Best Hummingbird Feeders (That Really Work)

The best hummingbird feeders are the ones that bring these tiny, shining birds right to your own backyard. Even so, there are a lot of feeders available. Which hummingbird feeders are best for your needs? To help answer that question, we reviewed several types of hummingbird feeders.

Read on to learn all about these hummingbird magnets!

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Our Top Pick: Perky-Pet Pinch-Waist Glass Hummingbird Feeder with Perches

This hummingbird feeder has a classic design that brings in the birds and makes for easy installation. Its classy, slender appearance also lends an ergonomic look to any yard, and the red flower-like feeding ports are perfectly designed to attract all sorts of hummingbirds.

Did you know: It’s possible to make your own nectar for hummingbird feeders!

When a hummingbird sees the bright red color of the feeder, it won’t help but zoom in to inspect it. However, when the hummingbird gets close, it will hone in on the enticing red and yellow feeder portals!

If other hummingbirds are around, no problem. There are four portals, each with its own perch.

In addition to attracting and making it easy for hummingbirds to feed, this feeder also has water “moats” and plastic guards to keep ants and bees from reaching the sugar water. The glass container and design also make cleaning the feeder a cinch.

This feeder can hold up to eight ounces of nectar and is easy to clean and refill.

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Nature’s Way Hummingbird Feeder

This artistic hummingbird feeder is made from hand-blown glass with red and gold colors that make it look a bit like molten lava. Unlike cylindrical feeders, this unique, bird-friendly décor has a flat, rounded shape.

However, these saucer feeders work just as well for attracting and feeding hummingbirds. The shallow dish has three plastic red-petal feeding portals that the birds will naturally gravitate to. In addition, it also comes with a simple yet decorative metal basket with perches.

Related: 15 plants to attract hummingbirds

Put the glass feeder in this basket, and you can hang it from any number of hanging hooks or other structures. Since it only has three perches, this feeder might be best suited to the porch or gardens with a few hummingbirds.

With that in mind, and since this feeder has a 16-ounce capacity, you might also want to fill it half full. Cleaning and filling it will be a breeze thanks to the removable lid.

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Kingsyard Glass Hummingbird Feeder

This hummingbird feeder has a typical cylindrical design but also includes a separate ant moat. While many feeders combine the top of the feeder with an ant moat, this one has the moat as a separate piece. It’s actually part of the hanging hook and gives it a decorative touch.

The moat is also in the shape of a big, tulip-like flower. The design ensures that ants can’t reach the feeder while also attracting the attention of any nearby hummingbirds.

This hummingbird feeder’s flower-shaped feeding ports are not yellow, so they should not attract other insects (such as bees or wasps).

Keep reading: 16 hummingbird species you can see in the U.S.

The glass cylinder is available in several colors. Some aren’t red, but the six flower petal-shaped feeding ports still attract hummingbirds. The portals also have perches and will work fine for gardens with just a few hummingbirds or good numbers of our shining feathered friends.

This feeder is completely leak-proof and is built to last. The reservoir fits 16 ounces of sugar water for your little hummers.

As for cleaning with a brush, this feeder also has a wide mouth and simple shape, making maintenance easy.

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Hummingbird Feeder 30 oz. (Set of 2)

This hefty hummingbird feeder has a classic design featuring a built-in ant moat and seven yellow flower feeding portals, each with their own perch.

The small yellow flowers lend a cute touch to any garden, and the feeder’s colors will bring in the birds. However, given its size, this bird feeder works best for a garden with major hummingbird action. With that in mind, it would work best during migration and in places with lots of hummingbirds.

Those would be such places as Arizona, New Mexico, and the Gulf Coast during the winter months.

Related: Where Do Hummingbirds Go In The Winter?

Sure, you could still use it with a few hummingbirds, but only as long as you fill it a quarter or halfway full.

Although this is a good hummingbird feeder, one minor possible concern is the plastic container. Since it can’t be washed in the dishwasher, you’ll have to clean it by hand.

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LaElvish Hand Blown Glass Hummingbird Feeder

This hummingbird feeder is a modern, artistic feeder made of hand-blown glass. Although it has a balloon-like shape different from other classic feeders, it’s still going to bring in the birds.

This LaElvish feeder is shiny red and has four smooth copper feeding portals with perches and a metal basin.

Given its design and colorful appearance, it looks almost more like an interesting outdoor décor than a feeder.

However, make no mistake, it will definitely work very well at attracting hummingbirds. This hanging hummingbird feeder comes with a special, ant-proof hook and also includes a small cleaning brush. This small brush us for cleaning the feeding portals. You’ll need a bigger brush and some time to clean the inside.

Considering the price and quality (as well as beauty), this is one of the best glass hummingbird feeders on the market today.

With its 34-ounce capacity, this feeder can provide for a lot of hummingbirds. However, unless you have serious hummingbird activity, you’ll be better off filling it half full so you can give it a proper and timely cleaning.

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Perky-Pet Antique Glass Bottle Hummingbird Feeder

This hummingbird feeder is a good one for folks who like vintage décor. Unlike most classic feeders, it does not have red plastic petals or other red parts. Instead, it’s a simple yet decorative design that includes a glass bottle with an antique motif.

The bottle screws into a metal base with four metal feeding portals. The portals don’t have perches, but since most hummingbirds also feed while hovering, that’s not too much of a problem. Possible downsides of this feeder are the apparent lack of an ant moat and no bee guards.

Related: How to attract hummingbirds?

Hanging these bottle feeders in the right place can keep the ants away, but you have to be careful. Ants love sugar water just as much as hummingbirds, it can be tough to keep them away from it!

Another possible disadvantage is cleaning it. The bottle has a wide enough mouth, but you’ll still need a brush for a thorough cleaning.

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Glass Hummingbird Feeder for Outdoors (Diamond Ball Shape)

This diamond ball-shaped hummingbird feeder doesn’t look anything like the basic, cylindrical hummingbird feeders. However, it still works very well and could be a good choice for folks who want to combine a feeder with pretty outdoor décor.

Made from hand-blown glass, this feeder is a rounded and patterned blue ball with gold highlights. Its colors will catch the eye of all sorts of garden visitors, hummingbirds included.

They won’t have any trouble feeding from the four metal, petal-shaped portals attached to the rustproof base.

This vacuum feeder doesn’t seem to come with its own hanging hook, but it can be easily hung from other hooks or ropes. Since it lacks an ant moat, it might be a good idea to purchase a hanging hook that includes one.

Cleaning it might be a bit of a challenge, but it does have a wide mouth, and this shouldn’t be too bad with a brush.

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Sewanta Hummingbird Feeder

Basic hummingbird feeders work just as well as they always have. Put them up, use the right sugar concentration, keep them clean, and you’ll have lots of birds. In that respect, these Sewanta feeders work very well.

They might not be as decorative as some glass feeders, but they’ll work, especially for feeding lots of hummingbirds. The red top and base will attract the birds, and they won’t have any problem feeding from any of the ten small feeding portals.

The birds can also perch anywhere around the edge of the base, and the feeder has a hook for easy hanging installation.

These are good basic feeders that will do the job, but they don’t seem to have ant moats, nor do they have bee guards. This means you’ll have to acquire a separate hook with an ant moat or find other solutions for that potential problem.

The feeder’s wide mouth should make for easy cleaning, but they are not dishwasher-safe.

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What to keep in mind?

When looking for hummingbird feeders, there are some key things to consider. Before even looking at them, we should think about why we want the feeder. For example, do you just want a basic hummingbird feeder to attract and feed the birds? Or do you want a feeder that can double as elegant outdoor décor?

If a basic feeder is all you are looking for, then a classic cylinder with red on top and red on the bottom will work fine. However, if your garden could use something a bit more decorative, it’s better to look into glass reservoirs with creative shapes.

Placement is something to consider, too (yes, even before buying a feeder). Choose a place where the feeder is out of direct sunlight, still visible, but not quite out in the open. Placing the feeder next to trees and bushes might come with new dangers, such as squirrels and cats.

Hummingbird feeders also come in different sizes. Although it might seem like a bigger feeder will always be better and easier, that’s not necessarily true.

Bigger feeders are better suited for situations with dozens of hummingbirds. Smaller feeders work best with just a few hummingbirds or when you want to hang it on the porch.

You also want to be careful about picking the right size for a feeder because sugar water goes bad within 48 hours.

The other main consideration is how easy or challenging it may be to clean the feeder. Since it’s absolutely essential to keep your feeders clean to prevent bacteria and mold growth, expect to clean them a lot.

Keep reading – When to put up hummingbird feeders?

Can You Make Your Own DIY Hummingbird Feeder?

If you’re feeling crafty, it is not too difficult to make a DIY hummingbird feeder – all you need is a jar or a bottle of some kind and some creativity!

As an easy DIY project, you can fill a Mason jar with nectar and drill holes into the red lid. You can get creative and hang your contraption onto a tree branch or a hook by weaving yarn or string around the jar; even wire works.

Just let your creative juices flow!

Hummingbird Feeders – Frequently Asked Questions

Are some hummingbird feeders better than others?

Yes, some hummingbird feeders are better than others. As with any type of product, some are made with cheap materials and others are rustproof or have better designs.

What to look for when buying a hummingbird feeder?

Things to look for when buying a hummingbird feeder are design, durability, if it is easy to install, and if it is made with glass or plastic.

Are plastic or glass hummingbird feeders better?

Glass hummingbird feeders are better because they can last longer, tend to look better, and won’t potentially leach toxic chemicals.

Is nectar better than sugar water for hummingbirds?

Natural flower nectar is better than sugar water for hummingbirds.

Is it possible to make hummingbird food at home?

It’s easy to make hummingbird food at home! The general rule of thumb is to mix one part sugar and four parts water.

Is a hummingbird feeder better in the sun or shade?

A hummingbird feeder is better in the shade. Keeping it in the hot sun will make the sugar water ferment and go bad more quickly.

Where should you not hang a hummingbird feeder?

You should not hang a hummingbird feeder within the foliage, in places where cats can reach them, under direct sun, or where they can be buffeted by wind.

Is a heated hummingbird feeder worth it?

Heated hummingbird feeders do just as their name says – they slightly heat the nectar to keep it from freezing. This might be worth it if you live in an area where hummingbirds live year-round.