After spending nearly half a century watching and studying hummingbirds, I’ve heard just about every myth there is about these fascinating creatures. It’s time to set the record straight.
Bring Hummingbirds Right To Your Window!
Check PriceHere are 13 common misconceptions that keep circulating – and the real truth behind each one.
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1. “Leaving Feeders Up Prevents Migration”
You don’t have to worry that leaving your feeders up will prevent hummingbird migration. Each bird knows when it’s time to go thanks to its own internal clock, which is triggered by the changing length of the day.
Hummingbirds migrate individually to help them make the best use of the food and resources available. They will go when they’re ready, and your feeders will provide a meal for hummingbirds about to take a very long trip!
Some people worry that leaving hummingbird feeders in place prevents birds from naturally migrating as they should. Birds that don’t migrate won’t fail to do so because food is available.
So those that remain are there accidentally or cannot travel as they should. If you see hummingbirds, you should keep feeding them, regardless of the time of year.
Some people worry that birds won’t leave for their annual winter migration if they leave up their feeders for too long. But hummingbirds will leave even when there are abundant food sources.
2. “Red Dye Attracts More Birds”
At Wild Bird Scoop, we recommend against using red sugar water, as there have been some concerning reports about the safety of red dye. It has not been proven safe for hummingbirds, and any of the benefits associated with red dye can be achieved simply by using a red feeder.
Red dye is not suitable for hummingbirds. In fact, it can be harmful to them.
The best way to attract hummingbirds is by planting brightly-colored flowers they are attracted to or by making nectar at home with water and sugar. You should also avoid using red food dye, as there are some concerns about the safety of red dye for the sensitive systems of tiny hummingbirds.
The good news is that you don’t need red dye to attract hummingbirds to your feeders. Some red elements on the feeder itself, such as red flowers, a red sugar water reservoir, or other red coloring, will attract hummingbirds just as easily as one filled with red dye.
3. “Hummingbirds Only Feed on Nectar”
Nectar provides a hummingbird with most of the energy it needs. But to remain healthy, hummingbirds need protein and other nutrients, too.
So, in addition to sipping nectar, hummingbirds eat a range of insects. Hummingbirds’ diets are made up of two things: insects and nectar.
Insects give them protein, but nectar gives them the carbohydrates they need to fuel their very fast metabolism. Anna’s Hummingbirds’ primary food source is nectar, though they’ll also feed on tree sap, spiders, and tiny flying insects, like midges, whiteflies, and leafhoppers.
They will also feed on homemade nectar — basically, sugar water — placed in a nectar feeder as a source of supplemental food.
4. “They Never Stop Flying”
There are many curious myths about hummingbirds, and one of them is that they can never stop flying. Some people even think that hummingbirds die if they stop beating their wings!
One myth about hummingbirds is that they die when they stop flying, like how some sharks need to keep swimming to remain alive. Thankfully, hummingbirds do not need to fly nonstop in order to survive.
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5. “Sugar Water Is Bad For Them”
There is no evidence that white sugar in proper concentrations harms hummingbirds. It can provide the carbohydrates they need and serves as an excellent supplement to native blooms.The exact ratio of sugar to water that most closely matches natural nectar is still being researched, but a common blend is 1 part sugar to 4 parts water.
White table sugar does not appear to have any adverse effects compared to natural nectar. The easiest thing to do is to mix a 4:1 ratio of water to white sugar and fill a feeder!
Nectar mixes are sold in stores, but plain sugar water is just fine.
6. “They Migrate on the Backs of Geese”
Hummingbirds are remarkable creatures, and their migratory habits are no exception. Unlike other birds that migrate in large flocks, hummingbirds travel solo.
This means that each hummingbird must fly the entire distance on its own – a journey of several thousand miles. Ruby-throated hummingbirds travel thousands of miles during their annual migration.
They spend the winter in Mexico and Central America, then migrate north in the spring as the weather turns warmer. Hummingbirds typically migrate during the day and rest at night, but there is an exception to the rule—the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
This little guy has to travel over the Gulf of Mexico, a road trip that they are unable to take a break on.
7. “They Live Only One Year”
While many young hummingbirds don’t survive their first year, those that do can live surprisingly long lives. I’ve documented the same female returning to my yard for seven consecutive years.
8. “They’re Too Small to Remember Things”
Hummingbirds have extraordinary memories. Their brains take up 5% of their bodies: twice the relative volume of a human brain!
These brilliant birds remember food sources and return to them year after year. One of the most amazing things about hummingbirds is their incredible memory.
These tiny birds can remember every flower they visit and where it is located. A typical hummingbird will visit around 1,500 flowers per day to consume up to two-thirds of its body weight in nectar it needs because of its rapid metabolism.
9. “Males Help Raise the Young”
Broad-tails lay two eggs at a time, and the female hummingbirds care for the eggs and raise the young alone. They do not form pair bonds, and males will mate with multiple females per breeding season.
Because females are the ones who build a nest, lay and hatch eggs, and raise hatchlings into juveniles, they will also be the ones protecting their nests from males. They leave the females to raise their young.
Females and young will depart a little later than the males. But all migrating hummingbirds will usually be gone from eastern states by the end of October at the latest.
10. “They’re Aggressive Because They’re Mean”
Don’t place a single feeder with multiple ports, but rather more than one single port feeder. Spread these out across your space and a single hummingbird will struggle to defend the whole territory.
They will typically then give up and expend less energy on aggressive territorial behavior. These colorful summer birds are known for their aggressive behavior towards giant insects and other bird species.
They defend their territory or food sources by displaying fascinating acrobatic dive displays to ward off these unwanted guests.
11. “They Need Special Nectar Recipes”
You can also buy hummingbird nectar, and it’s ultra-convenient to buy your nectar already mixed. It will offer your hummingbirds a consistent sugar ratio, and it’s easy to store.
But it’s considerably more expensive than a homemade batch of sugar water, and despite any marketing myths about preservatives–which aren’t safe for hummingbirds–you’ll have to change it out just as often. To make hummingbird nectar, simply mix four parts water with one part sugar.
That’s it! No need to add any food coloring or other ingredients.
Be sure to use regular white table sugar, as brown sugar or honey can cause problems for the birds.
12. “They Die If They Stop Flying”
Their cardiovascular system powers their unique capabilities including sustained hovering, flying backward, and maintaining an extremely high metabolism. Essential adaptations like torpor also allow hummingbirds to conserve energy when needed by dramatically slowing their heart rate.
Typical hummingbirds will also usually stop flying during the dark hours, at night. After the sun goes down, they will find a safe and secure perch and enter a period of torpor.
Sometimes they enter a light torpor, sometimes a deeper one.
13. “Feeders Make Them Dependent”
Hummingbird feeders can never entirely replace wild and natural food sources. But they can give the hummingbirds that extra boost and a little more enticement to share your garden.
Hummingbird myths, checked
| Myth | What our writers say |
|---|---|
| Feeders stop migration | They leave on an internal clock triggered by day length |
| Red dye | Skip it; a red feeder is enough and dye has safety concerns |
| Nectar only | They also eat insects for protein |
| Never stop flying | They do not need to fly nonstop to survive |
| Sugar water is bad | White sugar at 1:4 has no evidence of harm |
| Ride on geese | They migrate solo, including over the Gulf of Mexico |
| Too small to remember | Brain is about 5% of body mass; they return to food sources yearly |
| Males raise young | Females nest, incubate, and raise the young alone |
| Special nectar | Four parts water, one part white sugar, no extras |
