Hummingbirds are often taken as a harbinger of spring. Many hummingbird species return year after year to the same bird feeders, filling gardens, backyards, and outdoor spaces with brilliant splashes of color. Furthermore, it is a pleasure to have hummingbirds visit your backyard. But how exactly do hummingbirds find the feeder?

In essence, hummingbirds locate feeders by employing both their keen vision and their discerning sense of taste. Their attraction to bird feeders hinges on several key factors:

1. Feeder Color: Given their affinity for vibrant hues and their exceptional eyesight, hummingbirds are naturally drawn to feeders that boast eye-catching colors.
2. Floral Arrangements: These dainty birds have an innate fascination with flowers and foliage. Consequently, they find themselves irresistibly drawn to feeders adorned with enticing floral arrangements.
3. Memory Magic: Hummingbirds possess remarkable memory capabilities. Once they’ve frequented a particular bird feeder a few times, they etch the location into their memory, ensuring they never forget where to return for their nectar fix!

Every day, they have to hunt for glucose (sugar) in order to survive. Hummingbirds can see green better than red, so they benefit more from red feeders in your backyard. Interestingly, they also remember precisely where the feeder is located and return to it repeatedly.

Let us discuss all these reasons in detail through which hummingbirds locate/find the bird feeder.

Hummingbirds have excellent eyesight

The eyesight of hummingbirds is significantly superior to that of humans. Their superb eyesight results from the amount of time they spend searching for easy food sources. Even when flying, they can see your feeder from great distances.

Some hummingbirds are drawn to your food because they can see it from above. Because of this, they are able to fly over many feeders and collect high-energy food from each one. Bird feeders are constantly within reach because of their keen eyesight.

Big fan of vibrant colors 

Bright colors entice hummingbirds. Red, yellow, and orange flowers are their favorite colors. It is because bright colors have more sugar content.  And that’s just what hummingbirds require! Their rapid body motions and flying speed demand a lot of energy.

The brighter the color of your hummingbird feeders, the more likely it is that the birds will visit your premises. It is possible for them to see bright colors and be drawn to them even at tremendous heights.

They’re always on the lookout for anything to feed

A hummingbird’s metabolism is speedy. Every day, they require more calories than other birds. These birds consume a modest amount of food approximately every 12-16 minutes. Since their meals are high in sugar and energy, they can go from one location to the next at a rapid pace.

As a result, they’re constantly looking for new and convenient food sources. Among their favorite places to eat are feeders and flower beds. Hummingbirds are likely to fly over your house looking for food with open eyes and ears. In a matter of minutes, they’ll be at your door.

Big fans of flower arrangements

Hummingbirds are drawn to flowers and foliage. Flowers are, after all, their primary source of nutrition. When it comes to meeting their dietary needs, they visit flower beds and backyard trees.

Due to this, many individuals now use hummingbird feeders with floral suckers to entice the birds.

Excellent memory to remember feeders

Feeding hummingbirds has become increasingly prevalent over time. You’ve probably seen that a lot of people have started feeding the birds in their yards and gardens by putting up feeders. This indirectly facilitates hummingbirds because they have a long-term memory and remember the bird feeder location for a long time.

Fact: As a result of feeders’ widespread use, they’ve developed a familiarity with the places that they use.

Conclusion

Hummingbirds are typically attracted to bright colors, particularly red when searching for food. They use both their eyesight and sense of taste to locate a bird feeder. On the other hand, are territorial and will not share their “special” feeders with other birds.

So, try to hang multiple bright color bird feeders far enough apart to create more feeding areas and attract a wider variety of bird species. Other than that, have you ever seen a hummingbird pollinate? Do you know how they pollinate? Click here to learn more!