Should You Leave Hummingbird Feeders Out All Winter? Here’s What Experts Say

Many bird lovers wonder whether it's safe to leave hummingbird feeders out during the colder winter months—and the answer isn't as simple as yes or no. Winters vary drastically depending on where you live. For those in the North, snow and ice can pose challenges, while in the South, milder conditions bring different considerations. With the right care, your feeder can still provide for these tiny, energetic birds. We spoke with experts to learn about the benefits and precautions of leaving your hummingbird feeder up all winter long.

Is It Safe to Keep Feeders Out?

If you have a hummingbird feeder on your property, it's safe to keep it up during the winter as long as you maintain it properly—and if you live in areas that see freezing temperatures, you will need to take special precautions (see more on that below). It's essential to clean the feeder and replenish the food—just as you would during the warmer months, and make sure it doesn't freeze, says Tod Winston, birding guide and urban biodiversity specialist at the NYC Bird Alliance.

Many assume that keeping a feeder up in winter will discourage hummingbirds from migrating. But that's not the case, according to Jennifer McCarthey Tyrrell, community science and research program manager at the Audubon South Carolina. "The natural drive to migrate is very strong, and some birds decide to take their chances overwintering instead of making a very perilous journey," she says. "Sometimes birds aren't well or fit enough to make that trip, and they take their chances over winter. Your feeder may help through that season."

How Keeping Feeders Up Helps Hummingbirds

Bird migration is based on instinct and influenced by seasonal changes. Feeding them throughout the winter won't harm them—in fact, it may help the birds that choose not to migrate, allowing them to survive with less natural food. Your feeder could become their favorite spot, but you must take responsibility if you decide to keep it up.

When you feed hummingbirds during the winter, it's important to replenish the food regularly. In cold weather, sugar water lasts for 5 to 7 days, says Tyyrell. The birds may get used to your feeder and not have time to find other food sources during bad weather.

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How to Safely Keep Feeders Up In the Winter

If you live in areas of the U.S. where snow and ice are common, keeping your feeder up can be risky without proper attention. Once temperatures drop to freezing, the nectar will solidify, leaving birds without access to food. Below, experts share their tips for safely keeping your hummingbird feeder up all winter.

Tips for Safely Feeding In the Winter

• Purchase a heated feeder: While hummingbirds don't typically spend the winter in extremely cold areas, below-freezing temperatures may occur, says Winston. To keep the sugar water from freezing, consider buying a heated feeder.
• Rotate your feeders: If you don't want to purchase a heated feeder, keep a few feeders on hand and rotate them, thawing a partially frozen one until it's ready to go back outside.
• Keep the feeder away from predators: When placing your feeder, make sure it's not in an area frequented by outdoor cats that could easily catch hummingbirds while they're feeding, says Tyyrell.
• Keep the feeder close to a window: Placing the feeder within 3 feet of a window makes it close enough to the glass to help prevent harmful window collisions. Tyyrell also noted that keeping the feeder near a window helps her monitor the nectar levels and freshness throughout the season.
  

Tyyrell shares how she handles the risk with her own feeder during the winter. "During one of the very infrequent snow events here in coastal South Carolina, I would bring my feeder inside at dusk so it didn't freeze overnight, then put it back out first thing in the morning," she says.

On days when freezing temperatures continued, Tyrrell used packaging tape to attach pocket hand warmers to the bottom of the feeder to keep the nectar from freezing. "That looked pretty ridiculous, but it kept the nectar liquid all day, and I would even see my hummingbirds perch for a while in the little area of warmth radiating from it," she says.