How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Backyard

There’s something magical about spotting a hummingbird in the backyard. One second the garden’s quiet, and the next there’s this little jewel of a bird zipping through the air, wings buzzing like a tiny motor. They’re fast, elusive, and absolutely mesmerizing, and with a little planning, you can make your yard a regular stop on their seasonal route.

Attracting hummingbirds doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does take a bit of intention. The good news is that once you get started, whether with plants, feeders, or water features, you’ll probably find they come back year after year, and bring their friends.

Know Your Region (and Your Hummers)

Hummingbirds migrate. That means when they show up, and how long they stay, depends entirely on where you are in the country.

Here’s a quick guide to help you plan:

In my backyard here in New England, we really only see Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and they usually start arriving in mid-May. I try to get everything ready by early May at the latest—plants going, feeders filled, and a few choice perches set up. You know they're back when you catch that first tiny dart of movement at the edge of your vision.

What Hummingbirds Look For

Hummingbirds are driven by one thing: fuel. Their wings beat up to 80 times per second, and their tiny bodies burn through calories like you wouldn’t believe. That means nectar is king, but not just the stuff in feeders. Native flowering plants are a massive attractant, and in many cases, more reliable and healthy than sugar water alone.

Here’s what they’re looking for:

• Brightly colored, tubular flowers (red, orange, pink, purple)
• Consistent nectar sources (blooms throughout the season)
• Safe places to perch and rest
• Shallow water for bathing or misting
• No pesticides (which kill the tiny insects they also eat)

Plant for Hummingbirds (and Yourself)

One of the most satisfying ways to attract hummingbirds is with plants. It’s more sustainable than feeders alone and, to be honest, looks better too.

Some of the best native plants for hummingbirds include:

• Bee Balm (Monarda) – An absolute magnet for hummingbirds. I’ve had as many as three at a time jockeying for position when this is in bloom.
• Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) – Tall, vivid red spikes. It thrives in damp soil and partial sun.
• Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) – A great vine for trellises or fences, and blooms for weeks.
• Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) – Early spring blooms that kick off the season.
• Salvia / Sage – Many varieties work, but native types are best. Flowers stick around into the fall.

If you plant these in clusters and stagger your bloom times, you’ll have a steady buffet of nectar from May through September.

Feeders: Easy and Effective (If Maintained)

Feeders can be a great supplement to native plants, especially early in the season before your garden fills in. But, and this is a big one, they need to be cleaned and refilled regularly.

Here’s what’s worked for me:

Simple nectar recipe (essentially dilute simple syrup):

• 1 part white sugar
• 4 parts water
• No dye. Ever.

Boil the water to dissolve the sugar, let it cool, and fill the feeder. I make small batches every few days during peak season and keep a backup bottle in the fridge.

Feeder tips:

• Place feeders in the shade if possible to slow spoilage.
• Clean every 2–3 days in hot weather (mold can hurt birds).
• Use ant moats to keep bugs out.
• Hang multiple feeders out of sight from one another if you have aggressive birds.

I hang mine near flowering plants so the birds can hop back and forth naturally. They seem to appreciate the option.

Water Features: The Hidden Attractor

This one surprised me when I first noticed it: hummingbirds are drawn to moving water. Not for drinking, but for bathing. I've watched them fly through mist like it’s a carwash, fluffing their feathers mid-air.

Here are a few things I’ve tried that worked:

• Misting hose nozzle on a timer – Quick and easy setup, especially in summer.
• Dripper attachments over birdbaths – Adds motion and sound.
• Small solar fountains – Cheap and effective. The ones with intermittent sprays seem to be the most popular.

If you already have a birdbath, just add a bubbler or dripper. The trick is movement, still water doesn't cut it for hummers.

And if you’re building from scratch, consider placing the water feature near some vertical cover (shrubs or small trees). Hummingbirds like to zip in and out, then perch to preen nearby.

Patience (and a Camera)

It can take time for hummingbirds to find your yard. They're creatures of habit and return to the same places year after year. If you're starting fresh, give them a season to discover what you’ve got going. But once they do, they’ll be back. Trust me.

One summer, I set up a simple chair near the Bee Balm patch, camera in hand. Within 15 minutes, I had three Ruby-throats buzzing around, totally unbothered by my presence. If you’re into photography, this is one of the most fun backyard subjects you can have—challenging, beautiful, and always unpredictable.

Final Thoughts

Creating a space that attracts hummingbirds isn’t just about sugar water, it’s about designing an environment. Native plants, reliable food, clean water, and safe cover all play a part. And once you’ve got that rhythm going, the birds do the rest.

Start with a few plants, add a well-placed feeder, maybe a little trickle of water, and wait. Before long, you’ll hear the hum before you see it, that tiny, unmistakable buzz as a feathered blur visits your garden.

It never gets old.