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This hummingbird fan has a unique job title – he’s a living, breathing hummingbird cafe!

While he calls them “wearable hummingbird feeders,” that description may be a bit of a stretch. Animal lover JR Gordon tempts these tiny birds with feeders hanging from his glasses, balanced on his forehead, and even held in his mouth! It’s a truly innovative way of enjoying the magic of hummingbirds!

Getting up Close and Personal

If you’re anything like me, you might find yourself waiting patiently at the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the speedy wings and iridescent feathers of these magnificent creatures at the feeder.

JR Gordon, however, doesn’t settle for such a meager viewing of these beautiful birds. Instead, he lures them in for an up-close and personal view. It’s clear that the birds have developed absolute trust in him, as they happily drink from his “wearable” feeders.

Gordon’s wearable bird feeders take many forms, including several sets that are attached by wire to his sunglasses, small feeders that can be worn as rings, and even a flat feeder that Gordon balances on his forehead. Throughout the video, he’s calm and still even as the tiny birds flutter around his head and face. It’s clear that he enjoys his feathered friends just as much as they enjoy him!

Handfeeding Hummingbirds

If you’d like to try offering hummingbirds a drink from a hand-held or wearable feeder, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

First, hummingbirds are attracted to bright colors, especially red, so deck yourself out in your brightest clothes and accessories to draw your feathered friends in. While it’s fine to use flower-shaped accessories, it’s not necessary.

Just like Gordon, you should remain very still and allow the birds to investigate you and the food source you’re offering.

While we don’t know for sure that hummingbirds can recognize the humans who feed them, we do know that these birds have excellent memories. They can remember the location of specific flowers they’ve visited in the past, so it stands to reason that they can commit your feeder locations to memory, too.

With that goal in mind, be sure to put out your feeders early each year so that the hummers can discover them as soon as they migrate to your area.

Is Handfeeding Good for Hummingbirds?

Handfeeding is unlikely to harm hummingbirds, but there are some risks associated with letting birds (or any wild animal) get too comfortable with humans. Not every human will be as thrilled as you to see a bird fly near their face, placing the bird at risk of being swatted or accidentally harmed.

What Should I Feed to Hummingbirds?

When feeding hummingbirds, you can purchase nectar or make your own using a mixture of 4 parts water to one part white sugar. Avoid sugar substitutes, brown sugar, honey, and red dyes when making your own nectar, because these substances can be harmful to the birds.

Trying It for Yourself

If you’d like to try your luck at using a wearable hummingbird feeder, you have some options. Of course, you can try to make your own wearable birdfeeder, as JR Gordon did. There are also a few wearable feeders out there for purchase.

Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This hummingbird helmet has a clear mask with three attached feeding ports, so you can observe your feathered friends as they fly up to feed on nectar.

Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This ring feeder is another great handheld option and it may be a better choice if you’re not crazy about the idea of birds flying near your face.

Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Want an up-close view of the hummers but prefer not to handfeed? Try these window feeders, which attach to your windows with suction cups to allow an easy viewing experience through your windows.

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