Nectar is not the only source of food for hummingbirds. They also eat bugs: spiders, gnats, flies, and other little critters. Sugar water is only a quick-energy drink. That rapid wing action takes a lot of energy, and in 90 minutes a hummingbird can burn off quite a bit of body weight, so they need to eat often.
Don’t use honey, it will grow bacteria that is harmful or deadly to hummingbirds. Don’t use artificial sweeteners either, I’ve never met a hummingbird with diabetes or weight issues, just give them that 4:1 ratio of water to sugar. Heat the water so the sugar dissolves, and let it cool before filling your feeders. Most feeders have enough color to attract the birds, so please skip the food coloring!! Drop it out of your own diet, as well. One last thing: keep your feeders shaded, the sun will cause the sugar water to go rancid much faster. Cloudy sugar water = rancid. Change it often, clean the feeder in hot water. Don’t use soap, even thorough rinsing leaves a residue.
There’s a little hummingbird that seems to live in my backyard and flies around all the time. It’s so pretty!
Glad to hear that Mary! I can see from your domain that you must have a feeder, LOL – Mary’s link is http://www.humming-bird-feeders.info/
I was delighted to see the hummingbirds exercising their territorial rights in my yard today, they are grand!!