Hummingbirds are small, beautiful birds that are found throughout the Americas. They are known for their ability to hover in mid-air and fly backwards, as well as their fast wing beats and high metabolisms. Hummingbirds have specially adapted beaks and tongues that allow them to feed on the nectar inside flowers, their primary food source.
Nectar
Nectar is the main component of a hummingbird’s diet. It provides hummingbirds with the carbohydrates they need to power their metabolisms. Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants inside flowers to attract pollinators. It is secreted at the base of the flower in a structure called the nectary. Nectar contains three main types of sugars: sucrose, glucose, and fructose. The ratio of these sugars varies by flower species. Nectar can contain 15-25% sugars by weight.
In addition to sugars, nectar contains traces of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. These micronutrients likely provide some nutritional value to hummingbirds. However, the calories obtained from sugars in nectar are far more important metabolically.
Hummingbirds have digestive systems uniquely adapted to process large amounts of nectar sugars. Their livers are large enough to efficiently metabolize sugars. Specialized kidneys allow them to excrete excess water absorbed from nectar. They can obtain all the water they need from the nectar they drink.
Preferred Flower Types
Hummingbirds prefer flowers with certain characteristics when foraging for nectar:
- Bright, vibrant colors such as red, orange, or yellow – these colors attract hummingbirds
- Tubular or funnel-like shapes – hummingbird beaks are specialized for retrieving nectar from these flowers
- Little to no scent – hummingbirds do not have a strong sense of smell
- High nectar volume – provides sufficient reward of carbohydrates
Some common flower types that hummingbirds are attracted to include:
- Trumpet vine
- Cardinal flower
- Bee balm
- Salvia
- Petunias
- Honeysuckle
- Fuchsia
- Native wildflowers like columbine or indian paintbrush
Hummingbirds will remember locations of reliable, preferred flowers and regularly return to those nectar sources.
Feeding Style
Hummingbirds have specialized physical adaptations that allow them to drink nectar:
- Long, slender beaks – Allows them to access nectar inside long, tubular flowers
- Grooved or forked tongues – Can dart in and out of their mouths up to 13 times per second. The grooves help collect and draw in nectar.
- Beak shape – Forms a tight seal with flowers to get most nectar
When feeding, hummingbirds will insert their beaks all the way into a flower’s corolla. Their long tongues dart quickly in and out, lapping up nectar.
Hummingbirds swallow nectar and don’t carry it back to a nest. To consume enough calories, they feed every 10-15 minutes throughout the day and visit hundreds or even thousands of flowers daily. Due to their high metabolic rates, hummingbirds may consume up to 8 times their own body weight in nectar each day!
Other Food Sources
Though nectar is their primary food, hummingbirds get nutrients from other sources as well:
- Insects and spiders – Provides proteins, vitamins, minerals, essential fats. May eat thousands of tiny insects every day.
- Pollen – Also provides protein and nutrients. Hummingbirds may get coated in pollen as they feed.
- Tree sap – An important food when flowers are not available such as early spring and late fall.
- Sugar water – Many homeowners will set up bird feeders with sugar water (1 part sugar to 4 parts water) to attract hummingbirds.
The availability of arthropods and insects seems especially important for growing nestlings. Female hummingbirds will catch insects and spiders to feed growing chicks protein.
How Hummingbirds Feed on Flowers
Hummingbirds have an incredible symbiotic relationship with flowering plants. Here is how hummingbirds feed on and interact with flowers:
- The hummingbird feeds on the sweet nectar inside flowers using its specialized beak and tongue.
- As it feeds, pollen from the flower’s anthers sticks to the hummingbird’s head and beak.
- When the hummingbird visits the next flower, this pollen rubs off onto the stigma of that plant.
- Pollination is completed, allowing the flower to produce fruits and seeds.
- This energy-rich nectar encourages hummingbirds to seek out and pollinate these plants.
This important pollination service benefits wild flowering plants as well as agricultural crops like tomatoes, squash, and coffee. The plants provide food for the hummingbirds, and the hummingbirds ensure the plants can reproduce – it’s a win-win symbiosis!
What Flowers Do Hummingbirds Like?
Hummingbirds are attracted to flower types specially adapted to suit their needs. Preferred flowers have three main features:
- Bright, vibrant colors – especially red. Hummingbirds can see color better than humans.
- Tubular shape with ample nectar deep inside. Matches hummingbird beak and tongue.
- Minimal scent since hummingbirds have a poor sense of smell.
Some specific flowers that hummingbirds seem highly attracted to include:
- Bee balm
- Cardinal flower
- Trumpet creeper
- Salvia
- Petunias
- Fuchsia
- Native columbine
- Scarlet morning glory
- Indian paintbrush
Planting several of these flowering species in your yard is a great way to attract local hummingbirds throughout the seasons.
Best Flower Colors for Hummingbirds
The most attractive flower colors for hummingbirds are:
- Bright red
- Vibrant orange
- Hot pink
- Purple
Yellow or white flowers also contain nectar attractive to hummingbirds. Just make sure yellow flowers have some red pigment or markings to target the birds’ visual perception.
Flower Shapes Hummingbirds Prefer
Hummingbirds favor flowers with tubular or funnel-like shapes. These include:
- Trumpet-shaped
- Salver-shaped (flat face with narrow tube)
- Tubular
The ideal opening diameter for hummingbird flowers is about 1/2 inch across. This matches the slender beak and tongue of hummingbirds.
Plants and Flowers that Attract Hummingbirds
Here are some excellent garden plants for attracting hummingbirds through nectar-rich flowers:
Annuals
- Petunias
- Fuchsias
- Marigolds
- Morning glories
- Nasturtiums
- Zinnias
- Salvia
- Verbena
Perennials
- Bee balm
- Butterfly bush
- Cardinal flower
- Columbine
- Coral bells
- Daylilies
- Delphinium
- Gladiolus
- Hollyhock
- Lobelia
Vines
- Trumpet creeper
- Scarlet runner bean
- Morning glory
- Passion flower
Trees and Shrubs
- Butterfly bush
- Rose of Sharon
- Lilac
- Flowering quince
- Coralberry
- Weigela
- Bottlebrush buckeye
- Mimosa
Best Plants for Hummingbird Gardens
When designing a garden to attract hummingbirds through flower nectar sources, focus on these top plant types:
Annuals
- Petunias
- Geraniums
- Marigolds
- Zinnias
- Nasturtiums
- Salvia
- Verbena
- Fuchsia
Perennials
- Bee balm
- Columbine
- Cardinal Flower
- Lobelia
- Delphinium
- Coral Bells
- Butterfly Bush
Vines
- Trumpet Vine
- Passion Flower
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Morning Glory
Aim for clusters of brightly colored tubular flowers, a water source like a fountain or bird bath, and native flowering plants. Avoid pesticides which can be lethal to hummingbirds.
Conclusion
Hummingbirds get most of their nutrition and calories from drinking the nectar inside flowers with their specialized beaks and tongues. They prefer flowers that are bright red, orange, or pink, with a tubular shape that matches their slender bills. Though nectar is their main food source, hummingbirds also consume insects and tree sap for essential nutrients. They have an important symbiotic relationship with plants by spreading pollen as they feed. By landscaping with the flowers hummingbirds are naturally attracted to, you can provide these energetic birds with beautiful and nourishing feeding habitats.