Quick Answer
Yes, multiple hummingbirds will use the same feeder. Hummingbirds are not territorial when it comes to feeders and will happily share with other hummingbirds. Having multiple feeders close together or one large feeder will allow multiple hummingbirds to feed at the same time.
Do hummingbirds share feeders?
Hummingbirds do not exhibit territorial behavior around feeders like they do around flowers and will happily share feeders with other hummingbirds. It is common to see multiple hummingbirds feeding from the same feeder at once or taking turns at a busy feeder. The key things that allow peaceful sharing are having multiple feeding ports on a feeder and keeping the feeder well-stocked with fresh nectar.
Why hummingbirds share feeders
There are a few key reasons why hummingbirds are willing to share feeders:
Abundant food source
A feeder represents an abundant, reliable source of energy-rich food for hummingbirds. This means there is enough for everyone so they do not need to compete for access. Flowers, on the other hand, provide a limited food resource so hummingbirds are very territorial around them.
Lack of breeding behavior
Male hummingbirds will aggressively defend flowers and feeders during breeding season to court females and claim breeding territories. However, at other times when breeding behavior is not occurring, they are less territorial.
Lack of suitable habitat
In residential areas where feeders are common, there are often limited natural food sources for hummingbirds. This can lead higher densities of non-breeding birds concentrated around feeders.
Tips for multiple hummingbird feeders
If you want to attract multiple hummingbirds to your yard, here are some useful tips:
Get a feeder with multiple ports
Look for a feeder with at least 4-6 feeding ports so more birds can access the nectar at the same time. Single-port feeders limit access for sharing.
Separate feeders by a few feet
Having multiple feeders within a few feet of each other allows for a shared feeding area rather than distinct territories.
Keep feeders well-stocked
Check nectar levels daily and clean/refill feeders every 2-3 days to ensure there is always enough food available for sharing.
Use red feeders
Red is very attractive to hummingbirds. Having red feeders at multiple ports will help draw in more birds.
Suspend feeders at different heights
This reduces squabbling by providing clear flight paths to feeders. Lower feeders appeal more to dominant males.
Provide a water source
A mister, drippers or shallow bird bath gives hummingbirds a place to bathe and drink, further reducing competition at feeders.
Supplement feeders with flowers
Planting native flowers around your yard will provide more feeding spots for hummingbirds when competition gets high at feeders.
How many hummingbirds can feed at once?
Most feeders can comfortably accommodate 2-4 hummingbirds feeding at once without aggressive behavior. Some large capacity feeders may allow 6 or more. Beyond this density, you may need to add additional feeders nearby to reduce squabbling. The most hummingbirds ever observed feeding together peacefully at one artificial feeder was 23.
Signs of hummingbird aggression
While properly set up feeders will minimize aggression, you may observe an occasional chase or squabble, especially if a feeder gets low on nectar. Signs of hummingbird aggression include:
- Loud chirping or squeaking
- Chasing in flight
- Hovering face to face
- Stabbing with the bill
- One bird not allowing another to access a feeder
Adding another feeder or nectar source nearby can help calm an aggressive bird. Males can be especially aggressive during breeding season – additional feeders and flowers are key to reducing this behavior.
How many hummingbirds will one feeder attract?
The number of hummingbirds that are attracted to a feeder depends on several factors:
Nectar quality
Fresh, homemade nectar with the proper sugar concentration is most attractive to hummingbirds.
Feeder capacity
A larger feeder with more nectar storage will attract more birds before needing a refill.
Number of feeding ports
More feeding ports allows more birds to feed at once.
Surrounding habitat
Areas with abundant natural food sources may attract fewer birds to feeders. Areas without much natural habitat attract more to feeders.
Season
More hummingbirds will visit feeders during spring and fall migration when food needs are highest.
Nearby feeders
Having additional feeders in the vicinity means each one may attract fewer individual birds.
Here is a table summarizing the number of hummingbirds a single feeder may attract under different conditions:
Factors | Number of Hummingbirds |
---|---|
Small single-port feeder | 1-2 |
Large 6-port feeder, natural habitat | 3-6 |
Multiple feeders near each other | 2-4 each |
Very large capacity feeder in limited habitat | 8-12 |
Migration season | 6-10 |
As you can see, feeder setup and habitat play key roles in the number of hummingbirds coming to a feeder, but a general range is 2 to 12 birds depending on these factors.
Types of hummingbird feeders for multiple birds
Here are some good feeder options to attract multiple hummingbirds:
Saucer feeders
Saucer-style feeders with up to 20 feeding ports allow easy access for many hummingbirds to feed together. They hold a large nectar volume to fuel many birds.
Tiered feeders
Tiered feeders have multiple stacked levels of feeding ports to handle many birds at once. They also hold a lot of nectar.
Hanging multi-port feeders
A hanging style feeder with at least 4-6 feeding stations works well for allowing hummingbirds to feed together. Having them on a pulley system allows raising or lowering for easy filling and cleaning.
Fountain/mister feeders
These incorporate misters or dripping nectar to attract more birds. The moving water helps entice them.
Window feeders
Multiple window feeders spread across windows provide abundant access points and visibility to attract more hummingbirds.
The best feeders have good visibility, red components to attract birds, a large nectar capacity, and at least four feeding ports to enable peaceful sharing among hummingbirds.
Setting up multiple hummingbird feeders
Follow these tips when setting up multiple feeders to maximize hummingbird access:
- Place feeders within 20-30 feet of each other allow a shared feeding zone.
- Orient ports in different directions so birds can approach from all sides.
- Elevate feeders to different heights between 3-10 feet up to minimize crowding.
- Suspend feeders using a pulley system for easy lowering for cleaning/filling.
- Clean and fill feeders every 2-3 days, or when nectar gets low.
- Use a 1:4 sugar-to-water ratio for fresh nectar.
- Flush feeder tubes and ports with hot water weekly to prevent mold.
- Consider a water source like a mister or fountain for bathing.
- Include nectar-rich flowers for supplemental feeding spots.
Proper feeder selection, placement, cleaning and maintenance help create an ideal setup to attract the most hummingbirds. Monitor for aggression issues and add feeders if needed.
Safety precautions when feeding multiple hummingbirds
With multiple hummingbirds buzzing around feeders, there are some safety issues to keep in mind:
- Clean feeders thoroughly to prevent mold or bacteria that could sicken birds.
- Use pure white cane sugar for nectar – never honey, artificial sweeteners or food coloring.
- Watch for bee guards to prevent bee stings.
- Keep feeders out of reach of cats who may prey on birds.
- Avoid using insecticides which are toxic to hummingbirds.
- Position feeders where birds won’t collide with windows.
- Keep nectar freshened regularly during hot weather to inhibit spoilage.
- Don’t hang feeders from tree branches which could snare birds.
- Monitor for bullying at feeders and separate or add feeders as needed.
With some basic precautions, your feeders can safely provide for the needs of many visiting hummingbirds. The reward of seeing these colorful, energetic birds happily feeding together is worth the extra effort.
Troubleshooting problems with multiple hummingbird feeders
Issues may occasionally crop up when trying to accommodate many hummingbirds at feeders. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
Aggressive behavior
- Add more feeders to spread out birds.
- Site feeders further apart to allow distinct territories.
- Provide a water source to divert some activity.
- Wait for breeding season to end if it is the cause.
Low nectar levels
- Get larger capacity feeders.
- Refill feeders more frequently.
- Have extra pre-made nectar on hand to refill quickly.
Crowding at feeder ports
- Get feeders with more ports.
- Separate feeders further apart.
- Suspend at varying heights.
Feeder mold
- Change nectar every 2-3 days.
- Discard old nectar rather than topping up.
- Clean feeders thoroughly each week.
- Use a bottle brush to scrub inside ports.
Bees at feeders
- Use feeders with better bee guards.
- Elevate feeders to make less accessible.
- Try moving feeders farther from bee habitats.
- Use feeders less attractive to bees.
Paying attention to cleanliness, placement, capacity and design are key to maintaining smooth operation of multiple hummingbird feeders.
Conclusion
In conclusion, multiple hummingbirds will readily use the same feeder provided a few conditions are met. Using feeders designed for sharing, with multiple ports, adequate nectar volume, and proper cleaning prevents most problems. Feeder setup to minimize crowding and aggression is also important. With a quality feeding station, you can enjoy watching groups of hummingbirds peacefully taking turns feeding together all season long. The chorus of buzzing wings and hovering birds makes a wonderful addition to any backyard.