How to Start Feeding Hummingbirds

3. What Ingredients Do I Need to Make Hummingbird Food?

Hummingbird food can be made at home with regular, white sugar and tap water. That's it!

These are the ingredients you don't need:

• Red dye
• Honey, brown sugar, or sugar substitute

Some people believe that red dye will attract more hummingbirds. However, the dye is unnecessary, and the chemicals in it can harm the birds.

In addition to skipping the red dye, remember that you must never use any alternative sweetener in your nectar. Always use simple, plain sugar: the same type you use when baking.

Honey can encourage fungal growth and kill the birds. Brown sugar has molasses, which is not a natural part of a hummingbird's diet. Finally, sugar substitute provides no nutrition for the birds, and its chemical content can seriously harm them.

Some people prefer using distilled or filtered water over tap water. Either is fine. Other than water, white sugar is all you need!