Hummingbird food
Hummingbird nectar recipe
Two ingredients, one ratio: 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water. No dye, no honey – and fresh nectar every few days.
- 1 : 4sugar to water
- 0red dye needed
Recipe
How to make hummingbird nectar
- Measure 1/4 cup of refined white sugar and 1 cup of water (or any 1:4 ratio).
- Use boiling or very hot water and stir until the sugar has dissolved completely.
- Let it cool to room temperature, then fill the feeder.
- Keep leftover nectar in the fridge.
Sources: Audubon, Cornell FeederWatch, Smithsonian's National Zoo.
Freshness
How often to change the nectar
| Below 60 °F | weekly |
| 60–70 °F | every 5–6 days |
| 70–80 °F | every 3–5 days |
| 80–90 °F | every 2 days |
| Above 90 °F | daily |
Clean the feeder each time: warm water and dish soap, or an hour in 1 part white vinegar to 4 parts water, then rinse well. Throw out cloudy nectar or any with black mould at once.
Sources: International Hummingbird Society, Cornell FeederWatch.
Timing
When to start
Put the feeder out about two weeks before hummingbirds usually arrive in your state – see when to put out hummingbird feeders.
Questions
Hummingbird nectar: questions
What is the ratio for hummingbird nectar?
One part white sugar to four parts water – for example 1/4 cup of sugar in 1 cup of water.
Do I need to boil hummingbird nectar?
Use boiling or very hot water so the sugar dissolves completely, then let it cool before filling the feeder.
Can I use honey or red dye?
No. Honey promotes dangerous fungal growth, and red dye is unnecessary – the red parts of the feeder attract the birds.
How long does hummingbird nectar last?
In the feeder: about a week below 60 °F, two days at 80–90 °F, daily above 90 °F. Extra nectar keeps in the fridge for about a week.
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