To attract hummingbirds in Canada (almost always the Ruby-throated Hummingbird), put out clean feeders with fresh nectar, and because territorial males will guard a single feeder, set out several. The two rules that matter most are keeping the feeder clean and keeping the nectar fresh, since hummingbirds are very sensitive to fermented nectar and avoid any that has gone bad. Get those right and a hummingbird that finds your yard will return year after year.
Meet the Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the most widely distributed of the world's more than 300 hummingbird species, which are found only in the Western Hemisphere — part of why hummingbird feeding is one of the most popular bird-feeding activities in North America. On average, females are about 15% to 25% larger than males: the larger size helps the female incubate eggs and brood the young, while the male's smaller size helps him escape or distract predators and perform his aerobatic courtship displays. Only adult males show the full red throat that gives the bird its name.
Ruby-throated hummingbird facts
- Length: about 9 centimetres
- Weight: only about 1/8 ounce
- Body temperature: 105–108°F (about 40.5–42°C)
- Wing beats: 40 to 80 per second, averaging about 52
- Flight speed: about 30 mph normally, up to 63 mph in a dive
- Diet: nectar and small insects such as gnats, flies, and ants
- Lifespan: up to 12 years, but averaging about 3 to 5
What hummingbirds need: shelter, space, and food
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are often found in woodland and meadows but have adapted well to human development, so they're common in suburban backyards with mature trees and shrubs, in wooded parks, and around orchards. The three most important factors for attracting them are shelter, space, and food. They're also extremely loyal to reliable feeding sites — a hummingbird that feeds in your yard one year will return the next — so it's worth getting the setup right.
Use several feeders, and keep them clean
Because the male Ruby-throated Hummingbird is very territorial, it helps to put out many feeders so more birds can feed without fighting over one. Choose from a large selection of hummingbird feeders offered by Urban Nature Store, but whichever you choose, two things matter most: keep the feeder clean, and keep the nectar fresh.
Nectar
Urban Nature Store offers BirdBerry Jelly along with easy-to-dissolve sugar nectar, ready-to-use nectar, and a natural liquid concentrates. If you prefer to mix your own, see the recipe in the FAQ below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the recipe for hummingbird nectar?
Mix four parts water to one part white sugar — never honey, and never food colouring. Stir until the sugar dissolves; there's no need to boil unless you want to slow spoilage slightly. Refresh the nectar every few days, and every couple of days in hot weather, so it doesn't ferment. If you'd rather not mix your own, choose one of our ready-to-use and concentrate nectars.
How do I keep bees and wasps away from my hummingbird feeder?
Use a flat-top feeder where the nectar sits below the feeding ports — hummingbirds can reach in but bees and wasps can't (Dr. JB's Hummingbird Clean Feeder is a popular example). Hanging a Waspinator nearby also helps keep wasps away.
How do I keep ants out of my feeder?
Add an ant moat above the feeder, filled with water — ants can't swim, so they can't reach the nectar. Nectar Protectors do exactly this, for both hummingbird and oriole feeders.
Where should I hang a hummingbird feeder?
Lower than other bird feeders — about chest height, since hummingbirds are used to feeding on flowers and shrubs at that height — and in a spot protected from excessive wind.
Are hummingbirds attracted to the colour red?
Yes. Red is easy for them to spot from high up while searching for food, and because bees see red poorly, red feeders draw fewer of them to compete for the nectar. Tying large red bows to trees in early spring is a good way to attract hummingbirds from a distance.
