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I’ve always fed the birds in Winter. Come Spring and Summer, I put the feeders away. Then one day, I saw a hummingbird, and decided to buy a hummingbird feeder and see what happens.

I searched the recipe for hummingbird nectar and made a batch. Almost instantly after filling the feeder, there were hummingbirds everywhere. I moved the hook to a great spot where I could see them sitting under the gazebo. Now I spend a lot of time sitting under the gazebo, relaxing, looking at the hummingbirds.

Some Great Fun Facts about Hummingbirds

They are the smallest migrating bird and can fly 500 miles at a time and fly alone, not in flocks.

They are the only birds that can fly backwards.

They have no sense of smell, but can scope out feeders. They have excellent color vision and prefer red or orange flowers.

There are over 330 species of hummingbirds in North and South America.

A Hummingbird has the largest brain of any bird relative to its body size.

The species is endemic to the Americas, which means it is only found in the Americas, no where else.

Despite their tiny size, hummingbirds can be very territorial. I can attest that they spend a great deal of time chasing other birds away from the feeders or flowers they are protecting.

Hummingbirds can remember human faces and link you to food sources like feeders.

Hummingbirds are solitary, highly active birds that pick safe new spots daily based on proximity to food, weather and shelter.

Hummingbirds seem to sense when you have refilled their feeders.

How to Care for Hummingbird Feeders

Make sure to clean and refill feeders every 5 days. In really hot weather much sooner. Clean with a mild soap. Once a month disinfect with a little bleach. About a quarter cup bleach to a gallon of water. Birds can get very sick if they drink from nectar that is infected with bacteria and mold.

Recipe for Hummingbird Nectar

I use a ratio of 4 to 1 for water and sugar.

1 cup water to 1/4 cup sugar. I have several feeders so I usually make a batch 4 cups water to 1 cup sugar. I don’t fill the feeders to the top, just about half full.

Where to Buy Hummingbird Feeders

There are many options for buying Hummingbird feeders. They are available in stores and online. I bought mine on Amazon. There are loads of designs and materials they are made of. I chose colorful swirled glass because they look so pretty and are easy to sanitize. The colors dazzle in the sunlight and look beautiful in your garden. They sell for all price points, so it just comes down to what you like and what you want to spend.

Type Flowers Hummingbirds Love

  • Cardinal Flower
  • Bee Balm
  • Penstemon
  • Hosta
  • Catmont
  • Agastache
  • Trumpet Honeysuckle
  • Salvia
  • Zinnia
  • Red Hot Poker
  • Delphinium
  • Firecracker
  • Red Canna Lily
  • Lucifer Crocosmia


I have many of these plants and the Hummingbirds go from flower to flower enjoying the nectar from the plants. I plant Firecracker plants (pictured below) in pots around my gazebo and the Hummingbirds come up close for me to enjoy.