Home & Garden Garden The 7 Best Hummingbird Feeders of 2023 Our top pick is Aspects Hummzinger Feeder. By Arricca SanSone Arricca SanSone Hiram College Georgia Southern University Arricca SanSone is a health and lifestyle writer, specializing in home, kitchen, and gardening. She has written for Dotdash Meredith since 2019. Learn about our editorial process Updated November 7, 2022 Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan University of Tennessee Elizabeth MacLennan is a fact checker and expert on climate change. Learn about our fact checking process Share Twitter Pinterest Email Home & Garden Planting Guides Indoor Gardening Urban Farms Insects We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Joshua J. Cotten / Unsplash Hummingbirds are gorgeous little creatures that bring beauty and joy to your garden as they zip by and perform incredibly complex aerial acrobatics. If you’ve ever seen one up close, you know they’re inquisitive little birds, too, who may hover in front of you, as if to say, “Who are you? And why are you in my garden?” With the increased use of pesticides, changing weather patterns, and even widespread forest fires, hummingbirds may lose habitat in coming years. Fortunately, no species of hummingbirds in North America is in trouble at the population level right now, but providing feeders is a way to supplement their diets and help protect these exquisite birds. If possible, put out a few feeders in different spots around your yard, rather than only one feeder, because these little birds are territorial and may chase others away. Ahead, our top picks for the best hummingbird feeders: The Rundown Best Overall: Aspects Hanging Hummingbird Feeder at Walmart Jump to Review Best Glass: Perky-Pet Antique Bottle Glass Hummingbird Feeder at Walmart Jump to Review Best Budget: First Nature Hummingbird Feeder at Walmart Jump to Review Most Beautiful: Muse Garden Hand Blown Glass Hummingbird Feeder at Amazon Jump to Review Best Small: Aspects Hummzinger Highview Mini Hummingbird Feeder at Amazon Jump to Review Best Large: More Birds Big Gulp Hummingbird Feeder at Walmart Jump to Review Best Window Feeder: Juegoal Window Hummingbird Feeder at Amazon Jump to Review Best Overall Aspects HummZinger HighView Hanging Hummingbird Feeder 4.8 Amazon View On Walmart View On Amazon View On Ace Hardware This saucer-style feeder, made of unbreakable polycarbonate plastic, holds 12 ounces of nectar, so it’s a good size that won’t need refilled every day if you have multiple visiting birds. Because the reservoir sits below the perch and the hanging rod is slim, your view of the birds is for the most part unobstructed. It has a built-in ant moat to keep crawling insects away. Four feeding ports with high perches allow the birds to rest as they drink, also making it easier to observe them. It’s made in the United States and has a lifetime warranty. It’s easy to take apart and clean and is more durable than other options, making this our top all-round choice. Price at time of publish: $30 Best Glass Perky-Pet Antique Bottle Glass Hummingbird Feeder 4.5 Courtesy of Home Depot View On Walmart View On Amazon This attractive antique-style clear glass bottle holds 10 ounces of nectar and features four feeding ports. The metal base screws on and has a brushed copper finish. You’ll need a bottle brush to clean inside. This feeder also is available with a red bottle, but we don't recommend it because the bottle is not red glass, but rather a red coating which flakes off after washing. Price at time of publish: $22 Best Budget First Nature Hummingbird Feeder 4.2 Amazon View On Walmart With an easy-to-fill wide mouth, this plastic feeder holds 16 ounces of nectar. The two-part plastic base comes apart for cleaning, and the wide mouth makes it easier to clean than many narrow bottle types. It’s sturdy and can hold up well for several years but be careful not to over-tighten and crack the plastic. At this budget price, you’ll be able to purchase a few to place throughout your garden. Price at time of publish: $11 The 9 Best Greenhouses of 2023 Most Beautiful Muse Garden Hand Blown Glass Hummingbird Feeder 4.2 Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon If you’re looking for a piece of art as well as a feeder, this blown glass version makes an interesting focal point in the garden. The glass has a wide, threaded mouth, which makes it easy to clean, and the glass is resistant to fading. The metal and plastic base has four feeding ports and also comes apart so you can get into all the grooves. It won't leak if you screw it down snugly. Price at time of publish: $43 Hummingbird Facts Hummingbirds beat their wings more than 50 times a second, which means they need to eat every 10 or 15 minutes. They visit between 1,000 and 2,000 flowers per day! More than a dozen kinds of hummingbirds nest in the western United States, while the Ruby-throat is the only type that lives east of the Great Plains (learn to identify sexes and species at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology). These tiny birds migrate from North America south in winter, traveling to Mexico, Costa Rica or Panama. Best Small Aspects Hummzinger Highview Mini Hummingbird Feeder 4.5 Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon If you’re looking for a small saucer-style feeder because you want to put out multiple feeders or reduce how much nectar you have to dump out in the heat of summer, this 8-ounce plastic feeder is the right choice. It has a built-in ant moat and three feeding ports with a high perch that makes birds more likely to stop and sip for a while. It’s made of unbreakable polycarbonate plastic, comes apart completely, and is made in the United States. It also has a lifetime warranty. Users say they love the ease of cleaning and reassembling. Price at time of publish: $26 The Best Containers for Small Gardens of 2023 Best Large More Birds Big Gulp Hummingbird Feeder 4.5 Walmart View On Walmart View On Amazon View On HorseloverZ.com If you discover you’re frequently refilling your feeder due to constant activity, this 40-ounce capacity holds enough sugar water to keep a lot of birds happy! It has five feeding ports, bee guards, a built-in ant moat, and the wide-mouth glass bottle is easy to clean. The threaded base screws on easily and doesn’t leak. This is a great option for busy feeding stations, but don't use this size if you only have one or two birds visiting per day (you'll have to dump out the sugar water too often). Price at time of publish: $35 Best Window Feeder Juegoal Window Hummingbird Feeder 4.5 Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon If you want to get up close with these amazing birds, a window feeder offers an unobstructed view. The plastic feeder holds 8 ounces, has three feeding ports, and a built-in ant moat to prevent crawling insects from visiting. The hinged lid makes it easy to clean and refill. Two suction cups stick it to the window. It’s a budget-friendly option and is easy to use, though a few users had trouble with ants despite filling the ant moat with water. Price at time of publish: $18 Final Verdict Our top pick is Aspects Hummzinger High View Hummingbird Feeder for its ease of cleaning and lifetime warranty. Our budget pick, First Nature Hummingbird Feeder , also is simple to clean and wallet-friendly if you’re planning to provide more than one feeder for these winged wonders. What to Look For in a Hummingbird Feeder Red Feeders usually have red and other bright colors to catch the attention of hummingbirds, because hummingbirds have learned to associate red flowers with a good meal. That’s why all the feeders on this list feature red elements. Remember to never add red coloring to the nectar itself, because coloring may be harmful to the hummingbirds. A Place to Perch Hummingbirds can gather nectar as they hover in the the air. However, a feeder with a perch gives hummingbirds a place to rest as they eat, and may encourage them to stay longer. That means you might get a chance to admire them for a little more time. Insect Guards Birds aren’t the only creatures that like a sweet drink. Some feeders have bee guards, screens meant to discourage insects from feeding on the nectar. They’re somewhat helpful, but avoid yellow bee guards, which actually attract bees. Some feeders include an ant moat, which you fill with tap water to keep them away from the feeding ports. You also can purchase an ant moat separately. Ease of Cleaning It’s important to keep the feeder clean, so make sure it comes apart easily for cleaning. Materials Many of the feeders on this list are made from plastic, which we don't love here at Treehugger. However, when researching feeders, we didn't find many sustainable options. Glass is a more sustainable material, because it can be used for years and recycled, and feeders made from glass are not as fragile as you may think (most are constructed of thick glass reminiscent of an old-fashioned soda bottle). Our top pick is still a plastic option, because of its ideal design for both people and birds. Frequently Asked Questions When do I put out a hummingbird feeder? Depending on where you live, put out your hummingbird feeders any time from early March to early May, basically in early to mid-spring. Sooner is always better than later to assist migrating birds or early arrivals. Male hummingbirds return earlier than females. Don’t worry if you don’t see many birds at first. Males are territorial and may drive away other males during spring nesting season. But by mid-summer, after the chicks fledge, more birds appear, and they’ll also feed in greater numbers as they prepare for the fall migration.It’s fine to keep your feeders up late into the fall or early winter in northern climates. Day length and other factors cause birds to start the long journey south and feeders will not cause hummers to delay migration (in fact, it will help those heading south from more northern locations). In coastal areas or the Pacific Northwest, some hummingbirds remain all winter so keep your feeders full! What should I feed hummingbirds? A simple solution of sugar and water is all hummingbirds need. The best recipe is to combine a quarter cup of plain white sugar with one cup of boiling water. Let it cool, then fill your feeder. It might seem counterintuitive, but skip using organic, natural or raw sugars, which contain iron that may be harmful to birds. Refined white table sugar is sucrose, which most closely mimics natural nectar.Don’t make more than hummingbirds can eat in a day or two so nectar doesn’t spoil. Also, do not use red dye, which can harm birds; after all, nectar is clear. Also, do not use honey. When diluted with water, honey can harbor dangerous bacteria and fungus. How often should I clean my feeder? Change the sugar water every few days. Bacteria and mold can grow and stick to feeder parts so take it apart and thoroughly clean every surface, inside and out, before refilling. If the weather is really hot, nectar may spoil quickly, so clean more frequently. If your local birds empty your feeder completely, then clean it every time you refill it. What is the best way to clean a hummingbird feeder? Take the feeder completely apart. Hand wash every piece with soap and hot water. Use a bottlebrush to get into the feeding ports, neck of the feeder, and bee guards. Rinse thoroughly. Dry it with a clean, soft cloth or let the feeder air dry. Then refill with fresh sugar water. How do hummingbirds find feeders? While nectar makes up about 90% of their diets, hummingbirds also need insect protein. They’re incredible hunters, able to snatch small insects in mid-air. Create a welcoming environment in your yard by avoiding the use of pesticides and planting a variety of flowers hummers love, such as bee balm, cardinal flower, honeysuckle, and sage.Hummingbirds also need shrubs and deciduous trees to seek cover and nest, and shallow, moving water to bathe. If you have no yard, a container garden or window boxes will entice them to visit. Are hummingbird feeders bad for birds? No, hummingbird feeders absolutely are not bad for birds! In fact, you’ll be helping hummers by providing nectar for early or late-migrating birds or in areas where habitat has been compromised. Why Trust Treehugger? To make this list, we put bird's needs first, deeply researching the market and considering the design, materials, and ease of use. Author Arricca SanSone specializes in writing about home, shelter and gardening for many print and digital publications. She has welcomed hummingbirds to her garden for years with pollinator-friendly plants and several glass feeders. The 9 Best Deck Boxes, According to a Master Gardener