How to Attract Hummingbirds

Knowing how to attract hummingbirds into your garden will help you enjoy the site of these beautiful and distinctive birds feeding. This is an engaging pastime enjoyed by both young and old alike.

Hummingbirds are fascinating birds. They get their name from the humming sound that their rapidly beating wings make. Their wings beat between 60 and 80 times a second and this makes the humming sound that inspired their name. There are many different species of hummingbird in the United States including the ruby throated hummingbird, however the one thing that they have in common is their distinctive flying and feeding style. All hummingbirds feed on nectar, therefore if you are wondering how to attract hummingbirds into your garden then ensuring a regular supply of nectar and a safe habitat is key. Once hummingbirds have visited a garden a few times they will start to get comfortable in the surroundings and look to nest and rear their young.

How to Attract Hummingbirds into the Garden

There are several ways to attract hummingbirds into your garden. These include:

Flowers – hummingbirds will seek out nectar filled flowers. Therefore ensuring that your garden is full of this type of flower will help to attract hummingbirds. There are many different types of flower that are attractive to hummingbirds. These include flowers such as Hollyhock, Delphinium, Gladiolus and Eucalyptus. While cultivated flowers are attractive to hummingbirds and have an adequate supply of nectar, wild varieties are often the best type to grow. The most attractive flowers to hummingbirds are flowers where the petals are formed as trumpets. These are also often the most attractive to bees.
Habitat – people who hope to attract hummingbirds should carefully consider the habitat. Hummingbirds require both shade and sun. They need a place to nest as well as places where they can safely perch. Hummingbirds also require a good supply of clean and fresh water.
Nectar – hummingbirds are attracted by nectar, therefore having a good supply of nectar in a garden is paramount for people looking to attract these birds. While a garden full of nectar rich flowers will help, supporting this with additional nectar supplies can also be a good way to attract hummingbirds.
Feeders – one of the best ways to attract hummingbirds into your garden is to use a specially designed garden feeder. These have wells for the nectar and are designed so that the hummingbirds can feed with ease. Hummingbird feeders are typically bright red. The hummingbirds are attracted to the red color and this helps them discover the supply of nectar. It is important to remember that the feeder itself should be red, not the nectar. People should never add colorants or dyes to hummingbird nectar.
Red – in addition to using a red feeder, adding splashes of red near the feeder can also help to attract hummingbirds. This could include red ribbon or tape.
Free from predators – hummingbirds welcome a safe environment in which to feed and eventually to nest. Therefore giving a hummingbird a protected environment is useful when people are looking to attract them into a garden. The natural predators of hummingbirds include cats, insects and other birds. Situating a hummingbird feeder away from cats is important. Most feeder manufacturers recommend placing a feeder at least 5 feet off the ground.

Other Considerations

There may be local considerations to take into account when looking to attract hummingbirds into a garden. Local bird watching or nature clubs may be able to give more specialized advice about how to attract hummingbirds in a particular region. This includes information about when to put out and take away feeders, details about migration patterns and other relevant information.

Attracting hummingbirds to feed and nest in a garden can be a very rewarding pastime. These fascinating birds can give hours of pleasure and watching them can be an interesting insight into some of the true wonders of nature.