Hummingbird Food

Hummingbird Food -- Natural or Artificial?

When it comes to hummingbird food, there are two main categories: natural and artificial. Because of the tiny size of Hummingbirds, many of you will be curious as to what they eat. Despite their small frames, hummingbirds are actually pigs when it comes to eating. They are known to consume up to 1/2 of their body weight in food and up to 8 times their body weight in water each day. If they were human, this would mean eating on average 80 lbs. of food per day!

Natural hummingbird food of course, refers to honey and nectar from wild flowers as well as insects and bugs found in the wild. Many hummingbirds feed on flies, ants and other small insects. Larger hummers will also feed on small beetles and wasps. The consume insects for their protein needs and is vital to their diet. The other type of natural food, nectar; primarily comes from wild flowers. Hummingbirds are known to occasionally feed on tree sap as well. Flower nectar is extracted from the flower with the tongue of the hummingbird. Their long slender bills are slightly opened to make enough room for their tongues to dart out and lap up the nectar. The tongues of hummingbirds are comparable to those of cats because they also curve inward as they lap up the nectar.

Artificial hummingbird food refers to homemade nectars used in Hummingbird Feeders. The recommended mixture for these syrups is 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water. This is because that recipe produces about the same glucose concentration that is found in flowers. Hummingbirds consume nectars for energy and so there are many different artificial Hummingbird Nectars out there claiming high energy formulas for use with your feeders. Although many people claim that red syrup will attract more birds, it is not recommended to use artificial coloring of any kind.