Hummingbird
Food Recipe
To make your hummingbird food recipe solution, follow the below instructions.
When creating a sugar solution for your feeder, the best ratio is 1 part
white, granulated sugar to 4 parts water, since this closely approximates the
concentrations found in the
nectar
of wildflowers they prefer.
To make a little over 1 cup of hummingbird food recipe solution (normally enough to
fill a standard feeder) follow the below directions:
- Make sure your feeder is
cleaned thoroughly before adding new solution.
- Boil 1 cup of water. Caution!*
- Stir 1/4 cup of white granulated sugar into the 1 cup of heated water.
- Stir until sugar dissolves.
- Cool, fill your hummingbird feeder, and serve!
-
Any leftover nectar can be
stored in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.
*Caution: If heating in microwave be careful when
removing container of liquid. Water can become super-heated and the water can "explode" out
of the heating container when removed from the microwave. I recommend using a
Pyrex-type heavy-duty glass container when heating liquids. To prevent "explosions" do not
over-heat (watch container for first evidence of boiling) and test before
removing container after heating is done, swirl water with a spoon using a
potholder to protect hands. Then safely remove the container.
Higher Concentrations of Hummingbird Food Recipe
Are higher concentrations harmful? No research has shown that higher concentrations
are not harmful to hummingbirds. In fact, Blem et al. (2000) found that Rufous Hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus) preferred a sugar concentration of 50% when
presented with solutions varying in concentration from 10-70%.
Higher concentrations (up to 1:1) can be made, especially during cold migration
periods.
Lower Concentrations of Hummingbird Food Recipe
And what about lower concentrations? The more diluted the nectar, the more
consumption of nectar is needed to satisfy a hummingbird's energy requirements. McWhorter and Martez del Rio (1999)
found that, depending
on sugar concentration, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds (Selasphorus platycercus)
consumed volumes of nectar ranging from 1.6 to 5.4 times their body mass per
day.
Weaker concentrations are less attractive to hummers & you'll find they may
just stop coming to your feeder to find a better, concentrated source.
In
addition, because hummingbirds will have to consume more of a dilute nectar to get the
same energy from a concentrated one, their bodies will have to work harder. The
rate of energy assimilation may be constrained by excess water elimination.
So when making your hummingbird food recipe solution, don't go weaker than the 1:4 ratio of
sugar to water.
Honey and Artificial Sweeteners
The sugar in flower nectar is primarily sucrose, like that of white sugar. So
don't use honey in your feeder, which is primarily composed of fructose &
glucose. Hummingbirds can't digest it as efficiently. Fermentation & mold
growth also occurs faster in
honey solutions than those made from granulated sugar. This mold (fungus)
can give the hummingbirds a fatal tongue infection. Do not use
artificial sweeteners either which provide no calories (no energy).
Learn more about
hummingbird
nectar, placement of your feeder, deterring feeder pests and more.
Plans for making your own
hummingbird feeders
Return to Top of Hummingbird Food Recipe Page
Hummingbird
Feeders
Hummingbird Info
Hummingbird
Habitat/Flowers
Hummingbird Migration
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Hummingbird References
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