How Can You Attract Hummingbirds? Hummingbird Feeders - Make Hummingbird Feeder

Hummingbirds are a beautiful creature.  They are the smallest of birds.  What is so extraordinary about this bird is the amount of energy that they use considering they rapidly flap their wings 12-90 times per second.  Considering the amount of energy that they use to fly, they must almost constantly feed.  Hummingbirds feed on nectar - which is a sweet liquid inside certain flowers.  Hummingbirds can consume twice the amount of their body weight in nectar per day.  A lot of people believe that hummingbirds have a straw like tongue and this is used to suck the nectar out of the flowers.  However, inside a hummingbirds bill is indeed a tongue, the bill is opened only slightly so their tongue may dart out and feed on the inside of the flower.

How To Attract A Hummingbird

Planting Options-

Considering that hummingbirds feed on only nectar-rich plants, the ideal flowers that attract a hummingbird include bee balm, red columbines, butterfly bush, petunias, salvias, cannas, honey suckles, and impatiens.  Hummingbirds are very attracted to the color red for some reason, however if the planter does not prefer red, they do also go for purple gazing balls.

Do not use pesticides around hummingbird plants, this could sicken or kill a hummingbird.  Plus, using pesticides would initially rid of all of the insects that a hummingbird feeds on for their protien - thus making it a very unattractive area for a hummingbird to feed.

Feeders

A nectar feeder is the most common choice for attracting hummingbirds.  There are dozens of certain nectar feeders out on the market.  Check some out over at Amazon, great prices.  Most feeders are made of plastic, glass or ceramic material.  Mostly any feeder would attract hummingbirds - the most importance of a feeder is it's design.  A lot of planters and bird watchers recommend the HummZinger.

As for placement, place your feeder preferably near a garden or planting site.  If you would prefer to hang a feeder by a window outside, it is suggested to use a certain on those windows to avoid a hummingbird striking the window because it is clear glass. 

Filling a feeder is a lot simpler than you may think.  It is not necessary to fill a feeder with a commercial feeder mix.  Plain sugar water would do just fine.  Sugar water is just a supplement to the hummingbirds diet, their main source of feed is from nectar and the insects that they consume. 

Water -

Hummingbirds are highly attracted to water.  Though some might not rely on the feeder, they do appreciate moving water such as sprinklers, fountains, waterfalls, and misters.  Often they may fly through the water to cool off or to bathe.  Try to keep great "moving water" close to a nectar rich area, as this would be a highly attractive area for a hummingbird to keep coming back to.

And there you have it!  A few simple ways to attract hummingbirds to your area for years to come!  Break out the camera and enjoy!