is best for hummingbirds?
The ratio of the sugar used in the hummingbird feeder makes the biggest difference to the birds. They prefer using table sugar over the liquid sugar because it’s easier to extract the nutrients from it. That’s why refined sugar is the best choice. However, sugar alternatives such as white sugar products are perfect for hummers. Also, avoid those that put artificial sweeteners and oils in the nectar.
Hummingbirds also need plenty of protein and nectar along with the sugar. Mineral supplements seem to be the best for their nectar dose, as phosphorous and calcium seems to be effective in helping them recover.
What's a hummingbird's favorite food?
In nature, hummingbirds consume insects and nectar from flowers. The diet of a hummingbird should consist of:
- 97% sugar solution (honey diluted down with water, nectar from flowers and fruits, or even pure sugar)
- 3% complex proteins like regurgitated insects or other protein rich foods
The sugar solution will also be sugar mixed with water, plus a bit of artificial coloring (ranging from blue to red), so the birds don’t mistake the feeder for clean drinking water. (The red coloring will make the water appear to be more like acidic juice.)
Although commercial hummingbird food is available, most people prefer to fill the hummingbird feeders with a homemade sugar solution, because it costs less and is healthier for the birds.
When your hummingbird feeders are full, the birds will eat every four minutes or so. When the feeders are empty, they will start
Conclusion
It seems like there’s nothing more relaxing than sipping a cup of coffee or iced tea and gazing at the beautiful flowers and trees of a garden in the morning. And as the sun rises, the birds happily chirp to greet a beautiful new day. But what happens when the bird feeders start depleting their food supply? Do they go hungry? Well, that’s a sad thought because they’ve already woken up early to cheer you up.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| First Nature 3055 32-ounce Hummingbird Feeder | Best Overall | |
| More Birds Ruby Hummingbird Feeder | Budget Pick | |
| Grateful Gnome | Upgrade Pick | |