Attract the flutter and flash of hummingbirds to your garden by preparing and offering them homemade hummingbird food.

Hummingbirds are fascinating creatures, known for their rapid wingbeat, iridescent plumage, and insatiable appetite for sweet nectar.

Providing them with a homemade hummingbird nectar recipe not only allows you to observe these remarkable birds up close but also helps them thrive during seasons when natural nectar sources may be scarce.

Hummingbirds primarily feed on the nectar they extract from tubular flowers and supplement their diet with small insects and spiders.

In a garden setting, they are particularly drawn to brightly colored blooms such as salvia and bee balm. However, a homemade hummingbird food recipe can serve as a reliable food source, especially for those living in urban areas or during times when natural blooms are not abundant.

The key to making homemade hummingbird nectar is to mimic the natural nectar found in flowers. This is usually a simple sugar solution, as the primary component of natural nectar is sucrose.

This article will guide you through the process of making your own hummingbird food, ensuring it is safe and nutritious for these vibrant visitors to your garden.

Hummingbird Food Recipe That Wonโ€™t Harm Birds (And Also Save Money)

Hummingbirds are fascinating creatures, and attracting them to your garden can be a rewarding endeavor. One way to do this is by providing them with a homemade hummingbird nectar that mimics their natural nectar.

Close up view of a hummingbird on a red feeder drinking some homemade sugar nectar

This not only saves you money but also ensures that the birds are not harmed by artificial sweeteners or harmful additives found in some commercial hummingbird food.

The homemade hummingbird nectar recipe is simple and requires only two ingredients: white sugar and water.

It’s important to use white sugar, as brown sugar, honey, molasses, and sugar substitutes can harm hummingbirds.

These types of sugar contain additional components or lack the essential nutrients found in white sugar, specifically sucrose, which is a primary energy source for hummingbirds.

Here is a simple homemade hummingbird food recipe:

  1. Mix one part sugar with four parts water. For example, if you use one cup of sugar, you’ll need four cups of water. This ratio of sugar to water closely resembles the sucrose content in natural nectar that hummingbirds get from tubular flowers like salvia and bee balm.

Close up view of white sugar in white bowl and water in glass with gray background

  1. Boil the mixture for about two minutes. Boiling helps dissolve the sugar completely and kills any mold or yeast present in the sugar or tap water that could spoil the nectar.

Close up view of boiling sugar syrup in stainless pan

  1. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature before filling your hummingbird feeders.
  2. Any leftover sugar water can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Remember to stir the mixture before using it again.

Avoid adding red dye or red food coloring to the mixture. While it’s true that hummingbirds are attracted to the color red, the dye can harm them. Instead, use hummingbird feeders that are red or have red parts to attract the birds.

Once prepared, the sugar water can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. However, it’s important to replace the nectar in hummingbird feeders every two to three days, or more often in hot weather, as it can spoil quickly.

It’s also important to clean hummingbird feeders regularly to prevent mold growth. Use hot water and a mild soap, rinse thoroughly, and let them dry completely before refilling.

By following this recipe, you can provide a safe and nutritious source of energy for hummingbirds visiting your garden, while also saving money by avoiding store-bought nectar.

What You Should Know About Homemade Hummingbird Food

1. Do Not Add Dye or Food Coloring

While it may be tempting to add red dye or red food coloring to your homemade hummingbird nectar to mimic the color of commercial hummingbird food or the natural nectar found in tubular flowers such as salvia and bee balm, it is strongly advised against.

The reason is simple: artificial colors can potentially harm hummingbirds.

Close up view of blue red yellow food dye in tube with purple background

Artificial food colors, including red dye, do not provide any nutritional value and may contain chemicals that could be harmful to hummingbirds.

Despite the common belief, hummingbirds are not attracted to the color of the nectar but to the feeder itself.

Therefore, it’s better to use clean hummingbird feeders with red parts to attract these birds rather than adding dye to the sugar water mixture.

2. Only Use White Cane Sugar

When preparing homemade hummingbird food, it’s crucial to use the right kind of sugar. White cane sugar is the best choice for your hummingbird nectar recipe.

Close up view of white sugar in a wooden spoon with fresh sugar cane on topย  of a wooden table

Avoid using honey, brown sugar, molasses, or artificial sweeteners in your homemade hummingbird nectar.

Honey can ferment quickly and potentially harm hummingbirds with a harmful fungus.

Brown sugar and molasses contain levels of iron that could be harmful to hummingbirds if consumed in large quantities.

Artificial sweeteners, on the other hand, offer no nutritional value to hummingbirds.

3. Use Small Quantities and Clean the Feeder Often

Hummingbirds are attracted to fresh nectar, so it’s essential to maintain the quality of the homemade hummingbird nectar you prepare. This is why it’s advisable to make small quantities of hummingbird nectar recipe at a time.

A good rule of thumb is to prepare a sugar solution that will last for about two to three days. This way, you can ensure the nectar doesn’t spoil, which can harm the hummingbirds.

4. Keep an Eye Out for Mold and Clean the Feeder Often

It’s also crucial to clean hummingbird feeders regularly to prevent the growth of mold and harmful bacteria.

Close up view of gloved hands scrubbing brush inside a metal mesh bird feeder

Mold can harm the delicate hummingbirds and deter them from visiting your feeders. It can develop in the feeder due to various reasons, including leftover nectar, exposure to sunlight, and warm weather conditions.

Use hot water and a mild soap, ensuring to rinse thoroughly to remove any soap residue. Dry it completely before refilling it with fresh nectar. This is a critical step because any moisture left in the feeder can encourage mold growth.

If the feeder has visible mold, a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water can be used to sanitize it. Rinse thoroughly after this process as well.

FAQ

Can I use tap water?

Close up view of a woman filling glass with tap water from the faucet in the kitchen

Yes, you can! Make sure to boil it before using it so that the sugar dissolves easily in it. The boiling will also remove any impurities in the tap water.

How long can I store leftover sugar water in the fridge?

You can store leftover sugar water in the fridge for no more than one week. If mold starts to grow on sugar water that you keep in the fridge, you should throw it away and make fresh sugar water for your hummingbird feeder.

How often should I change the sugar water in my hummingbird feeder?

Feeders should be changed and properly cleaned every other day, but it is critical that they be cleaned and refilled at least twice a week in hot weather (summer) and once a week in cooler season (spring/fall) to prevent mold fromย forming.