Best Hummingbird Feeder: How to Choose and Keep It Clean

The best hummingbird feeder is the one you will actually keep clean. Nectar spoils in days, and a feeder that is awkward to take apart gets cleaned less often, which is the fastest way to lose the birds. So before capacity, color or looks, think about how easily it comes apart. Here is how the main types compare and what to look for.

Bottle feeders vs saucer feeders

Almost every hummingbird feeder is one of two designs.

• Bottle (inverted) feeders hold the nectar in a reservoir above the feeding ports. They carry more nectar, you can see the level at a glance, and they are the classic look. The trade off is that sun can warm the air trapped inside, which expands and pushes nectar out of the ports as drips. A good seal at the base is what stops that.
• Saucer feeders hold the nectar in a shallow dish with ports on the lid. They rarely drip, and bees struggle to reach the nectar because it sits further below the port. They are also easy to clean. They usually hold less, which suits a yard with only a few birds.

Neither is better for every yard. If you get a lot of hummingbirds and want to refill less, a bottle feeder makes sense. If bees and drips are your main problem, a saucer is the simpler fix.

Glass or plastic?

Plastic feeders are light and cheap, but they can cloud and turn brittle in the sun over a season or two, and scratches hold mold. Glass does not cloud or scratch the same way and is easier to scrub properly. The catch is obvious: glass can break if it falls, so hang it where it will not swing into a post or wall.

Hand blown glass feeders are also chosen for looks. Because each one is blown individually, the color pattern varies from feeder to feeder.

What size do you need?

Bigger is not automatically better. Nectar needs changing every few days whether it has been drunk or not, so a large feeder only saves you work if the birds empty it. In a quiet yard, half fill a big feeder rather than wasting a full one.

More ports let more birds feed at once, but hummingbirds are territorial and one bird will often guard a feeder. If you see that, hang a second feeder out of sight of the first, around a corner of the house, so the others get a turn.

How to keep ants and bees out

• Ants: use an ant moat, a small cup of water that hangs above the feeder. Ants cannot cross the water to reach the nectar. Keep it topped up. Do not smear oil or grease on the pole or hanger, because it can end up on the birds' feathers.
• Bees and wasps: they come for drips and spills more than for the ports. Fix leaks first: check the seal, and do not overfill a bottle feeder on a hot day. Red feeder parts attract hummingbirds; yellow parts attract bees, so avoid yellow flower ports. Saucer feeders and bee guards on the ports also help.

Where to hang a hummingbird feeder

• Shade or part shade. Nectar in full sun spoils faster, and a warm bottle is more likely to drip.
• Near windows, place it very close or far away. A feeder within about 3 feet of a window, or more than 30 feet from it, reduces the chance of birds hitting the glass at speed.
• Somewhere you can see it. Half the point is watching them, and you are more likely to clean a feeder you look at every day.
• Some cover nearby. Hummingbirds like a perch or shrub close by to rest between visits.

When to put a hummingbird feeder out

Hang it about two weeks before hummingbirds usually arrive where you live, which is earlier in the South than in the North. In fall, keep it up until about two weeks after you see the last one. Leaving a feeder up does not stop hummingbirds migrating; day length drives that, and a late feeder can help stragglers refuel on the way through.

Nectar: the sugar to water ratio

Use 1 part plain white table sugar to 4 parts water. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely (warm water makes this easier), then let it cool before filling.

• Do not use red dye. The red on the feeder is enough to attract them.
• Do not use honey, brown sugar, raw sugar or artificial sweeteners.
• Extra nectar keeps in the fridge for about a week.

Change the nectar every few days, and more often as it gets hotter. In a heat wave, change it daily. Cloudy nectar, a sour smell or black specks mean it has spoiled.

How to clean a hummingbird feeder

Clean it every time you change the nectar. Take it fully apart, rinse with hot water, and scrub the reservoir and every port with a bottle brush and a small port brush. For mold or buildup, soak the parts in a mix of white vinegar and water, then rinse thoroughly. Let it dry before refilling. A feeder that unscrews into a few simple pieces makes this a two minute job instead of a chore you put off.

Frequently asked questions

What color should a hummingbird feeder be?

Red. Hummingbirds are drawn to red, so red ports or a red base mean you never need dyed nectar. Avoid yellow parts, which attract bees.

Do I need to boil hummingbird nectar?

No. Boiling is not required. What matters is that the sugar is fully dissolved and the feeder is clean. Warm water helps the sugar dissolve.

Why are no hummingbirds coming to my feeder?

It can take a while for them to find a new feeder. Check that it is out early enough in the season, in view, not in full sun, and that the nectar is fresh. Spoiled nectar keeps them away.

How often should I change hummingbird nectar?

Every few days in mild weather and more often as it gets hotter, daily in a heat wave. Change it sooner if it looks cloudy.

Our pick

• Hand Blown Glass Hummingbird Feeder, 33 oz ($38.99): a bottle feeder with a hand blown glass reservoir, 5 flower shaped ports around a continuous perch ring, and a silicone gasket under a stainless steel base to stop drips. The hanger has an ant moat built in, and the glass unscrews from the base for cleaning. It comes with a cleaning brush, an S hook and hemp rope. At 33 oz it suits a busy yard; in a quiet one, fill it halfway. Available in red and blue.

Bottom line

Choose a feeder you will clean easily, size it to how many birds you actually get, hang it in shade where you can see it, and keep the nectar fresh at 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. Get those right and the design details matter less. See the rest of the Backyard Birding range, and when it turns cold, our bird bath heater guide covers keeping water open through the winter.