How to Make Hummingbird Nectar the Right Way (and Keep Your Backyard Birds Safe)

Hummingbirds are spectacular to watch, but if you've been having a hard time attracting the birds to your backyard, there's one thing your landscape may be missing: hummingbird nectar. Due to their extremely high metabolism, hummingbirds have to visit hundreds of flowers a day. By making hummingbird nectar at home, you can help give these winged beauties the glucose energy they need to keep on humming. To help, Tod Winston, a birding guide and urban biodiversity specialist at New York City Bird Alliance, shares a hummingbird nectar recipe that will make these creatures feel welcome in your yard.

Hummingbird Nectar Recipe

If you've been wondering how to make hummingbird nectar from home, you may be surprised to know that it's actually very easy—and only requires two ingredients. Once you've made the hummingbird food, let it cool completely before putting it in your bird feeder.

Ingredients

• Refined white sugar
• Water

Steps

1. Combine 1 part refined white sugar with 4 parts warm tap water in a pot.
2. Bring the mixture to a full boil (which kills any potential microorganisms and reduces chlorine levels, Winston says).
3. Stir the ingredients until the sugar dissolves.
4. Once the sugar dissolves, remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool completely.
5. Once cooled, place the hummingbird nectar in your bird feeder.

Type of Sugar to Use in Hummingbird Nectar

The only sugar you should dissolve in water to make hummingbird nectar is refined white sugar. "The additional ingredients in unrefined sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, confectioner's sugar, molasses, and other sweeteners may be harmful to hummingbirds or cause the nectar to spoil more quickly," Winston says. Note that you should never use honey, as it can promote dangerous fungal growth.

Don't Add Red Dye to Hummingbird Nectar

Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red because it brings to mind nectar-rich flowers, but that doesn't mean you should add red food coloring to hummingbird nectar. "It is unnecessary and could cause health problems for hummingbirds when consumed in large amounts," Winston says. Instead of red dye, choose a feeder with a bright red color to attract hummingbirds.

Where to Hang Your Hummingbird Feeder

When selecting a location for your bird feeder, consider the types of plants that attract hummingbirds. Narrow and tubular varieties, like honeysuckle and daylily, are smart choices; they can accommodate hummingbirds' long bills. They're also attracted to red and orange blooms. "Hanging your feeder above a bed of native, hummingbird-attracting plants is the best way to get hummingbirds' attention and offer them a variety of feeding options," Winston says.

When to Hang Your Hummingbird Feeder

When you put up your bird feeder for hummingbirds depends on where you live. "If you're lucky enough to live in warmer parts of the West Coast, the southern United States, or Central and South America, you may have hummingbirds in your yard year-round," Winston says. "But in most of North America, hummingbirds migrate south for the winter."

Hang your feeder about a week before hummingbirds arrive in your area, which is typically in late April or early May. "You can keep your feeders up as long as the hummingbirds keep coming; feeders will not prevent the birds from migrating south," Winston says.

How Often to Change Hummingbird Nectar

Hummingbird nectar does go bad—and quickly. "Mold and fungus will grow in the nectar in your feeder, and the nectar will spoil more quickly when exposed to sun and heat," Winston says. Hummingbird nectar should be changed at least twice a week, but make sure you check it frequently during that period, as the nectar may spoil during warmer weather and in sunny spots.

You should also clean the feeder when you change the nectar. "Use a weak vinegar solution and hot water to clean your feeder," Winston says. "Detergents may leave harmful residues."

How to Store Unused Nectar

Unused hummingbird nectar can be kept in the refrigerator, where it will keep for one to two weeks. Throw it out if you notice any cloudiness or mold growth.