The 5 best hummingbird feeders of 2024 (2024)

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With their tiny jewel-toned bodies and super-fast wings, hummingbirds are one of the most charming avian species to attract to your yard. But unlike most backyard-friendly birds, hummingbirds aren't interested in seeds and can't use a standard bird feeder. Instead, the best hummingbird feeders are designed for the birds' slender bills and long tongues and can easily be filled with the sweet nectar they crave.

We spoke to experts from Audubon, Cornell University Lab of Ornithology, and the Odum School of Ecology to learn more about hummingbirds and what characteristics make a good feeder. We then researched dozens of options before making our recommendations. Our top pick is the Aspects Hummzinger High View Hummingbird Feeder. It is a simple yet attractive plastic feeder that will draw the beloved birds to your yard to feed from four different ports.

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Our top picks for the best hummingbird feeders

Best hummingbird feeder overall: Aspects Hummzinger High View Hummingbird Feeder - See at The Audubon Shop

Best budget hummingbird feeder: More Birds Bird Health Ruby Glass Hummingbird Feeder - See at Amazon

Best glass hummingbird feeder: More Birds Bird Health Diamond Glass Hummingbird Feeder- See at Amazon

Best window-mounted hummingbird feeder: Aspects Jewel Box Window Hummingbird Feeder - See at The Audubon Shop

Best decorative hummingbird feeder: Perky-Pet Red Square Antique Glass Bottle Hummingbird Feeder - See at Chewy

Best overall

There are a wide variety of hummingbird feeder designs, including bottle and dish-like saucer feeders. "Dish feeders are good for a 360-degree view of feeding, since sometimes it's hard to see a bird that's behind a bottle," says Stephanie Green, an ecologist at the Strawberry Plains Audubon Center.

However, the birds don't have a preference when it comes to a feeder's material or shape. What matters most is the feeder's color. "Hummingbirds are attracted to red because flowers pollinated by hummingbirds are often red," says Holly Grant, NestWatch project assistant at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Wasps and bees are attracted to the color yellow, so you'll want to avoid feeders with yellow ports, guards, or flower-shaped attachments, she says. Aside from that, our experts say choosing a feeder that is easy to take apart and thoroughly clean is most important.

The Aspects Hummzinger High View Hummingbird Feeder meets all of our criteria for the best hummingbird feeders. The saucer feeder is a cinch to fill and clean with a clear dish that detaches from the bright red cover. Neither piece has nooks and crannies that are challenging to clean. There's a perch that wraps around the edge of the feeder, and the cover has four raised, red flower-shaped feeding ports. You can fill the ant moat built into the base with water to keep crawling insects out of the nectar. The feeder has a brass hook for hanging, but you can also mount it to a post.

Best budget

"If you want to attract hummingbirds, keep it simple," Green says. "You can have all the fun in the world using an inexpensive feeder, as long as you clean it and fill it." Keep things even more cost-effective by making nectar at home using sugar and water rather than purchasing a commercial version. And skip adding red dye to the mixture. Green says it can be harmful to birds.

Most hummingbird feeders come with ant moats, which are water basins that discourage crawling insects from getting into the sweet, sticky nectar. If you need more protection against bugs, Grant recommends putting a dab of petroleum jelly on the hanging wire. Just make sure that it is far enough from the feeding birds that it won't accidentally get on their feathers.

The affordable More Birds Bird Health Ruby Glass Hummingbird Feeder is a basic glass tube feeder with a body and mouth wide enough to accommodate a bottle brush easily. The feeder has a BPA-free plastic red top and base, so you can attract hummingbirds without dying your nectar. Birds can comfortably perch on the outer ring. The feeder also has four bee-guard feeding ports with white flowers and a built-in ant moat for discouraging insects. It's easy to fill and clean the tube — just unscrew it from the base.

Best glass

"It's best to have a feeder that has enough nectar to support the 'demand' in your neighborhood," says Charles van Rees, a conservation scientist, naturalist, and founder of Gulo in Nature. So, if you have so many hummers buzzing around your yard that you have to refill your feeder's nectar daily, a large-capacity bottle can help minimize your work.

Just be aware that hummingbirds are very territorial and may squabble over who has access to the feeding ports on a single bottle. "You will attract more hummingbirds that can feed with fewer disruptions if you place several small feeders around your yard rather than just one large feeder," says Grant.

The More Birds Bird Health Diamond Glass Hummingbird Feeder is similar to the budget Ruby Glass Feeder. Like that design, the Diamond has an easy-to-clean glass bottle, a BPA-free plastic red top and base, and a built-in ant moat and perch. But the Diamond is significantly larger, with a spiral tube that holds 30 ounces of nectar to feed a lot of hummingbirds at five white-flowered bee-guard feeding ports.

Best window-mounted

A window feeder gives bird watchers a close-up view of their feathered friends without disturbing their meal. "Hummingbirds are unusually fearless and come readily to window feeders," says Grant. She recommends placing feeders in the coolest areas where there is some wind protection.

Green says that, although in her experience, hummingbirds are a little less attracted to feeders hung in the shade, keeping your feeder out of the sun will prevent its nectar from quickly spoiling.

The half-moon-shaped Apsects Jewel Box Window Hummingbird Feeder is a drip-and-leak-proof saucer that you can attach to a window with two plastic suction cups. The hinged red lid opens wide for easy filling and cleaning. Hummers can perch along the edge and drink from one of the three available feeding ports. An optional ant moat is included. The Jewel Box holds up to 8 ounces of nectar, making it ideal for smaller groups of hummingbirds. It also comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Best decorative

While hummingbirds love the color red, you should enjoy how your feeder looks, too. Just pay close attention to shape when shopping for a decorative feeder. While elaborate designs and unique shapes can look gorgeous in your garden, they might also be more difficult to take apart and clean.

With its bottle shape, this decorative glass feeder by Perky Pet meets our criteria for easy cleaning. The embossed designs on the outside provide an antique aesthetic, and hummingbirds should be drawn to its vibrant red color. The brushed copper base with four flower ports adds to the vintage look. You can also detach the copper portion of the base from the plastic bottom to clean the inside.

This feeder can hold up to 24 ounces of nectar and is suitable for larger hummingbird populations. While it doesn't have built-in perches, hummers can sit on the base to drink from the decorative flower ports.

What to look for in a hummingbird feeder

Before you begin shopping for a feeder, you'll want to familiarize yourself with the various styles. There are three primary types of hummingbird feeders: saucer or dish-style feeders, bottle or tube-style feeders, and decorative feeders.

Saucer feeders: As the name suggests, saucer (dish) feeders have a bowl shape that hummingbirds probe down into from a feeding port above. Saucer feeders are less messy, less likely to leak, and sometimes easier to clean than bottle feeders. They also typically hold less nectar.

Bottle feeders: Bottle feeders, also called tube or vacuum feeders, are inverted glass or plastic bottles that typically screw into a base to create a tight seal. When hung, the bottle releases nectar into the feeding ports at the bottom as a bird feeds. These feeders are more prone to leakage than saucer feeders, making them more attractive to crawling insects, bees, and wasps. The latter are especially attracted to yellow bee guards.

Decorative feeders: While some decorative feeders are shaped like typical saucer or bottle feeders, others have unusual shapes. Because hummingbirds don't seem to pay much attention to the shape of a feeder, any decorative feeder with some red on it should attract them. They can, however, be difficult to clean.

Once you've determined the type of feeder that's best for you, we recommend considering the following qualities.

Ease of disassembly and cleaning: Our experts say the best hummingbird feeders are easy to disassemble and thoroughly clean, which is essential to do every few days. Look for feeders with lids and bases that are easy to separate and have openings large enough to accommodate a bottle brush easily.

Color: Hummingbirds are attracted to the bright colors of their favorite flowers, especially red and pink. According to Green, although hummingbirds are not attracted to the color yellow, bees and wasps are. We recommend choosing a feeder that is brightly colored with red and pink and avoiding feeders with yellow feeding ports, bee guards, or other details.

Ant moats: Ant moats are basins that hold water to prevent ants from crawling into the nectar. They are found in many, but not all, hummingbird feeders. Feeders with built-in or detachable ant moats can help keep its nectar as fresh as possible.

Material: We selected feeders built with bird-safe materials such as BPA-free plastic, metal, and glass. According to Grant, the most important factor is the ease of cleaning rather than any harmful substances in the materials themselves. "Porous materials have a greater propensity to allow mold and bacterial growth," Grant says.

Size: We selected feeders with a variety of different nectar capacities to feed either large or small hummingbird populations.

Attachment: "Consider what sort of mount you'll be able to use with different hummingbird feeders," says van Rees. You may need a hook for heavier feeders, while more lightweight options can attach to your windows with suction cups.

How we selected the best hummingbird feeders

To select the best hummingbird feeders, we interviewed experts from Audubon, Cornell University Lab of Ornithology, and the Odum School of Ecology to develop the list of criteria outlined in the "what to look for" section above. We then evaluated hummingbird feeders available at major retailers to find those that best met our standards. The brands and feeders we selected have consistently positive reviews and are known for their quality and product guarantees.

Hummingbird feeder FAQs

What type of feeders do hummingbirds like best?

Hummingbirds love the color red, so they'll naturally want to check out any feeders that feature the color. "Buy a feeder with red parts, or tie a red ribbon around the feeder to help attract hummingbirds," says Grant.

The shape of the feeder isn't as important, according to Green. "If you think about it, the plants that they're feeding from are a wide array of shapes, so there's no one-size-fits-all," she says. Just make sure that the feeder is easy to take apart and clean.

Is a glass or plastic hummingbird feeder better?

Glass and plastic are equally good options for a hummingbird feeder, according to our experts. "Whatever kind you buy, just keep an eye on it to make sure it's in good condition and there aren't any hidden areas like deep scratches in plastic that can harbor harmful microbes," says Grant. She also recommends keeping a bottle brush or an old toothbrush on hand for easy cleaning.

Should hummingbird feeders be in the sun or shade?

"Hummingbirds prefer feeders near trees and shrubs where they can perch to rest and observe their surroundings, and feed on nearby natural food between visits," says Grant. She recommends placing feeders in the coolest areas of your yard and places with some protection from wind. Keeping your feeder out of the sun will also help the nectar last longer without spoiling. Just be careful to place your feeder in an area where predators like cats cannot easily reach feeding birds. Cornell University Project FeederWatch says to install feeders approximately 10 feet away from strong branches that may support a cat's weight. Similarly, you'll want to ensure your feeder is mounted high enough from the ground so predators cannot reach them.

What is the correct ratio of sugar to water for hummingbirds?

Grant recommends using a ratio of one part sugar to four parts hot or boiling water. In colder, wet weather, the ratio can be increased to one part sugar to three parts water. Avoid using special sugars in your nectar. "Some raw sugars or organic kinds have additives which may be harmful to hummingbirds, and honey tends to cause mold growth," she says. "Regular white sugar is just fine."

How often should you clean a hummingbird feeder?

"Generally speaking, you should clean the feeder and replace the nectar every 3 to 4 days to a week," says van Rees. However, you may need to clean the feeder more often when it's especially hot or humid. "When it's over 90 degrees, sugar water may spoil in two days or less," says Grant.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology advises against using soap or detergents to clean the feeder. Most hummingbird feeders can be cleaned with hot water and a bottle brush or diluted bleach (1 part bleach to 9 parts water). Make sure to rinse the feeder thoroughly and allow it to air dry before refilling.