What Month to Put out a Hummingbird Feeder

Regions

• Due to migration, hummingbird feeders are needed seasonally. Hummingbird feeders should be put out during different months of the year depending on the location; but regardless of location, they always go out in the spring.

  Along the Gulf Coast, hummingbirds begin to appear as early as late February. They make their appearance the middle of March in southern states and don't show up in Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri until the first of April. Hummingbird season begins the first of May in Northern Michigan and Canada.

Attracting Hummingbirds

• In order to attract a large variety of hummingbirds, in addition to putting out hummingbird feeders, plant a variety of nectar-rich flowers. Choose brightly colored red and orange flowers for best results.

  Some popular flowers known to attract hummingbirds include favorites such as bottlebrush, azaleas, geraniums, columbines, begonias and snapdragons.

What Hummingbirds Eat in Nature

• Nectar makes up 90 percent of a hummingbird's diet. The other 10 percent consists of pollen and insects, both of which provide necessary protein to the diet. Home hummingbird feeders provide nectar, but not protein for the hummingbirds.

Man-Made Hummingbird Food

• Largely made up of water and sugar, man-made hummingbird food requires simple ingredients most people already have at home. Many believe artificial red coloring harms hummingbirds and it does not attract them any better than clear liquid. Avoid artificial sweeteners as well.

  Several small hummingbird feeders do the job better than one large one. Change the food twice a week to keep it fresh.

Keep Hummingbird Feeders Up All Summer

• Migration of hummingbirds continues all summer, and in some cases even into October and November. Remove all but one hummingbird feeder the first of October. Keep up the last feeder until the end of November. Although most hummingbirds have migrated south long before October, leaving out one feeder provides nourishment for hummingbirds that may have delayed migration due to illness or injury.