Category: Hummingbird Food

Is there such a thing as a hummingbird flower?  Yes, but it isn’t a particular flower or type of plant, it is what attracts a hummingbird to it.  Nectar is the primary food souce of the hummingbird.  Ninety percent of its diet comes from nectar.  It may surpise you to discover that the are at least 150 flowering plants which are specialized to help attract hummingbirds.  These are some of the things that make plants attractive to hummingbirds.

• Hummingbirds perfer long tubular shaped flowers, because this enables the hummingbird to use its tongue and lap up nectar at the lowest part of the tube.
• Flowers that attract hummingbirds are often red in color, but not solely red in color, and have little or no scent.  Hummingbirds aren’t known to have the ability to smell, so they rely on their vision to help them locate the flowers.  The is quite different from a bee which relies on scent to help it locate flowers.
• Hummingbird flowers have no platform on which the bird is able to land.
• Due to the active wing movement of the hummingbird, these plants are usually spaced far enough apart to allow for this.
• Hummingbird flowers grow a various entervals, so that there will always be plants growing at different times and these plants tend to bloom for longer periods then other types.
• These plants typically tend to bloom during daylight hours.

Just in case you were unsure about this, it is not necessary for you to buy the pre-made nectar solution to fill your hummingbird feeders. While commercial nectar supposedly contains extra vitamins, proteins, and other things that are important to hummingbirds, it is unnecessary to use this because the birds will get all the nutrients they need through the flower nectar and insects that they consume.Hummingbirds want the flowers they visit to have a nectar consentration of about 21 percent. Also, a hummingbird will generally eat between 400-500 insects per day, but the number will be greater on rainy days.

It is important to keep in mind that all hummingbirds are looking for when they feed from your hummingbird feeders is a quick source of energy and this can be provided through ordinary white cane sugar. The white cane sugar will not harm the hummingbirds and it helps provide the hummingbirds the necessary fuel for capturing bugs, flying, hovering, and other normal activities.

Comercial nectar also contains red dye. This is not necessary and has been found to be harmful to the hummingbirds.Red dye is believed to cause brain tumors and other defects in the birds. This is still being studied, but why even take the risk of causing harm to the hummingbirds. Do yourself and the birds a big favor, make your own sugar solution or nectar for your feeders, because you will save yourself some money and you can assure that the solution is absolutely safe for the birds.

Just a reminder, to make your own sugar solution or nectar use the following:1 part white cane sugar to 4 parts water.

I don’t know about you but I pesonally can’t wait for spring to arrive.  Thank goodness, it is finally just around the corner.  Thinking about the upcomming arrival of spring as gotten me to think more about how to more effectively use flowers to attract hummingbirds.  Here are some things to keep in mind.

Due to the fact that hummingbirds have no known sense of smell, the flowers that attract hummingbirds are those that are most highly visable and have a high nectar production.  Also, the use of hybrid flowers will likely be far less successful at attracting hummingbirds then native wild flowers because the hybrid flowes produce far less nectar.

It is also important to remember that pesticides should never be used in a hummingbird garden, because doing so can make the hummingbirds ill or even kill them.  Also, doing so will eliminate the insects that hummingbirds rely on for protein and protien is a vital part of the hummingbirds diet.

There are many plants that you can use in a hummingbird garden to help attract and entice these tiny little flying jewels of nature.  The specific one you select will depend on where you live, but the following are some of my absolute favorites:

• Azalea
• Butterfly Bush
• Honeysuckle
• Lantana
• Morning Glory
• Scarlet Runner Bean

The plants listed above are just a few of all the numerous plants that will help you successfully attract hummingbirds to your garden.  I think that I like the ones listed above because they were some of the ones that my mom had in her flower garden and she had great success attracting the hummingbirds.  As a result, seeing these plants once again causes me to think of my mom and have happy memories.

What are you waiting for?  Spring is almost here so now is the time to begin planning your hummingbird garden.  Regardless of the exact plants you choose, you will be glad you created a hummingbird garden because you will have a beautiful yard and the plants you select will be an excellant natural food source for the hummingbirds.  Best of luck with your hummingbird garden everyone!  Isn’t spring the most wonderful, glorious time of year?  

Insects are also an important part of the hummingbird’s diet.  The insects are a vital source of protein.  A hummingbird will eat between 400-500 insects per day.  It also may intrest you to discover that a hummingbird will eat more insects whenever it rains.  I do not have an explaination for why this occurs.

• Trees and shrubs should also be used in your hummingbird garden along with flowers that are known to attract hummingbirds. The trees and shrubs will help provide shade for the birds.
• Use perennials whenever possible because these will grow back year after year and this will provide the hummingbirds with a consistent food source. Hummingbirds have excellent memories and studies have found that hummingbirds will return to the same food source year after year.
• Place flowers in large batches of the same color as a way of capturing the hummingbird’s attention.
• Select a wide variety of flowers that will bloom at different times. This will help provide the birds with a constant source of nectar on which to feed in both the spring and fall.
• If the amount of space for your garden is limited, use hanging baskets or window boxes as a space saving way to create your garden.
• Never use pesticides in your garden because these can be ingested by the hummingbirds and either harm or kill the birds.
• Provide a water source for the hummingbirds either through a birdbath or mister. Hummingbirds love water and doing this will entice the birds to remain in your yard for a longer period of time.
• Give yourself a spot in the garden from which you can view the hummingbirds. It will be a way to reward yourself for all your efforts to attract the hummingbirds.