How to Make Hummingbird Food

Hummingbirds expend so much energy beating their wings that they need a high concentration of sugar in their food. In nature, they get their sugar from the nectar of flowers. You can make a solution that is very similar to flower nectar. The sugar found in flowers is similar to the white, granulated sugar we use in our sugar bowls. Follow this easy recipe to fill your feeder with homemade hummingbird nectar.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• One cup boiling water
• A bowl or pan in which to heat the water
• A quarter cup of white, granulated sugar
• A hummingbird feeder

1. Boil one cup of water. You can use a microwave-safe bowl in your microwave or you can use a pot or pan on a stove-top burner. Once the water boils, remove from heat.

2. Add one cup of white, granulated sugar. Stir well.

3. Allow to cool thoroughly.

4. Pour the sugar solution into your hummingbird feeder. Any extra can be stored in your refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• If you would like to make a bigger batch of hummingbird food, just use four times as much water as sugar.
• During cold migration periods you can increase the amount of sugar to one third cup.
• Never put honey or artificial sweeteners in the hummingbird solution.
• Do not add food coloring to the solution. The artificial coloring is not beneficial to the birds.

[naturenut]

on 8/16/2009 Mix 1/4 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water in the pitcher or container.

[merrie]

on 8/6/2008 in ingredients list yousaid 1/4 cup and in instructions, you said 1 cup!!