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The recipe is simple: 1 cup white sugar to 4 cups water. That’s it. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely, let it cool to room temperature, and fill your feeder. This 4:1 ratio is close to the natural nectar in the flowers hummingbirds love, and it’s the ratio bird-care experts like the Smithsonian recommend.
Ingredients
- White granulated sugar. Plain table sugar is the only sweetener you should use.
- Water. Use clean drinking water, the same water you’d drink yourself.
How to Make Hummingbird Nectar
- Heat the water. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil, then take it off the heat. Warm water dissolves the sugar easily, and boiling helps the nectar stay fresh a little longer.
- Stir in the sugar. Add 1 cup of white sugar and stir until it has completely dissolved and the water looks clear.
- Cool and fill. Let the nectar cool completely to room temperature before you fill your feeder. Never put warm nectar out for the birds.
Hummingbird Food Ratio Chart
Always keep the ratio at 4 parts water to 1 part sugar:
| Water | White sugar |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | ¼ cup |
| 2 cups | ½ cup |
| 4 cups | 1 cup |
| 8 cups | 2 cups |
Small feeder? Make a 1-cup batch so nothing goes to waste. Hosting a crowd of hummingbirds in late summer? Make the 8-cup batch and keep the extra in the fridge.
What Not to Put in Hummingbird Food
- No red dye. Hummingbirds are drawn to the red on your feeder, not to the color of the nectar, and dye isn’t good for them.
- No honey. It ferments quickly and can grow harmful mold.
- No brown, raw, organic or powdered sugar. They can contain extra minerals or additives that are hard on hummingbirds. Plain white sugar is best.
- No artificial sweeteners. They have no calories, and hummingbirds need real energy.
I’ve written before about my adoration for the whimsical creatures that are hummingbirds. Previously I shared about how to attract them to your own yard in this blog post! They just fascinate me and bring so much joy and wonder to outdoor spaces.
I grew up watching their little bodies flit and flutter outside the window at my Grandma’s house, and ever since, I’ve always been delighted when they show up in my garden to feed on flowers or from my hummingbird feeder.
How Often to Change Hummingbird Food
Sugar water spoils quickly in the heat, and spoiled nectar can make hummingbirds sick.
- Hot weather (above about 80°F): change the nectar every 2 to 3 days.
- Mild or cool weather: change it about once a week.
- Any time it looks cloudy, or you see mold or black specks: dump it, clean the feeder, and refill.
Storing extra nectar: keep leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Let it come back to room temperature before filling the feeder.
FAQs
Boiling isn’t strictly required, but heating the water helps the sugar dissolve and can help the nectar stay fresh longer. Whatever you do, let it cool completely before you fill the feeder.
Yes. If your tap water is safe for you to drink, it’s fine for hummingbirds.
Somewhere quiet, near trees or shrubs where the birds can perch, and in partial shade. Full sun spoils nectar faster.
In southern states, from about February through November. In the middle of the country, from April through October. In northern states, from early May through September. A good rule is to hang it a week or two before hummingbirds usually arrive where you live.
They’re busiest in the early morning and again in the evening, but you’ll see them all day.
How to Clean a Hummingbird Feeder
Clean the feeder every time you change the nectar.
- Rinse it with very hot water and scrub the ports and crevices with a small bottle brush. Skip soap, since residue can be left behind.
- About once a month, or any time you see mold, soak the feeder in a mix of 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts water for an hour or two. Rinse it well with clean water and let it dry before refilling.
Plants to Attract Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds love flowers that are brightly colored and produce lots of nectar, including bee balm, trumpet honeysuckle, and bleeding hearts. They also really like red tubular flowers.
(Source)
Here are some fun ways to learn more about attracting these special birds to your garden!
- Little Known Ways to Attract Hummingbirds to your Garden
- What kind of Hummingbird is that? The Most Common Hummingbirds in North America
- The Best Ways to Set Up a Hummingbird Feeder
- The Best Hummingbird Feeders You Will Want to Buy
What is the Best Hummingbird Feeder?
A good hummingbird feeder should be sturdy, have lots of red on it, be easy to wash, fill, and hang, AND it should be a good price.
This glass hummingbird feeder from Kingsyard is one of my absolute favorites. Besides its pretty appearance, it’s super sturdy and easy to clean. It can hold up to 24 ounces of bird food and has 6 feeding ports that are all leak-resistant. Plus, it’s available in 6 different bright colors, all of which are guaranteed to attract hummingbirds galore to your outdoor space!
I also like:
- Nature’s Rhythm Red Antique Glass Bottle Hummingbird Feeder (holds 28 ounces, 5 feeding spots)
- Juegoal Glass Hummingbird Feeders (holds 26 ounces, 5 feeding spots)
- Sewanta Hummingbird Feeders, plastic (holds 32 ounces, 10 feeding spots, pack of 2 feeders)
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Homemade Hummingbird Food Recipe (Easy 4:1 Ratio)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
Instructions
- Bring 4 cups of water to a boil, then take it off the heat. Warm water dissolves the sugar easily, and boiling helps the nectar stay fresh a little longer.
- Add 1 cup of white sugar and stir until it has completely dissolved and the water looks clear.
- Let the nectar cool completely to room temperature before you fill your feeder. Never put warm nectar out for the birds.
Notes
- If there are noticeable signs of mold on your sugar water, discard and make a fresh batch.
- Please do NOT use red dye. Red dye is harmful to hummingbirds. Use a red feeder to attract them instead of dyeing their food.
- Don’t use raw or natural sugars—they contain too much iron that can hurt hummingbirds.
- Do not use honey or corn syrup.
Nutrition
This 4:1 ratio is close to the natural nectar in the flowers hummingbirds love, and it’s the ratio bird-care experts like the Smithsonian recommend.
The recipe is fine, but boiling water does not, as stated in the discussion, remove impurities . It will kill bacteria, which hopefully isn’t in your tapwater, but mineral impurities will remain.
Every other recipe for hummingbirds calls for boiling the mixture for a few minutes, how is yours OK?
You do boil the water?