How to Attract Hummingbirds to a Feeder

Hummingbirds can be found in both North and South America. They are well-known for their long skinny beaks and their ability to hover in one location for a period of time. One thing most people don't know about hummingbirds is that they are the only species of bird that can fly backward. If you enjoy watching hummingbirds there are a few things you can do to attract them to your outdoor feeder.

Things You'll Need

  • Water
  • Sugar
  • Small bowl or second feeder
  • Hummingbird garden
  • Insects
  • Red ribbons
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make a sugar/water solution, by boiling 1/2-cup of sugar in 2 cups of water until the sugar dissolves. Allow it to cool. Pour it in a small bowl or buy a second feeder. Hang it up next to the feeder you have the bird seed in.

    • 2

      Plant a hummingbird garden. Hummingbirds are attracted to colors. A nice bright hummingbird garden planted next to or around your feeder will surely drawn hummingbirds. Some flowers that will attract hummingbirds are petunias, Japanese honeysuckles, morning glories, Texas sage, mimosas and trumpet creepers.

    • 3

      Keep your insects alive. Don't use pesticides in your gardens. This will kill any insects that the hummingbirds might want to feed on. These insects attract the hummingbirds. The pesticides are also dangerous to the hummingbirds if they happen peck at a flower that has been treated.

    • 4

      Clean your hummingbird feeder and keep it full of food. A feeder that is not clean can get clogged and stop any new food from coming out. Hummingbirds will stop returning to your feeder if they find that there is nothing there for them. So every couple of days go out and check the feeders to see if they need to be cleaned or refilled.

    • 5

      Tie some red ribbons to the bottom of your feeder. Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red. You could also put a big red bow on the top of the feeder as long as it doesn't get in the way of the birds getting their food.