Hummingbirds: Feeder, Food, & More!

A hummingbird is one of the coolest creatures on Earth. It's wings can beat between 10 to 80 times per second, depending on the size, and their heartbeats range from 100 beats per minute in slower birds to 1200 beats per minute in faster ones. In this Instructable, we're going to take a look at hummingbirds, what plants they like, and also build a feeder by recycling materials.

Let's save the environment, study it, and help it grow with this project!

Step 1 Hummingbirds

The most commonly seen of these creatures in North America are the Ruby-throated and Rufous hummingbirds. They beat their wings about 53 times per second. To find out what hummingbirds are in your state or province, check out this link at hummingbirds.net.

In my area, there are only these two types of birds, Ruby throated and Rufous. According to this website, the best flowers to attract hummingbirds are "bee balms, honeysuckle, clematis, impatiens, phlox, and fuchias." I've seen hummingbirds attracted to flowers in my yard as well as the feeder we put up (which unfortunately broke), and color draws the attention of the bird. I've also seen hummingbirds drawn to the vivid zinnia flowers. Taking that to mind, if you plant any of these flowers, you'll be killing two birds (oh, that's wrong...) with one stone; having some beautiful oxygen emitting plants and the birds attracted to the plants!

Some quick facts!

• Hummingbirds are the only group of birds able to fly backwards.
• They were named for the hum emitted by the beating of their wings.
• The smallest hummingbird is the Bee Hummingbird, also the smallest bird in the world, weighing only 1.8 grams.
• Male hummingbirds are more colorful than their females, who instead display " cryptic coloration "; basically, camouflage.
• Hummingbirds, during flight, have the highest metabolism of all animals, due to its rapid wing beatings.
• Rufous Hummingbirds have been found to migrate east in the US/Canada during the winter, instead of down to Central America. This is due to the number of feeders put out in gardens.

Comments

[jonboy25]

I tried to make the feeder and the food (water) just poured out of the holes.
I'm not sure what the problem is.  Would a straw between the bottle and top help?
Or maybe the cap is too loose.

[jonboy25]

Never mind.  I used a hook on the top and put put hot glue around it.
Some air must have been leaking through the top.  More glue fixed it.
This was cheap

[J@50n]

HHere is a video i made of my humming bird at my feeder!

[LakeLivin]

Don't mean to tc, but a couple of months ago I read about possible negative effects from people reusing certain types of plastic bottles for water. Something about the plastic breaking down over time & releasing unhealthy compounds into the water. If this could present a danger to humans I'd guess it might be magnified in the tiny hummers. I'll try to remember where I read this (Time mag perhaps?) & see if I can add more precise info & possibly a link. Sorry to introduce a potential note of negativity, but thought it worth mentioning. Otherwise, thanks for the info. I've been feeding hummers for about 10 years. During the peak season mine go through probably 3/4 gallon of nectar a day. Don't know how many I've got, I've estimated up to approx. 2 dozen feeding at once (hard to count em, it looks like a bee hive at times). And like you and others have noted, stay away from the red food coloring. If anyone feels they need red they can always add some to the base or bottle (a bit of permanent red magic marker perhaps)?

[LakeLivin]

Sorry, appears that the concern about reusing plastic water bottles may be overblown (it's certainly controversial). See the Snopes article below.

Bottle Royale

[Shut Up Now]

even if its a valid concern, the commercial feeders that are made from plasitc would have the same hazard so theres not much to do about it.

[technick29]

Don't worry, it's perfectly fine. It's funny because someone told me this before, but I never linked it to my Instructable... Thanks for the input, you helped me on two accounts. ;) Now I can re-use bottles without fear!

[jtown]

Awesome! thanks so much well done when do you find is the best time to place the feeder outsider? last year i waited to long and didn't attract any birds :(

[keydogstony]

These are some Hummingbird Nesting Perches I have made.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=250371266857

[miezimau]

I tried it, but for some reason when I used the hot glue gun it melted the bottle? :(

[technick29]

Are you using an industrial glue gun? Some glue guns reach very high temperatures. This glue gun is similar to one from the dollar store, and doesn't get hot enough to melt through plastic.

[miezimau]

The one I was using was a very cheap one I had buoght at Walmart.

[turner22]

i read that the birds are very attracted to red, so another idea would be to paint the bottom 'bulb' red and then put the flowers on.

[jboppx22]

i like hummingbirds, The Giant Hummingbird's wings beat at 8–10 beats per second, the wings of medium-sized hummingbirds beat about 20–25 beats per second and the smallest beat 70 beats per second. there also the only birds that can fly backwards

[technick29]

Yep, they're fascinating creatures indeed!

[Smurphette]

Oh, thanks. I didn't mind that it was longer, it was broken into reasonable steps. I wish there were a better way to keep the food fresh. I am always afraid of poisoning them.

[LakeLivin]

You may be a bit over concerned. As long as you keep the equipment well cleaned between changing and don't leave it out there for an inordinate amount of time I really doubt you'll have any problems. Like I said, I've been feeding masses of hummers for probably ten years. I try to keep the food reasonably fresh (certainly avoid it going cloudy), but I'm definitely not meticulous re changing it every so many days. And at times I'm out of town, which means the food sometimes stays out up to a week or so, and I haven't ever noticed a problem. As technick said, the nectar stores really well in a glass bottle in the refrigerator, so just put out as much as they'll drink over several days and refill from the fridge on a regular basis. Also, I read somewhere that if the food does turn they just won't drink it, rather than poisoning themselves. Sorry Technick, don't mean to step all over your instructable. It's just that I've had a fair bit of experience over a number of years and want to share it (perhaps too much experience; I get so many that at times it becomes almost a chore feeding them, lol).

[technick29]

Haha this is fine Lake. After all, this is what Instructables is all about; everyone working together to gain a better understanding of things, right?

[Smurphette]

Yup, I saw. There was so much discussion about coloring the water, I thought it might be prudent to expand on the little you said there. Didn't mean to upset you.

[technick29]

You didn't upset me at all! In fact, I'm glad you added that. Sometimes people just look at comments and not through the entire Instructable. And this is quite a long one too. Keep up the input!

[Smurphette]

Rather than possibly risk the birds health, and to not give up the red color that seems to attract them, get some red cellophane or cling wrap and rubberband it into place around the feeder body.

[technick29]

Yep -- I mentioned this in step 7.

[bleachworthy]

if you add red food coloring, it attracts their attention, and you can get as many as 5-10 to come at once! I have a cheap-o feeder, and some food for them outside my office window. they are interesting little critters, there are these 3 birds in particular, which I believe are the equivelant of "best friends". if one shows up, the other two follow seconds behind, one leaves they follow. I have found that it if you put fly pheromones (usually found in fly trap kits) on, or near the feeder, they hang out there for long periods of time, and you can see them race eachother to catch the flies attracted by the chemicals. btw, i hate all animals besides humming birds.... and platypuses... don't ask abou the second one...

[Hoboman]

I think the plural for platypus is platypi, :') just saying.

[LasVegas]

Red in the water won't do very much to attract the birds. I fully agree with technick29 that food coloring is best left out. What would attract more birds is to use red artificial flowers instead of yellow. Hummingbirds are attracted to the red flowers. I also suggest that you research the hummingbird season for your area and feed accordingly. Fortunately, in this part of the country, there are one or more species around all year.

[musicalbee2003]

I read somewhere food coloring really messes them up... and las vegas is right, it's the flower's color that attracts them, not the nectar's.

[technick29]

Thanks LasVegas.

[bleachworthy]

Yeah, I have about 3 different species around these parts ( I live in southern Oregon) and on the food coloring subject, the ones around here seem to like the red over just clear food, like I said, with the coloring you can attract more, I have done multiple controlled experiments, over multiple years with the coloring, and the fly pheromones. but to each their own.

[technick29]

It sounds interesting what you've done. Is your feeder colored at all?

[bleachworthy]

it has yellow plastic flowers, and the container is clear, so it appears to be red. it's a wal-mart cheapo

[miammi]

Hummingbirds are wonderful for sure, but please do not add food coloring to their water, they do not need it and it is harmful to them. Something as small as a piece of red yarn tied to the feeder will attract them, or simply put the feeder close to flowers, real or fake, and they will come. I guarantee it - just give them a week or so to discover something new in their neighborhood. I don't use feeders at all because I plant a variety of flowers that attract them, not all red or even pink, but pretty much anything. Feeders are great if you do not have the space or time for flowers, but the water must be replenished every few days (sugar water breeds bacteria fairly quickly) and like any other kind of feeder, the birds will come to depend on it....hummers are also attracted to crystals hung in trees or windows and will fly close to see them. They are very curious. To prevent window crashes, I use WindowAlert, decals coated with UV that the birds can see (no, I don't work there, but they DO work).

[technick29]

Yup, I covered it in step 8 --
"You might think that hummingbirds are attracted to color, so add some red food coloring. DON'T! The feeder we just made, or one that you bought, probably already has color on it, so this is extra. The food coloring is also foreign to the hummingbird's digestive system, which could cause sickness."

[basskicker]

If you want to attract humming birds just mix half sugar and half water and they will come.

[technick29]

You can use this proportion, though 1/4 part sugar for every part water is better for the birds. See step 8, food:

"The generally accepted recipe is 1 part sugar for every 4 parts of water. This proportion is used because it is close to the average sucrose content, about 21%, in flowers hummingbirds frequent. It is also enough sugar for the hummingbirds, but not too sweet that it should draw attention to ants, wasps, and other pests. Another reason not to add too much sugar is that it can cause liver damage to the hummingbirds."

[bedbugg2]

theres no hummingbirds where i live :(

[MGWC]

Adding more feeders right next to each other in one yard increases your chances of seeing more than one hummingbird at the same time. If you think you only have a couple in your area, consider the fact that for every hummingbird you see at any given time there are usually 5-10 more.

[technick29]

Hey, cool, I didn't know that!

[Ushanka]

I wonder what hummingbirds taste like. I bet they're stringy and tough, but I'd still want to find out for myself. .... Oh, don't look at me like that. Hummingbirds are common fare in places like rural Cambodia.

[technick29]

Haha, you learn something everyday ...