Hummingbird Food Recipe: Make Your Own Nectar (2024)

To make your hummingbird food recipe solution, follow these instructions withoutdeviation from ingredients.

When creating a sugar solution for your feeder, the best ratio is 1 partwhite, granulated sugar to 4 parts water, since this closely approximates theconcentrations found in the nectar of wildflowers they prefer.

To make a little over 1 cup of hummingbird nectar recipe solution (normally enough tofill a standard feeder) follow the below directions:

1. Make sure your feeder is cleaned thoroughly before adding new solution.
2. Boil 1 cup of water.
3. Stir 1/4 cup of white granulated sugar into the 1 cup of heated water.
4. Stir until sugar dissolves.
5. Cool, fill your hummingbird feeder and serve!
6. Any leftover nectar can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.

Got Hummingbirds?

Who's turn is it to clean and refill the feeders?

About Homemade Hummingbird Nectar

Below we discuss in detail about the natural flower nectar that hummingbirds feed on and how it compares to homemade hummingbird food.

Natural Nectar Composition

Hummingbirds are specialized nectarivores that feed on dilute solutionsof sugars with trace amounts of amino acids and electrolytes.

Flower nectar is digested and quickly convertedinto energy, supplying a hummingbird's carbohydrate requirements.

The sugar in flower nectar is primarily sucrose,like that of white sugar.

Artificial Nectar Concentration

Using the normally accepted hummingbird feeder solution ratio of 1:4(i.e., 1 cup sugar dissolved in 4 cups water = ~5 cups/~37 oz of nectar)produces a solution with an approximate sugar concentration of 20% (1/5of the solution is sugar)

This sugar concentration is what is naturally found in flowernectars preferred by hummingbirds.

We say approximate because in reality sugar andwater molecules have different atomic weights, which means you can'tsimply divide to get your percentage by volume alone.

A refractometer*(which McDade and Weeks used to measure sugar content of flower nectarin their study) would measure our 1:4 feeder solution as being 18.6%sugar.

Long story short, you can't go wrong with the1:4 ratio because the concentration is close to the natural sugarconcentration of hummingbird-pollinated flowers (20%).

Higher Concentrations: Can you makehummingbird food too strong?

Are higher concentrations of a hummingbird food recipe harmful?

Despite statements that high sugar concentrations can cause liver and kidney damage to hummingbirds, no research has shown that higher concentrationsare harmful to hummingbirds.

In fact, Blem et al. (2000) found that Rufous Hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus) preferred a sugar concentration of 50% when

It also has been stated that hummingbirds will get a fungal infection ontheir tongue from these higher sugar nectar concentrations.

This is most likelydue to the fact that a concentrated sugar solution for your nectar will fermentfaster and grow fungus and/or bacteria in your feeders and need to be cleanedmore often.

Also, Dr. Reed Hainsworth, Ph. D and Dr. Larry Wolf, Ph. D., who have studied hummingbirdphysiology for several decades, states:

"A hummingbird is more likely to stay ata feeder when it first arrives if the feeder contains a relatively rich sugarsolution."

A 60 calorie solution can be mixed for this purpose with equal volumesof sugar and water (1:1 ratio).

This high concentration is important to replenish energy reserves duringmigration, and to fuel the territorial exploits of males and nesting activitiesof females.

Once hummingbirds have been attracted with a rich sugar solution fortwo or three weeks, a lower concentration will increase their feeding activityand still provide sufficient energy.

To promote high rates of feeding activity, mix one part sugar with four partswater (1:4 ratio). This 10-calorie solution is similar to lower sugarconcentrations in nectar produced by some plants.

It will seem like there are many more hummingbirds visiting your feedersbecause each bird will feed 10 to 12 times an hour in comparison to two or threetimes an hour with richer food.

If you wish to make the change from high to lowsugar concentrations more gradual, the "average" 35-calorie concentration can bemixed with one part sugar and two parts water (1:2 ratio)."

Janet Asked: I messed up and did three water and one sugar, is thatgoing to hurt them?

Answer: No, it will not harm them. The higher concentration of sugarwill just give them an extra boost of calories. See above explanation (higherconcentrations) in regardsto using a 1:1 sugar solution.

Higher nectar concentrations (up to 1:1) can be made, especially during coldmigrationperiods.

But if you are feeding during the warmer months, just go back to the 4:1ratio on the next batch.

Lower Concentrations of Hummingbird Nectar Recipe

And what about lower concentrations?

The more diluted the nectar, the moreconsumption of nectar is needed to satisfy a hummingbird's energy requirements.

McWhorter and Martez del Rio (1999)found that, dependingon sugar concentration, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds (Selasphorus platycercus)consumed volumes of nectar ranging from 1.6 to 5.4 times their body mass perday.

Weaker concentrations are less attractive to hummers & you'll find they mayjust stop coming to your feeder to find a better, concentrated source.

In addition, because hummingbirds will have to consume more of a dilutenectar to get the same energy from a concentrated one, their bodies will have towork harder.

The rate of energy assimilation may be constrained by excess waterelimination.

So when making your hummingbird food recipe solution, don't go weaker than the 1:4 ratio ofsugar to water.

Honey and Artificial Sweeteners

The sugar in flower nectar is primarily sucrose, like that of white sugar.

Sodon't use honey in your feeder, which is primarily composed of fructose &glucose. Hummingbirds can't digest it as efficiently.

Fermentation & moldgrowth also occurs faster inhoney solutions than those made from granulated sugar. This mold (fungus)can give the hummingbirds a fatal tongue infection.

Do not useartificial sweeteners either which provide no calories (no energy).

Comments/Questions:

Should I Add Red Artificial Food Dye To My Hummingbird Feeder?

Because this was a common question, we dedicated an entire page to answering this as well as why you should stop buying hummingbird nectar.

Jann Asked: Thank you for your Hummingbird food recipe.I have justbought some new feeders and will be trying it out for the first time tomorrow.

My question: I have seen some commercially available syruppreparations which are red.

Is there any advantage to putting in food coloring to make the syrup red?My feeders are of clear plastic with red bases and little yellow 'flowers' atthe access tubes.

Jill Also Asked: I heard the red dye in store bought food causes a problemwith their kidneys after so long? Or have the companies changed the dye in thefood mixture?

Answer: Just don't go there.

There is no need to make red nectar and although I still to this day have notfound SOLID, scientific evidence that red dye is harmful to hummingbirds, it'sbetter and simpler to just leave it out.

It's artificial, not natural, period.

Purchasing hummingbird food is a marketingrip-off.

All you need is regular, white granulated sugar and water to make yourown at the 1:4 ratio which is fairly cheap.

Your feeder mostly likely has red parts on it, either the base or top or both.Put it up and they will come.

If you are having trouble initially attracting hummingbirds to your feeder, thenyou may want to exaggerate the red by adding red ribbons, red flowers,red-anything to lure them in.

If there are hummingbirds cruising around in your neighborhood and your feederis visible, they will find it and return often without needing red foodcoloring.

Is it Okay To Use Unrefined, Turbinado Raw Sugar or Brown Sugar for Hummingbird Food?

Susan Asked: Hello, I was looking at your recipe for hummingbird foodand have a question.

I have organic raw sugar made from evaporated sugar cane juice. (I'm at workand I don't have the exact specifications.)

It's supposed to work exactly like regular granulated sugar--it does inbaking.

Can I use this in a hummingbird feeder or should I go purchase some regularwhite sugar?

Answer: Unrefined sugar from sugar cane has iron, mineral salts andother minerals that are not present in white granulated sugar (only sucrose) norin natural flower nectar.

While a better choice for humans, the added minerals in unrefined sugar mayhave an adverse affect on hummingbirds.

Brown sugar has molasses added to it which also contains iron and otherminerals.

Plain, white granulated sugar is best for making your hummingbirdsolution.

Using Cane Syrup, Corn Syrup (Karo) in Hummingbird Feeders

Ruth Asked: I live in S.E. Missouri & every year we get dozensof hummingbirds in our area. I set out 5 feeders, spaced out around our front &backyard.

Sometimes we get so many, it's like watching a swarm of beesattacking the feeders..lol.

Anyway my question is this...

I read a few of your articles on how to make the nectar, which the recipe Iuse is the 4:1 ratio of water to sugar.

My son has told me that he read that white corn syrup can be used in place ofthe sugar & was less costly to make. I'm not so sure. Thoughts please?

Answer: Table sugar (sucrose) is a disaccharide made from two simplesugar (glucose and fructose) molecules, which is a closer match to whathummingbirds find in flowers.

Corn syrup contains dextrose and high fructose or high maltose sugars, butalso includes combinations of more complex sugars.

Any portion of the simple sugars found in corn syrup could be absorbed morequickly without waiting for the digestive system to break them down.

I don't know where you intend to buy corn syrup, but be aware that light Karoand Golden Barrel syrups also contains salt and vanilla.

Also studies on hummingbird food preferences show that in highconcentrations, they prefer table sugar.

Lyra Asked: Does anyone make a solution for hummingbirds using canesyrup?

We have nephew that thinks we like the stuff and he keeps sending it!

We arecurrently enjoying the annual migration of hummingbirds.

We don't get many but sometimes we have two or three at a time so I putfeeders on both sides of our house to eliminate squabbling.

Answer: The dark cane syrup has high amounts of iron than regularwhite granulated sugar does not and can possibly be harmful to hummingbirds sowe advise against using dark cane syrup, sorghum molasses, etc.

What to do with all the excess syrup you don't want?

Try mixing it with butter (makes the taste milder, good on toast, biscuits,pancakes), use to make caramel corn, or tell your nephew, "Thanks, we haveenough cane syrup now to last us a long time, we'll let you know when we needmore!" :-)

Using Agave Nectar in Hummingbird Food Recipe

Lauren Asked: Can agave nectar be used instead of sugar in hummingbirdfeeders? If so, what would be the recipe? Thanks.

Answer: Good question. I wasn't absolutely positive of theanswer myself, so I searched around & found this as an answer to using agave:

"Sheri Williamson (author of Peterson Field Guide Hummingbirds of NorthAmerica) pointed out that Agave Sweetener is not composed of the same sugar asnectar, is less appealing to the hummingbirds, spoils faster and is prone toferment....

Agave "nectar" (which is made from the plant's sap rather than itsflowers) contains no sucrose, the sugar that hummingbirds prefer and thepredominant sugar in the nectar of hummingbird-pollinated flowers.

Itspredominant sugar is fermentation-friendly fructose (~50-90%), a major componentof the nectars of insect-pollinated flowers, and it contains other simplecarbohydrates that could contribute to accelerated spoilage."

So I would stick to using simple white sugar (4:1 water to sugar ratio).

It'swhat hummingbirds require for energy and most closely replicates what theynaturally get from flower nectar.

White sugar may be bad for us, but good for them.

Can I Give Hummingbirds Fruit Juice?

Michael Asked: Can you give hummingbirds cranberry juice?

Paul Similarly Asked: I was watching a ruby-throated hummingbird at mynectar feeder, and saw him fly over to a tray feeder I had provided with grapejelly for Baltimore Orioles. He seemed to be eating the thin juice that hadpooled in the corner of the feeder.

My question is: Will a hummingbird eat 100% Concord grape juice if I put itin a hummingbird feeder?

Answer: No, do not give hummingbirds fruit juice.

Cranberry juice especially is much too acidic. Juice will attract more antsand bees to your feeders as well.

The primary sugar found in natural flower nectar is sucrose. Fruit juicesugar is fructose which is similar, but not the same.

Keep it simple and onlyfeed hummingbirds the 4:1 water to plain white sugar solution.

Supplementing Hummingbird Food - Nutritional Needs and Vitamins

Peter Asked: Clearly, the high calorie sugar solutions are providinghummers with needed energy. But what about their nutritional needs?

Is there anything nutritive I can add to the sugar solution, to help me overmy "fattening up the hummingbirds" guilt? Thanks.

Bliss Said: Excellent question. It's true that hummingbirds cannotlive on sugar alone.

Amino acids, of course, are the building blocks of life andcannot be built from only flower nectar even though it does contain smallamounts of protein and salts.

Hummingbirds obviously need calcium in their diet for bones and developing eggshells as well as other nutrients.

That is why their diet is supplemented by eating insects.

Natural flower nectar contains very small amounts of protein, and sodium andpotassium salts. However, hummingbirds get most of their protein by eating smallinsects.

Hummingbirds will steal insects from spider webs and theleftover carcass shells (exuvia) that spiders leave behind once they suck all the "juice"out of them.

They also eat gnats, aphids and other invertebrates.

Now to answer your question about adding to the sugar solution to make it morenutritional...

Well, we don't have an absolute answer because we haven't found ascientifically-based answer that can tell us what would be the right amount ofanything to add without being harmful or even toxic to the hummingbirds.

Justlike it's possible for humans to overdose on vitamins/minerals it is the samewith hummers. But we are still digging for info and will let you know if we findanything.

To play it safe, just stick with the sugar solution and let the hummingbirdsnaturally supplement their diet.

If you really want to experiment, I guess you could put something out nearyour feeder that would attract small insects (i.e., food that would attractfruit flies, etc.).

This way they could have their appetizer (sugar solution) and entree(insects) all in one place!

And I wouldn'tworry or feel guilty about "fattening up the hummingbirds" unless you start tosee a few getting lazy and hanging around the feeder in mini-barcaloungers. :-)

Do I need to boil sugar water for hummingbirds?

Boiling the water helps to dissolve the sugar but also may

Amazing Hummingbird Flight

Hummingbird Feeders, Nectar Recipe, Ant Problems:

Best Hummingbird Feeders

Glass Hummingbird Feeders

Hummingbird Feeder Tips

Don't Use Red Dye in Hummingbird Nectar

Problems with Ants at Hummingbird Feeders

Hummingbird Gifts:

Hummingbird Gifts

Attracting Hummingbirds:

Attracting Hummingbirds

Hummingbird Habitat

Hummingbird Garden

Hummingbird Flowers

Hummingbird Species:

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Hummingbird Fun Facts

Hummingbird Migration

Hummingbird References

Hummingbird Sugar Concentration

Dick Said: Yours may be the only site on the Internet that properlyexplains sugar concentrations when feeding hummingbirds.

It seems to me that the percent sugar in a 1:4 solution is around 16.8%. The16.8 percent figure is based on the C&H Sugar Company figure of 191.766 gramsper 8 ounces :1:4 = 16.8%, 1:3 = 21.27%, 1:2 = 28.8%, 1:1 = 44.7 %. The 1:2ratio is still less than the sugar concentration in many hummingbird attractingplants.

Answer: Thanks, Dick. We did take some time researching sugarconcentrations and why the 1:4 ratio is always suggested.

Yvone Asked: I read once, that homemade hummingbird food, may causediabetes in the hummingbird. Is this true?

Not sure which is best for our hummingbirds. This is information that isextremely important to people who want to have healthy hummingbirds come totheir feeders. Please respond. Thank you.

Answer: If you use the 1:4 ratio of sugar to water, that solutionreplicates the 20% sugar concentration naturally found in flowers thathummingbirds prefer.

But studies have shown that hummingbirds will get nectar from flowers thathave a sugar concentration as high as 70% or more.

The danger is making a sugar solution that is too low, not too high.

A dilute solution will cause hummingbirds to have to consume more nectar toget the same energy from a concentrated one and their bodies will have to workharder. The rate of energy assimilation may be constrained by excess waterelimination.

Only scientific, professional peer-reviewed journal articles can provide anysubstantial "proof" about organisms. I have not found any that have foundhomemade hummingbird food to cause diabetes in hummingbirds.

Hummingbird Food Turned Yellow

Karen Asked: I made my own hummingbird nectar for the first timetoday. I followed your recipe and used a clean stainless steel pot. The solutionturned out slightly yellow. Can I still use it?

Bliss Said: I don't know how the sugar solution would cause a reactionto turn it yellow so I'm not sure if it is safe or not for the hummingbirds. Ialways just heat the water in the microwave in a glass measuring cup so Ihaven't come across this problem before.

I'm guessing you added the sugar to the pot and heated it that way?

Can you try boiling the water by itself in the pot and then add the hot water (beingcareful, of course!) to the sugar in another container that is heat resistant?Perhaps you won't get the yellowing that way. If the water turns yellow in thepot without adding sugar, then maybe there is a mineral or something in yourwater that is reacting with the pot. Also, read below...

Rinda Said: I find if I buy cheaper off-brand sugar that my solutions areyellowish. Name-brand sugar produces a clear solution, made the identical way.

Bliss Said: I always use the cheapest brand of white, granulated sugarand occasionally have noticed our solutions being slightly yellowish in color.

Refined sugar is bleached white by adding sulfur dioxide. Phosphoric acid andcalcium hydroxide are also added and the syrup is then strained through a carbonfilter to remove any remaining color impurities.

I imagine that it is possible for some companies to not have as thorough aprocess to remove the brown color crystals from the raw sugar. Therefore, when ahummingbird sugar solution is made, it may appear yellowish in color from thosesugar crystals that are not completely bleached, but it is perfectly fine for the hummingbirds.

Can I make 3:1 Hummingbird Food?

A 3:1 hummingbird food recipe of 3 parts water to 1 part white sugar can be used especially during migration when a sweeter nectar solution will provide more calories to the hummingbirds at stopovers for fueling up during spring and fall migration.

What can I feed hummingbirds besides sugar water?

Sugar water is the best thing you can feed hummingbirds.

We do not recommend feeding them fruit juice, jam/jelly, honey, etc..

Planting flowers (trumpet vine, salvia, bee balm, and other hummingbird flowers that provide them with natural nectar is another option which will also attract insects that they will eat to supplement their diet.

Do hummingbirds eat mosquitoes?

Yes, hummingbirds do eat mosquitoes and other small insects.

While nectar is the primary food source for hummingbirds, they also supplement their diet with insects, which provide them with protein and other essential nutrients.

Hummingbirds are known to catch and eat small insects such as mosquitoes, gnats, fruit flies, and spiders.

They are especially active in catching insects during the breeding season when they need more protein to support their young.

So, if you have hummingbirds in your garden, they may help control the mosquito population in your area.

Can hummingbirds survive without sugar water/nectar?

Nectar is a part of a hummingbird's diet, but they can survive without it.

In areas where flowers are abundant, hummingbirds can find enough nectar to sustain themselves.

However, in urban areas or during the winter months when flowers are scarce, providing sugar water can be helpful for hummingbirds for those that don't migrate south, like the Anna's Hummingbird along the Pacific Coast.

Sugar water does provide hummingbirds with energy, but they can survive by eating arthopods (i.e., insects and spiders).

One study determined that a hummingbird in Arizona’s Santa Catalina Mountains during May survived on only arthopods for two weeks.

Hummingbirds adapt their foraging to whichever sources are available, and arthropod prey often replaces nectar. - Ornithologist, Helmuth O. Wagner (study)

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