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Hummingbird Food
What do Hummingbirds Eat?

Hummingbird Food, contrary to popular belief, consists mainly of protein from various insects rather than nectar from flowers and feeders. The insects of choice are spiders, mosquitoes and fruit flies.

Understanding the hummingbird food diet will help to create a backyard habitat for them and we will be able to contribute in ways that assure their survival.

Protein Is King?

Hummingbirds survive mainly on protein from insects such as spiders, mosquitoes, fruit flies, aphids and gnats. 

Many assume that nectar is the key ingredient to a hummingbird's diet because we see them at flowers and our feeders constantly.

Who does not enjoy watching hummingbirds?

We never cease to be amazed by this remarkable bird.

When it hovers at our feeders or darts from flower to flower, we peak at one of nature's true wonders.

Mosquitoes for Hummingbird FoodMosquitoes for Hummingbird Food

Hummingbirds feeding on nectar alone is a common myth.

Many don't realize that they need to eat insects for protein, vitamins and minerals to build muscle mass.

Nectar is an essential hummingbird food for energy only.

I'm not particularly fond of insects, especially the blood sucking kind.

Are You?

I've learned to consider the consequences to the food chain of birds.

I no longer spray them away with insecticides. This can diminish the food supply and sicken the birds.

A show to see (you might like to get your binoculars) is a hummingbird perching on a bare, open twig in wait for a swarm of flying insects. When the prey is spotted, the bird "hawks".

What you get is the best aerial acrobatics entertainment as it performs a series of twists, and twirls capturing in mid-air. What a sight and the admission is free!

Learn more about Birdwatching Binoculars.

They are fast bug eating machines in our backyard.

How To Catch A Fly?

In order to catch insects, hummingbirds use other methods such as gleaning.

Simply, they search new leaves at the end of branches for tiny moth caterpillar

I was surprised to learn that these delicate birds "poached" food resources from other foragers, especially spiders.

This is accomplished by “stealing” the insects caught in a spider’s web. 

That's life in the wild! 

In my view, there’s no excuse needed for poaching!

Hummingbirds work hard enough to obtain food. Remember, all of that hovering......just to get a decent meal.

Insects On A Leaf As Hummingbird FoodInsects On A Leaf As Hummingbird Food

Nectar Is The Fuel For Energy

Hummingbirds eat nectar strictly for energy.

Hummingbirds consume nectar from flowers, vines, trees, and shrubs; favoring red, orange, pink and purple flowers with a good nectar reserve.

Also, they eat tree sap from holes drilled by other birds such as "Sap Suckers".

You might plant a hummingbird flower garden which can include a hummingbird vine and/or a butterfly bush.

Shape matters. Trumpet shaped flowers are most often preferred but are not exclusive.


A Hummingbird's Tongue Is Unique.

Here is some of the latest and interesting hummingbird research!

Researchers previously thought tube-like channels in their tongues sucked up fluid by capillary action.

But the new analysis shows that their tongues actually trap nectar by curling around it.

This study, authored by ornithologists Alejandro Rico-Guevara and
Margaret A. Rubega of the University of Connecticut, was published in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences". 

Hummingbird Tongue

Check out this amazing video showing a hummingbird's tongue in action!


How much food does a hummingbird eat in a day?

While an average hummingbird weighs only 0.1 to 0.3 ounces, it consumes 1/2 it's weight in food per day.

You guessed right!

No dieting for the hummingbird!

Hummingbird food from a flowerHummingbird food from a flower

Hummingbirds do need to eat practically all day long.

Incredibly, while in flight these tiny birds beat their wings 2000 to 3000 times per minute.

That's right! I did say per minute.

What fun it is to watch such tremendous energy from such a tiny bird.

That's why they need so many calories to keep their engines humming.

They will drink the nectar from hundreds of flowers in a day.


How To Make Hummingbird Food:

We would like to share our hummingbird nectar recipe, a ratio of sugar and water.

We have been using this hummingbird nectar recipe to attract and feed our hummingbirds for many years.

Homemade Hummingbird Nectar Recipe

Some people buy commercially packaged nectar.

If you choose to use a commercial nectar as hummingbird food make sure that it is natural and contains no artificial dyes.

We have found a commercial hummingbird nectar product with a natural red color made from hibiscus flower extract.


Hang several hummingbird feeders and fill them regularly.

A show to see (you might like to get your binoculars) is a hummingbird perching on a bare, open twig in wait for a swarm of flying insects. When the prey is spotted, the bird "hawks".

What you get is the best aerial acrobatics entertainment as it performs a series of twists, and twirls capturing in mid-air. What a sight and the admission is free!...........Learn more about Birdwatching Binoculars.


If you ever wondered, they do eat much more before migration starts.

Hummingbirds need to gain 30% - 40% of their body weight before migration. They store their undigested food in a small pouch at the base of the throat called a "crop". Even when they are perching, food is being moved from the crop to the stomach for digestion.

Do they ever get a moments rest? I appreciate our winged friends even more by understanding their importance to our eco-system. They eat the insects in our gardens, so spraying harmful insecticides would eliminate our opportunity of feeding hummingbirds with insects along with our feeders.

So now you know the answer to.......What do Hummingbirds Eat!

Hummingbirds do Require Water!

Of course they drink the nectar in the flowers and feeders but they also need water.

Hummingbirds are able to find many water sources right in your backyard.

A Hummingbird In A BirdbathA Hummingbird In A Birdbath

We've all heard the expression "drink-in the morning dew."

They will sip droplets of dew formed on foliage in the morning or after a rain.

They will come to a bird bath or a puddle but the water level must be shallow or even better, supply a birdbath with a mister in it.

If you already have a birdbath, an easy solution is to add a Solar Mister to it (No Electricity Needed).

Hummingbird water might be supplied with the the mist of a mister attached to a garden hose which they love to fly through.

Dry conditions can be a challenge, but you can help with a bird bath or a mister.

A common misconception...........feeding hummingbirds is not just providing nectar!

Hummingbirds live on the edge of survival.

When a hummingbird does not have enough food.......to conserve energy, it can go into a sleep-like state known as "Torpor".

"Torpor" is their natural adaptation to prevent starvation.

Clever, isn't it?

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