Reviewers Say This Adorable Ring Hummingbird Feeder Lured a Hummer 'Within Minutes' (2024)

The First Nature 16 oz. feeder is, hands down, our top pick for the best hummingbird feeder. It's a high-quality, well-reviewed product with an eye-catching red base, 10 feeding ports, and a perch that allows for easy viewing. It also features an anti-leak sealing ring, and reviewers say it's easy to clean, too.

One of our favorite features of this hummingbird feeder is the wide-mouth bottle and two-part base. Disassembly of this feeder takes no time, meaning it's incredibly quick and simple to clean. It also comes with a hook for easy hanging. The only negative with this feeder is that it's not the most attractive option. But for under $5, we'll take it.

Customer review: "This is a great feeder—very sturdy, easy to clean, and it's a very vibrant red, so it catches the hummingbirds' attention!"

This bird feeder with camera is a Country Living favorite for its red flower feeding ports and ability capture close-up pictures and videos of the speedy flyers.

The smart hummingbird feeder has a 165-degree view and high-definition day and night vision to help you spot birds any time they stop by. Plus, it has a connected BirdDock app that will send notifications to alert you when hummingbirds stop by and AI recognition technology to determine their particular species. Its included solar panel retains energy from the sun to keep the battery charged for months at a time.

And since this feeder is mountable on walls, poles, and trees, you can fend off squirrels and other pests that try to snack on nectar with a siren that can be triggered from the app.

Customer review: "It's absolutely ADORABLE. Watching the birds at the feeder live when I'm at work is so much fun. There's also a spot in the app where it captures screenshots and they're so cute to look at, especially the ones that have 'action' shots of birds flying mid-air. The picture quality is amazing [even] when it's been sunny and overcast. Video quality is just as good, too."

Get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures with this clever hummingbird ring. Simply put nectar in the plastic vessel and wait for the hummingbirds to come!

With a screw-top lid, this hummingbird feeder couldn't be easier to clean and refill. Obviously, the downside is that it holds very little food due to its size. But, since this device was made to feed just one or two hummingbirds at a time, it's unlikely that you'll run out during use.

Customer review: "I was skeptical, but hummers really do come to it. I have a fair number of feeders, as well as hummer-attracting flowers. I used this right next to where hummers frequent. Putting this on next to the flowers attracted a hummer within minutes."

Have you ever seen a hummingbird feeder so beautiful? This hand-blown glass feeder comes in multiple different colors and a few different shapes.

With four feeding ports, you're sure to get a bevy of birds in your garden this season. Each port also includes its own perch, and the ports have bee guards. And with a 27 ounce capacity, you shouldn't need to refill it constantly. When you do, the base comes fully apart and the topper unscrews. You'll need to use a bottle brush to clean the interior.

Customer review: "The glass is pretty and thick. It has a seal in the bottom portion which fits snug. It's sturdy on the ant float hook which prevented all bugs!"

Talk about rustic charm: This vintage bottle hummingbird feeder allows for five simultaneous feedings, holds up to 25 ounces of nectar, and also features one of those helpful wide mouths. The base can also be taken apart when it's time to clean, and—best of all—the manufacturer offers case-by-case replacements and refunds should you encounter any significant problems.

Each port on this feeder has a bee guard and the top hook features an optional ant moat, so there's no need to worry about any pests interfering with your birds. Reviewers also love that the red bottle means there's no dye added to the nectar, which is safer for the birds.

Customer review: "The red is dark so I wondered if birds would find it. They did in no time and now they fight over who gets to feed there while two take turns on guard duty! I like that it's glass and well-made. It's a teeny bit heavy but not overwhelming."

The "HighView" perch on this 12-ounce feeder allows birds to rest as they feed, which allows new and experienced watchers alike the chance to get a decent view of the action. It's an Amazon best seller, and for good reason: That red top is easy to remove for fast cleaning.

Four feeding ports is enough for a few birds to hang out without overcrowding—you're here for the view with this feeder, after all! The red top also means you can skip out on dyed nectar. You will want to consider, though, that with the low-profile design, this feeder also comes a small capacity so you'll need to refill it more often than others.

Customer review: "This is an excellent low-maintenance feeder that hummingbirds really like. The raised perch lets the birds rest while feeding, which makes for longer viewing times. The screw-in metal hanger is very strong and has a robust plastic mount in the bowl that does not crack or break under heavy abuse. The bowl is very simple to clean. Importantly, the feeder has no yellow elements which attract bees and the simple construction means no disassembling lots of yellow flower blossoms and trying to scrub away mold from all those little parts."

This feeder is reminiscent of vintage mason jars. The white-and-yellow flowers at the base are the feeding ports. In addition to an adorable vintage look, it also features good ole' fashioned construction, with a durable metal base and glass top that should last you years.

Another perk of the mason jar top? That wide-mouth opening, of course! This feeder couldn't be easier to clean or refill. It also has a wrap-around perch that reviewers note the birds love to rest on. The top includes a bar that you can attach to a hook for hanging, as well.

Customer review: "I ordered this hummingbird feeder in particular because the 'flowers' around the base are either metal or very hard plastic. These last much longer than the plastic ones found on other feeders. The base is also metal. When cleaning the feeder the base and flowers stand up better to a scrubbing than the plastic ones. The birds also love it!"

While hummingbirds will love this mini feeder, the bees will not. (Experienced watchers know that's a very good thing.) This feeder features a handy bee guard, one feeding port, and a hanging rod, which allows for placement just above a planter box.

This budget-friendly pick will definitely need refilling often, holding just three ounces. Fortunately, reviewers mention how easy it is to clean and refill thanks to the wide-mouth bottle.

Customer review: "I love the bee guard. I was going through a bottle of nectar a week thanks to a constant gathering of bees at the bottle. I switched to this product and now the nectar lasts much longer and I only see birds at the feeder."

No one likes to eat in the rain! This feeder ensures that hummingbirds can get their nectar fix without getting soaked by an April shower. Plus, the weather guard can help the birds and nectar get some shade during hot summer days.

Surprisingly, it also holds 12 ounces of nectar despite the low-profile design. Additionally, you'll love the six feeding ports with resting perches so that you can keep an eye on all your birds. The best part? This feeder is dishwasher safe, which makes cleaning a breeze.

Customer review: "This is a very classy hummingbird feeder. Easy to handle, too, but mostly we love it because the birds keep coming back."

Types of hummingbird feeders:

• Bottle hummingbird feeders hold nectar in an inverted bottle and release it through feeding ports at the bottom. Winston says bottle feeders can have larger nectar capacity and a design that “makes it easier to see the nectar level and check for spoilage.” On the flip side, he adds that they might be more leak-prone and harder to clean.
  
• Saucer feeders hold nectar in shallow trays with feeding ports. These can be easier to fill and clean, and they can also offer more feeding ports for several hummingbirds to feed at the same time, Winston says. However, these might have a smaller capacity and need to be refilled more often, he adds.
• Handheld feeders allow a chance to get up close and personal with hummingbirds. “While they are not a replacement for standard feeders that can hold enough nectar to feed your hummingbirds over several days,” Winston says, “Hummingbirds are often not shy about approaching humans and may feed inches from your astonished face!”

Red Features

Since hummingbirds are naturally drawn to red flowers, Eckles says that hummingbird feeders with some red features can help lure them in.

Perch

Clean your hummingbird bird feeder by using a stiff brush and a weak vinegar solution or hot water, Winston advises, as detergents could leave harmful residues.

The experts recommend cleaning your hummingbird feeder every few days, especially in hot, sunny areas since nectar tends to spoil faster in these conditions. Plus, if the nectar looks cloudy, they recommend tossing it out and cleaning the feeder. "This will prevent fungus and other harmful pathogens from growing in them," Eckles says.

"Overall, glass feeders are better than plastic," says Eckles. "They’re often easier to clean and sanitize, easier to see through to keep track of the nectar level, they tend to last longer, and don't discolor from outdoor exposure over time the way some plastic ones do.

"However, some of the best hummingbird feeders are made of a combination of plastic and glass, adds Winston. Plus, plastic feeders tend to be lighter and less expensive.

The best hummingbird feeder recipe consists of refined sugar and water. Winston recommends one part refined sugar and four parts tap water (for instance, 1 cup of sugar mixed into 4 cups of tap water). Here's his recipe:

1. Add the sugar to the warming water, stirring to dissolve it completely.
2. Bring the mixture to a full boil.
3. Remove the solution from heat and let it cool to room temperature.
4. Fill the feeder with the mixture

Note: Winston says you can keep unused nectar in the refrigerator for one to two weeks. If you see cloudiness or mold growth, toss out the nectar.

At the very least, make sure your hummingbird feeders are clean and full at "first light when hummingbirds emerge from their evening torpor in need of a quick and easy energy boost," says Eckles.

However, the experts recommend keeping them up all day so they can feed throughout the day as needed. "Hummingbirds have one of the fastest metabolisms of any bird, and all that speed and activity takes a lot of energy!" says Winston. "You’ll probably find that your birds come to feed most often, and in biggest numbers, in the morning and late afternoon."

And depending on your climate, hummingbird feeding patterns might vary. "Though hummingbirds are unlikely to feed in the dead of night, in colder areas they may feed quite late and quite early," Winston adds. "And if you live in the southwest, you may be lucky enough to have a nectar-eating bat visit your feeder!"

In short, it depends on where you live. "If you’re lucky enough to live in warmer parts of the west coast, the southern U.S., or Central and South America, you may have hummingbirds in your yard year-round," says Winston. "But in most of North America, hummingbirds migrate south for the winter."

• Joanna Eckles is the Bird City Network Coordinator at American Bird Conservancy, a nonprofit aiming to conserve wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas.
• Tod Winston is the Birding Guide and Urban Biodiversity Specialist at the New York City Audubon, a grassroots community that aims to protect wild birds and habitats across New York City's five boroughs.