🐦 Hummingbirds
The living jewels of the garden. Learn how to attract and feed wild hummingbirds — the nectar recipe, the right feeders, and the species you can welcome to your garden.
🌸 How to attract hummingbirds
A feeder, the right nectar and a few red flowers are all it takes.
The nectar recipe
Mix 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water. Boil, then cool fully. Never use honey, brown sugar, or red dye — plain sugar water only.
Use red feeders
Hummingbirds are drawn to red. Choose a feeder with red parts — you don't need to colour the nectar itself.
Change & clean often
Replace nectar every 2–3 days (daily in hot weather) and clean the feeder each time to prevent mould.
Plant for them
Add red/orange tubular flowers — salvia, bee balm, trumpet vine, fuchsia and honeysuckle keep them coming.
Space feeders out
They're territorial — several feeders spread apart let more birds feed in peace.
Skip pesticides
They eat tiny insects for protein, so a pesticide-free garden and a gentle mister help them thrive.
🐦 Hummingbirds you can attract
Set up a red nectar feeder and watch them arrive.
Ruby-throated
The classic eastern visitor.
Anna's
A year-round West Coast jewel.
Rufous
A feisty copper migrant.
Allen's
A coastal green-and-orange gem.
Black-chinned
Adaptable and widespread.
Broad-tailed
A mountain flyer with a wing-trill.
Calliope
North America's smallest bird.
Costa's
A desert dweller with a purple crown.
Mexican Violetear
A glittering green wanderer.
Sword-billed
The impossibly long-billed marvel.