Attracting hummingbirds to your garden is easy with this simple and delicious Hummingbird Nectar recipe. Learn how to make it and watch these beautiful birds flock to your backyard.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
When my family lived up in Seattle, the hummingbirds were GORGEOUS. The different colors on the birds were bright and eye catching. My mom had a feeder at her house and always seemed to have birds swarming to it. My house, not so much. I even went out to the store, bought a feeder and the red dyed nectar trying to attract some to my house. Nope, none ever came. Not even one. The only ones I was able to see were the ones at my parents house. Fast forward a few years, living in Houston, I read comments from neighbors and friends about hummingbirds in the area. Of course, being hopeful, I went out to the store yet again, bought another hummingbird feeder, however, this time made my own nectar (sugar water). Within minutes I had a few birds drinking from it! Woo hoo!! Now, I will admit, the birds in Texas aren’t as pretty as the ones in Washington, but hey, hummingbirds are neat in general, right?! The key to success was homemade nectar and since I love sharing recipes, why not share one for attracting tiny birds to your yard too!
Jump to:
Why Homemade Nectar Is Best
Homemade hummingbird nectar is often considered better than store-bought nectar because it’s simpler, cheaper, and generally more effective for attracting hummingbirds. Store-bought nectar can sometimes contain unnecessary additives, preservatives, or dyes, while homemade nectar is typically made with just sugar and water. Homemade allows you to control the sugar concentration and water quality, ensuring a safe and healthy food source for hummingbirds. Adding red dye or honey to hummingbird food is not recommended and can pose health risks. Red food coloring is unnatural and may be harmful, while honey can harbor bacteria and fungus when diluted with water.
Ingredients Needed
Below is a brief overview of the ingredients needed. To see printable recipe card, scroll to the bottom of this post or click the “jump to recipe” button at the top.
- Water– regular tap water works great, however, you can also use filtered water.
- Sugar– refined sugar, also known as granulated sugar or cane sugar, adds the perfect amount of sweetness to attract hummingbirds.
Making Sugar Water for Hummingbirds
- Stir 1 part sugar with 4 parts water. Pour sugar and water into saucepan or pot.
- Bring to a boil using your stove, then remove from heat. *Make sure sugar dissolves.
- Allow mixture to cool completely to room temperature before filling feeder.
Storing Leftover Hummingbird Mix
If your bird feeder is filled and you still have leftover unused nectar, let the mixture cool and store in an airtight container in your fridge up to 10 days.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the Wrong Sugar. Avoid raw, brown sugar, or powdered confectioners’ sugar as they may contain iron or additives that are harmful to hummingbirds.
- Adding Red Dye. Adding the red dye is unnecessary and can be harmful to these birds. The red dye, especially red dye #40, can be difficult for hummingbirds to digest and cause digestive problems. These birds are highly sensitive to excess iron and if they consume too much, can unfortunately lead to organ failure.
- Using Honey, Molasses, or Artificial Sweeteners. Honey can ferment and grow mold, leading to diseases in these birds. Molasses is rich in iron, which these birds cannot handle and artificial sweeteners contain chemicals that can damage the organs of the birds.
Hummingbird Feeder Maintenance
Clean feeders every 2-3 days during the hot summer months, and once per week during the cooler months. A safe cleaning solution is ¼ cup bleach to 1 cup water. Soak, rinse thoroughly, and allow to dry. You can also use Dawn soap or vinegar and rinse thoroughly. Regular cleaning prevents mold and keeps the birds healthy!
Enhancing Your Backyard for Humming Birds
If you find you don’t have many birds coming through, you can add native plants that are adapted to the climate and soil! Hummingbirds are accustomed to their nectar and it will attract them. Some plant options are bee balm, salvia, trumpet honeysuckle, or penstemon. They also are attracted to bright colors of red and orange, so adding in nectar-rich flowers (think red, tubular flowers as these are their favorite) can help bring more birds. Provide perching spots such as small branched trees or shrubs near your feeders for resting spots. Hummingbirds need water sources, so using misters or shallow water sources will keep the birds coming back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use tap water for hummingbird nectar?
Yes! Tap water is generally considered safe unless it contains high levels of chlorine or chemicals. I tend to boil my water to ensure safety for the birds, but if you know you live in an area with good water quality, tap water is safe.
What should I do if ants or bees are attracted to the feeder?
You can use bee guards and ant guards to help prevent this from happening. You can also change your feeder regularly as this keeps the feeder clean and without pesky bugs.
When should I set out my hummingbird feeder?
Since hummingbirds are migratory, it depends on where you live. According to Smithsonian’s National Zoo, the guidelines are:
- Along the Gulf Coast and other southern parts of the U.S., feeders can be set up from mid-February to early November.
- In the middle latitudes, they can be placed from early-to-mid April through late October.
- Farther north, they can be set up from early May to late September.
What hummingbird feeder is best for my yard?
I have found the best luck with glass feeders as plastic ones can be tricky to thoroughly clean and discolor over time. I have a brightly colored glass one from Amazon, however, this article gives some more great recommendations!
Finding the perfect hummingbird nectar recipe is simple, rewarding, and a wonderful way to attract these vibrant pollinators to your backyard. By using just the right balance of sugar and water—without harmful additives or dyes—you can create a safe food source that keeps hummingbirds coming back all season long. Whether you’re a seasoned bird enthusiast or a beginner hoping to enjoy more visits from these fascinating creatures, this homemade hummingbird nectar recipe is the key to success.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
Hummingbird Nectar Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 cups water
Instructions
- Pour sugar and water into saucepan.
- Bring to a boil and remove from heat.
- Allow mixture to cool completely before filling feeder.
Cindy says
After seeing too many dead or stunned hummingbirds, I researched the web finding a suggestion to place feeders 6-8 feet away from windows. Definitely has made a possitive difference! 😊
Kristin says
Oh yes! I had to move mine because too many were hitting the windows! Now that I have moved it, its great! No more hurt birds!
carol coughlan says
Not one Hummingbird Nectar Recipe suggests using organic sugar ? Most discourage against red food colour, this is wonderfull for obvious reasons. I am aware of the toxicity of white sugar, the chemicals present from processing ect. I would never offer white sugar, as food, to save a few cents by not buying Organic. Where’s all that Love for Hummingbirds???
Kristin says
Very true, feel free to use organic!
Vicki Brown says
I use the same recipe and our little hummers love it. I usually put half in the feeder at a time a store the rest in the frig.
When really hot, swap out frequently so it
doesn’t get cloudy. In Ohio, we have the ruby-throated, so pretty.
Kristin says
Great idea on storing in fridge! I also never thought to swap it out frequently! Here in Houston it gets hot hot hot, so I will have to keep that in mind! Thanks!
Sherie says
I too use this recipe I have one territorial bird who does not share. They are a lot of fun to watch I live in San Antonio so we get the same type of hummingbird. thank you for the post.
Kristin says
Such a simple recipe! Much cheaper than the refills from the store! The birds sure are fun to watch, funny about the territorial bird you have!