Hummingbirds are some of the most delightful visitors to any garden. With their glittering, jewel-toned plumage and incredible aerial acrobatics, these tiny birds bring joy with their beauty and fascinating behavior. Attracting hummingbirds to your yard or garden is easy with a few simple steps. By providing the key elements that hummingbirds need – food, water, shelter, and nesting sites – you can convert your outdoor space into an enticing hummingbird habitat.
What do hummingbirds need in their habitat?
Hummingbirds have four basic requirements to thrive: food, water, shelter, and places to nest. Here is a breakdown of each need:
Food
Nectar is the primary food source for hummingbirds. To keep them coming back, you’ll need to provide a steady supply of nectar throughout the seasons when hummingbirds are active in your region. The sugar concentration and nutrients in nectar gives hummingbirds the huge amount of energy they need to power their rapid metabolisms and active lifestyles. Planting nectar-rich flowers and maintaining feeders are the best ways to provide food.
Water
Like all animals, hummingbirds need access to clean water for drinking and bathing. Including a water feature like a fountain, mister, or bird bath gives them a place to drink and bathe regularly. Moving water elements are particularly attractive, as the motion helps attract hummingbirds.
Shelter
Hummingbirds appreciate places to rest and get out of the elements. Trees and shrubs provide shelter from wind, rain, and predators. Sheltered perches give hummingbirds a place to preen, rest between feeding sessions, and watch for insect prey flying by. Native plants with small branches and horizontal structures work well.
Nesting Sites
Hummingbirds build tiny, compact nests to lay and incubate their even tinier eggs. Providing plants with suitable nesting materials and sites encourages hummingbirds to stick around and nest. Native trees with branching systems that form “V” shapes, as well as woody shrubs, are ideal. Avoid trimming away thin plant fibers, downy materials, and lichens that hummingbirds use to construct their nests.
What plants attract hummingbirds?
Certain flowers and plants are magnets for hummingbirds due to the nectar they produce. Choosing the right vegetation to incorporate into your habitat is key. The best plants have tubular or trumpet-shaped blooms with a narrow base and sweet nectar. Here are some top options:
Native Wildflowers
Native wildflowers co-evolved with hummingbirds and cater perfectly to their needs. Recommended native plants include:
- Bee balm
- Cardinal flower
- Columbine
- Firecracker penstemon
- Larkspur
- Lupine
- Sage
- Trumpet creeper
- Trumpet honeysuckle
Non-Native Flowers
Some non-native flowers also provide good hummingbird habitat. Top options include:
- Fuchsia
- Impatiens
- Petunias
- Scarlet runner beans
- Nasturtiums
Trees and Shrubs
Certain trees and woody shrubs provide both food and shelter for hummingbirds. Good choices include:
- Butterfly bush
- Bottlebrush
- Citrus trees
- Coralberry
- Coral honeysuckle
- Flowering crabapple
- Blackberry
- Rhododendrons
- Wisteria
Vining Plants
Vining plants add excellent coverage for shelter. Consider adding:
- Cypress vine
- Hyacinth bean vine
- Mandevilla
- Morning glory
- Passionflower
- Trumpet vine
When and where should you put out hummingbird feeders?
Hummingbird feeders provide an excellent supplemental food source in addition to flowers. Follow these tips on using feeders effectively:
- Set up feeders well before hummingbirds arrive in spring so they have a food source waiting.
- Place feeders in open areas with some shade to prevent nectar from spoiling.
- Use multiple feeders spaced widely apart to reduce territorial conflicts.
- Clean and refresh feeders every 2-3 days to prevent mold and bacteria.
- Use a nectar mix of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. Do not use food coloring, honey, or artificial sweeteners.
- Provide insects for protein by adding a bee or wasp feeder with jam or trapping fruit flies.
How should you arrange the habitat landscape?
Strategically planning your hummingbird habitat’s landscape design will make the space as welcoming as possible. Follow these tips:
- Plant bright, tubular flowers in dense clusters.
- Include a mix of flowering perennials and annuals to provide nectar spring through fall.
- Incorporate native plants suited to your climate and region.
- Plant in drifts of color to establish bold visual zones.
- Allow some plants to grow and seed freely to propagate more flowers.
- Include flowering vines, bushes, trees, and shrubs for shelter and nesting.
- Space plants and feeders so hummingbirds have clear flight paths between nectar sources.
- Site plants so there is always something blooming – rotate plantings for season-long color.
- Plant in layers (groundcover, mid-level, taller) to provide depth and diversity.
- Add structural elements like trellises, arbors, pathways and fencing for interest.
What are the best design and placement tips for feeders?
Proper feeder placement and design is key to attracting and keeping hummingbirds coming to your habitat. Use these tips:
- Hang feeders on posts, hooks, trees, or shepherd’s crooks in visible spaces.
- Place feeders at proper height – 5 feet up or flower/plant level.
- Allow ample clearance so hummingbirds can easily maneuver and access nectar.
- Include both bright colors and red elements, which attract hummingbirds.
- Select durable, easy-to-clean feeders with ant moats/bee guards.
- Use feeding ports made of short glass or plastic tubes that hummingbirds like.
- When possible, provide small perches for resting near feeders.
- Include more than one feeder to reduce squabbling between individuals.
What water features work well to attract hummingbirds?
Adding a water element ups your habitat’s appeal by providing drinking and bathing opportunities. Good options include:
- Misters – Hummingbirds dart directly into fine mist.
- Fountains – Moving water creates enticing sound and motion.
- Dripping faucets or valves – The small, steady droplets mimic rain.
- Sprayers – Rotating sprinkler heads send out appealing showers.
- Birdbaths – Low dishes offer shallow wading and splashing.
- Garden ponds – Still or circulating ponds allow perching near moving water.
Place water sources in shaded areas protected from cats and use moving elements when possible. Clean weekly to prevent mosquito breeding.
What are good design elements to add vertical interest?
Adding vertical elements creates attractive hummingbird habitat structure. Great options include:
- Arbors and trellises covered in flowering vines
- Tall branches, poles, or dead snags for perching/nesting
- Wind chimes and hanging bits of glass/metal to sparkle and move
- Birdhouses or nesting baskets/shelves mounted under eaves
- Hanging plant holders with trailing flowers and vines
- Fencing or screen panels with plants woven through
- Rain chains instead of downspouts to add water sounds
- Flagstone or brick columns for mounting feeders and plaques
Space vertical features throughout the habitat to break up open areas and create focal points of interest.
How can you provide safe nesting sites?
Here are tips for providing the nesting materials and sites hummingbirds need:
- Leave thin plant fibers, downy materials, moss, and lichens in place for nest construction.
- Don’t aggressively prune trees and shrubs; allow small, twiggy branches.
- Plant willow, birch, aspen, and cottonwood trees which provide fine fibers.
- Allow plants like thistle and cattails to go to seed.
- Add basket planters or nesting shelves tucked under eaves or balconies.
- Don’t use pesticides; insects provide needed protein.
- Keep cats indoors or use deterrents to protect nests.
What maintenance does a hummingbird habitat need?
Maintaining your habitat encourages hummingbirds to take up long term residency. Follow these tips:
- Keep feeders clean and nectar fresh – change every 2-3 days.
- Prune any diseased or dead plant materials.
- Weed and thin plantings when they become overgrown.
- Refresh mulch to retain soil moisture consistently.
- Fertilize plants according to specific needs.
- Remove fallen leaves and debris from water elements.
- Clean birdbaths and ponds weekly to prevent mosquitoes.
- Rake pathways and stepping stones to keep clear.
- Refill any insect feeders as needed.
Developing a regular habitat maintenance routine will help the space thrive and provide everything hummingbirds need.
How can you provide shelter from the elements?
Hummingbirds need places to escape harsh weather and rest. Here are ideas for providing shelter:
- Plant dense, shrubby trees like spruce and juniper that offer cover.
- Add trellised areas and arbors covered by leafy vines.
- Include low-growing plants with spreading forms like lantana and blue fescue.
- Site feeders and water features in protected spots under eaves or near trees.
- Use weather-resistant feeders and baths made of durable materials.
- Position awnings, gazebos, pergolas, and garden sheds to block wind and rain.
- Build brush piles from pruned branches to form sheltered spaces.
Avoid large, open expanses and include layered densities of plants throughout the habitat.
How can you deter predators?
Hummingbirds are vulnerable to predators like cats, snakes, and hawks. Here are smart deterrents:
- Keep cats indoors – they kill millions of birds annually.
- Install squirrel guards around feeders to prevent robbing.
- Use pest-control fencing to keep snakes, raccoons, and rats out of the habitat.
- Trim vegetation around feeders to increase visibility and remove hiding spots.
- Hang strips of reflective tape or old CDs to startle hawks.
- Place birdhouses out of reach of predators.
- Choose dark-eyed plant varieties; the spots may deter predators.
Avoid using chemical pesticides which can poison hummingbirds. Focus on exclusion and removal for the most secure habitat.
Conclusion
By tailoring your garden to meet hummingbirds’ fundamental needs for food, water, shelter, and nesting sites, you can create a welcoming habitat that will attract these special birds for many seasons. With smart landscape choices, proper feeder setup, and mindful maintenance routines, your yard can become a favored hummingbird hotspot that brings joy to your own life as well as that of these energetic, beautiful visitors.