Tips for attracting hummingbirds to your backyard

Now that Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are visiting the Lehigh Valley and adjoining areas, you can take several actions to lure them to your backyard.

Place several nectar feeders in your backyard. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds can be territorial about their food sources, and they are particularly feisty about sharing nectar. If possible, place the feeders out of sight of each other, or far away, that no individual hummingbird will feel threatened.

Use a 4-to-1 mixture of water to sugar and change the solution every few days, especially in warmer water. The Bird House also has packets of special sucrose that hummingbirds especially love.

When first trying to attract hummers, fill the feeder partially and store the leftover in the refrigerator. Once the birds arrive, you can fill the feeder fully.

Do not add red color to the sugary solution. Hummingbirds seek out red flowers, not colored nectar. In nature, nectar is clear, plus the birds don't need to injest the dye.


Another major part of the hummingbird’s diet is insects such as gnats, fruit flies or spiders. To attract insects, hang a banana peel near the feeder. Fruit flies and gnats will gather. The birds will enjoy these tasty protein-rich morsels.


Clean feeders frequently, especially in warm summer weather. Hummers do not find dirty feeders appealing. In fact, old nectar can be dangerous to their health due to the growth of mold which grows easily in the high sugar content of the liquid.


Keep hummingbirds’ nesting needs in mind. Hummingbirds don’t use birdhouses. They build a nest the size of half a walnut, using thistle, dandelion down and other plant fibers, all held together with spider silk. The outside is covered with lichens. You may not like the look of dandelions in your backyard, but they really do help the hummingbirds. 

The female chooses the nest site, builds the nest in about a week and takes sole responsibility for all parental duties. The female usually lays two white, bean-sized eggs in a three-day period and incubates them for about two weeks. The nestlings fledge in 18 to 22 days later. Be sure to provide nectar continuously during this period so the female won’t need to stray far from the nest site.


There really is no limit on where you can locate a hummingbird feeder. If you don’t have a yard, then a deck railing, an apartment patio or balcony, or an office window will suffice.


Putting up a feeder does not guarantee its use. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds may not be in your area. They have a tendency to feed and nest in the same general location as in previous years. It may be a matter of time to establish your feeding station among resident birds. Be patient!


Once hummingbirds do arrive, you’re in store for a real treat. These tiny creatures buzz around from feeder to feeder or flower to flower. You’ll see them flying up and down, forwards and backyards as well as straight away—an erratic pattern most other birds might envy!