If the temperature drops below 32°F (0°C), hummingbird nectar can freeze. During cold weather, it's best to bring the feeders inside or put them in a place where they won't get wind. This will keep the nectar from freezing.
Hummingbirds have fast metabolisms. They have ways to stay warm, like sleeping at night to save energy, but a sudden cold snap can kill them. To get their energy back, they need a reliable source of nectar.
Low temperatures at night can freeze the sugar water that hummingbirds drink. Birds that don't eat at night may have to wait hours for the nectar to melt enough to drink. Also, frozen nectar can break or damage hummingbird feeders, making them less helpful in feeding hummingbirds all year.
Tips for Feeding Winter Hummingbirds
Keeping nectar from freezing is essential if you want to feed hummingbirds in the winter, but there are other things you can do to make sure these birds stay healthy even in the coldest months.
Here are some ways to feed hummingbirds in the winter:
- Keep feeders clean. Mold and bacteria can grow in dirty feeders, so clean them often with four parts water and one part white vinegar.
- Use warm water. Mix nectar with warm water because cold water can cause the nectar to separate and get stuck in the feeder.
- Give them heat. To keep the nectar from freezing, put the feeders near a warm, sunny window or a heat source.
- Use an ant moat. Hummingbird feeders attract ants, so you should use an ant moat to keep them from getting to the nectar.
- Provide food regularly. Hummingbirds need a steady food source, so fill feeders as required and don't let them run out.
- Use the correct water ratio to white sugar in the nectar. To make the nectar taste like the sugar in flowers, mix four water parts with one white sugar.
Remember that winter hummingbirds need a steady food source because they need it to stay alive during the colder months.
Light the Feeder
Wrapping a string of non-LED holiday lights around the bottle of a hummingbird feeder can generate enough heat to keep the nectar from freezing. Adding a glowing welcome with red or pink lights can also bring hungry hummingbirds in the winter.
Please ensure the light strand is in good shape before you wrap it around a feeder, and don't use any lights with frayed cords, split wires, or other damage. This method works best with glass feeders since too-warm lights can melt or warp plastic feeders.
How do you store hummingbird nectar?
Nectar for hummingbirds can be kept in the fridge for a few days in a clean container that keeps out air. Before each use, you should clean the container well and never add food coloring or anything else to the nectar. It is best to make a new batch of nectar every time you need it because the sugar in nectar can ferment over time and become harmful to birds.
How often should I change the sugar water in my hummingbird feeder?
It changes the sugar water in your hummingbird feeder every two to three days or more often if it's hot outside, if the nectar is cloudy, or if it is a different color. Fresh nectar should always be clear and not have any mold or other unwanted substances in it. It's essential to clean the feeder and change the nectar often so that harmful bacteria don't grow and hurt the birds.
Flowers that Attract Hummingbirds
Tubular, brightly colored flowers yield the most nectar and appeal to hummingbirds. Perennials include bee balms, columbines, daylilies, and lupines; biennials include foxgloves and hollyhocks; annuals include cleome, impatiens, and petunias, among others.
The following plants and flowers can attract hummingbirds:
- Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans)
- Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Red hot poker (Kniphofia spp.)
- Beebalm (Monarda spp) (Monarda spp.)
- Fuchsia
- Salvia Hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea)
- Flame acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifid var. wrightii)
- Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
- Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)
These plants often have vibrant, nectar-rich blooms, an essential food source for hummingbirds. Additionally, hummingbirds are attracted to the color red, so planting red flowers or adding red feeders to your yard can boost the likelihood of attracting these birds.
How Far Do Hummingbirds Migrate?
Many of these birds undertake migration flights that exceed 1,600 kilometers (995 miles) round-trip! Despite often weighing less than an ounce, hummingbirds are highly energetic. When the wind is blowing in their flying direction, they can reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.
Some hummingbirds move considerable distances, but others spend the entire year in their breeding or non-breeding habitat. The length of a hummingbird's migration depends on the species.
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird, which breeds in North America and spends its winters in Central America, migrates around 500 to 600 miles (800 to 1,400 kilometers) each way. Breeding in the western United States, the Black-chinned Hummingbird migrates to Mexico for the winter.
Species such as Anna's Hummingbird and the Costa's Hummingbird, which breed along the Pacific Coast of North America, do not migrate and remain year-round in their breeding habitat.
It is essential to remember that hummingbirds must preserve energy during migration and hence require a good food source and environment to survive the trek.
How can Quackups help you?
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