Species
	Allen's Anna's Black-chinned Blue-throated Broad-billed Broad-tailed Buff-bellied Calliope Green-breasted Mango Green violet-ear Ruby-throated Rufous

Winter Care

Most hummingbirds found in the United States and Canada are highly migratory, meaning they are genetically “programmed” to do what needs to be done. Studies have shown that when it’s time to go, they go, even when many feeders and plants are available. Thus, it is safe to leave your feeder up as long as you wish.

Most of the ruby-throats in our area migrate right on time, and indeed that species is a rare find in North Carolina in the winter. Most winter reports we get are of rufous hummingbirds. If you choose to leave a feeder up to try to attract one of the vagrants, there are some things to keep in mind.

Like us, hummers need food and shelter. A hummingbird’s diet is at least 50% insects. They consume lots of small spiders, aphids, gnats, etc. You can assist by leaving some fruit pieces out and about. This often attracts fruit flies, which become good food for any hummer in the area. A variety of plants will host a variety of insects, along with providing shelter for a bird to roost in.

When temperatures are predicted to fall below freezing, consider bringing your feeder in overnight to keep the solution from freezing. Conversely, some folks will put a lamp near the feeder overnight. Hummers often show up at very first light, so if you bring your feeder inside overnight, you should get up before dawn to hang it back up. You can also use insulated pipe tape around the feeder reservoir to keep it warmer in mid-winter. (This has been useful for folks in the mountains.) Note that sugar water will not freeze until the air temperature around the feeder goes below 28 degrees Fahrenheit.

Maintain the usual 4:1 concentration of water to sugar; as it turns out, more sugar is not better for the birds. In addition, providing a feeder with a perch is helpful in winter. (Indeed, when given a choice most hummers prefer feeders with perches year round.) And finally, you do not have to worry about cleaning feeders more than once a week in cooler weather.

Hummingbird FAQ