Make Your Space a Hummingbird Haven With These Special Feeders

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Summer is almost here and your backyard is calling for that annual refresh once again. One of the easiest ways to make your outdoor area a sanctuary is by inviting wildlife in—safely. Hummingbirds are fascinating creatures with colorful feathers, big appetites, and the fastest wings you’ve ever seen.

But they are notoriously difficult to entice—and observe, since they fly so quickly. Standard bird feeders don’t attract hummingbirds because these special creatures feed off of sugar and seek out nectar instead of traditional birdseed.

Feeders specifically designed to attract hummingbirds work well, and can help you lure some of the 360 species of hummingbirds right to your yard. Here are our top picks.

The Best Hummingbird Feeders

What to Consider

Hummingbird feeders come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes—and beyond pure aesthetic preferences, there are a number of other factors to keep in mind.

Capacity

The feeders we selected can hold anywhere from less than an ounce up to 48 ounces of sugar water. Smaller feeders mean that the nectar will be fresher and the feeder will remain cleaner since it will be emptied and refilled more frequently, but it requires more maintenance. Large feeders require less hands-on care, so you can set it and forget it.

Feed Ports

Depending on how many birds you want to attract at once, hummingbird feeders have anywhere from one to 10 feed ports.

Pro tip: You can buy hummingbird nectar, or you can make it by mixing one part sugar with four parts water, according to the Smithsonian.

Materials

Most hummingbird feeders are made from either plastic or glass, both with pros and cons. Plastic is shatterproof, but isn’t great for the environment. Glass offers a more premium look, but it can break much more easily and leave bits of glass all over your garden.

Additional Features

Hummingbird feeders are designed to attract hummingbirds, but sometimes they attract other animals, which may or may not be of interest. Look for an option that prevents bees and ants from freeloading off the nectar if you don’t want bugs making themselves at home or getting caught in the feeder.

How We Selected

We combed through several hummingbird feeders, seeking out the highest-rated feeders in a range of shapes, colors, styles, and sizes. We sought out feeders suited for large backyards with high capacity and multiple feeding ports, as well as small options—some of which are even wearable. We also made selections made from different materials, like glass and plastic, for a better range of durability and aesthetics.

Pinch-Waist Glass Hummingbird Feeders

An expansive backyard or large deck may call for a two-pack hummingbird feeder so you can have double the opportunity to attract more birds to your outdoor oasis. Having two feeders also means a higher chance of snagging the birds’ attention when they fly past, so if you’ve never seen hummingbirds near your property before, install a few at first.

There are four flower-shaped ports per feeder, with built-in bee guards to protect the nectar inside and an ant guard on the top for pesky insects. There are perches underneath each port for birds to rest while eating, too.

16-Ounce Hummingbird Feeder

This wallet-friendly feeder gets the job done without many frills. This First Nature hummingbird feeder is bright red to attract birds, with a wide-mouth jar to quickly fill it up with sugar water.

The base has 10 feeding ports, making it a great pick for yards with lots of birds, and the sealing ring keeps this from leaking when it moves around. It also comes with an S-shaped hook, so you can hang it over a tree branch for the easiest installation.

Ring Hummingbird Feeder

There's nothing like getting to experience the beauty of nature up close and personal. This wearable hummingbird feeder has a removable flower top so you can fill the base with nectar, and there is a small opening if you’d rather fill with a syringe.

It's recommended that you place the ring feeder in a visible spot to get the hummingbirds used to it, and then introduce yourself to the vicinity where they usually feed. Once they have adjusted to your presence, try wearing the ring so they can eat directly from your hand.

Antique Bottle Glass Hummingbird Feeder

This Perky-Pet antique style hummingbird feeder showcases style as much as it attracts birds to your yard.

The elegant, decorative feeder has an etched glass bottle, brushed copper accents, and four small feeding ports. The metal furnishings on the ports are also great for durability, with plenty of reviewers attesting that this lasts longer than other feeders they’ve tried.

It’s easy to clean, leakproof, and extremely effective at attracting hummingbirds. Reviewers love that it’s both beautiful and sturdy without a high price tag.

The Grand Master Hummingbird Feeder

Looking for a large-capacity bird feeder? This 48-ounce red plastic model from Perky-Pet is worth considering. It has a wide-mouth design that allows for easy filling, and the feeder disassembles well for quick and straight-forward cleaning.

The feeder features six flower-shaped ports with roomy perches for hummingbirds who want to rest while they dine. While you don’t have to refill the feeder as often as you would with a smaller one, you will still want to take it apart and clean it every few days in warm and humid climates to prevent mold.

Mason Jar Hummingbird Feeder

This Perky-Pet Mason jar feeder attracts birds from near and far, and looks fantastic in any outdoor space. The blue color of the glass bottle is reminiscent of 19th-century canning vessels, and has embossed details.

The base is metal, with five easy-to-clean yellow and white flower feeding ports on a circular perch. Reviewers love how the Mason jar-style feeder looks, and say the birds love it too.

Hand Blown Glass Hummingbird Feeder

If you’re looking for a feeder that is as artful and beautiful as the birds you want to attract, check out this model from Muse Garden. This hand-blown glass hummingbird feeder is adorned with brightly colored dots, which please and attract human and hummingbird eyes.

The base is equipped with a landing perch for hummingbirds, as well as ant moats to prevent an incursion, and is tightly sealed with a leakproof gasket. The feeder is made from recycled, eco-friendly, and weatherproof materials.

Reviewers love that it’s hand-blown, and that each one is distinct, but warn that you may be dissatisfied if you want it to look exactly as it does in the picture.

Retro Edison Bulb Bottle Hummingbird Feeder

This retro hummingbird feeder is modeled on an Edison light bulb and features a bronze metal bottom and flower-shaped feeding ports. It also comes in three stylish colors: aqua, pink, and red. The BOLITE feeder offers five feeding ports and a wide perch where busy birds can rest. The entire feeder can be taken apart for easy cleaning.

Reviewers praise its effectiveness in attracting hummingbirds, with many saying they had visitors within hours of putting it up.

Diamond Shape Glass Hummingbird Feeder

This feeder is as stylish as it is effective. This striking 20-ounce capacity hummingbird feeder is shaped like a diamond, and made of bright red glass to attract the birds.

It features five flower-shaped feeding ports and semi-circular perches the birds can rest on. The Bolite feeder also has a plastic, leakproof base that looks great, and reviewers say it’s easy to take apart and clean.

Top-Fill Glass Hummingbird Feeder

This Perky-Pet feeder has a 24-ounce capacity, with a wide-mouth, top-fill design. It’s also a lovely rose-hued pink glass container, with five flower-like feeding ports that are soft and flexible for hummingbirds.

The gasket in the feeder base prevents leakage, and the whole feeder can be disassembled for easy cleaning. The feeding ports also boast long stems, which prevent bees from accessing the nectar inside.

Hanging Hummingbird Feeder

This small feeder packs a lot of power when it comes to attracting hummingbirds. This hanging saucer-style feeder has a 12-ounce nectar capacity with eight feeding ports. It also features a built-in ant moat.

The dish-shaped base allows hummingbirds to perch while they feed, and the metal hanging rod that’s included allows you to hook it onto a branch. Reviewers love how small and light—but well-balanced—it is, even with several hummingbirds resting on it.

You Might Also Like

• The Do’s and Don’ts of Using Painter’s Tape

• The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere

• Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?