Hummingbirds specialize in eating nectar from colorful flowers and they will not waste time with nectar that contains less than 10% sugar. Hummingbirds consume nectar five times their own body weight each day. They depend on the sugar rich nectar for up to 90 percent of their diet and the rest is made up of protein rich insects and pollen. Most hummers have elongated straight bills and long grooved or trough-like tongues to enable this feeding delight. In reality, hummingbirds only spend 10-15 percent of their day feeding and the remainder sitting, perching and digesting their food. The high sugar content is necessary to keep up with their high energy fluttering. They can hover in mid-air rapidly flapping their wings 12 to 90 times per second.

Maintaining backyard hummingbird feeders can provide them with the sugary nectar which is necessary for their survival. This comes with a responsibility to ensure their feast is a healthy one by keeping their feeders clean and full. You will want to clean the feeders as often as every other day, especially during the hottest months with a vinegar and water solution or 5 percent bleach and water and rinsing well.

The nectar may be purchased or you can easily make it by the batch and refrigerate. To easily prepare, use 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water and boil 1-2 minutes. It is important that no food color or honey be used. Honey can promote growth of harmful bacteria and food coloring is not recommended due to chemicals.

Hummingbirds are most attracted to the color red, pink, yellow and orange. GZ Bird Supply offers a wide variety of hummingbird feeders to tempt these fun to watch birds and satisfy their appetites. Hang your feeders in the shade, preferably near a window for your viewing pleasure. Happy hummingbirding!