How to Guide

ManualsBrandsNational Audubon Society ManualsBird & Wildlife20-lb Black Oil Sunflower Bird Seed

At least 53 species of

North American birds

drink nectar—the naturally

occurring sweet liquid

produced by plants.

Hummingbirds and orioles

are the main nectar

drinkers, but mockingbirds,

grosbeaks, tanagers, and

several warblers also enjoy

sweet drinks from ﬂowers

and tree sap. You can bring

these nectar-loving birds

to your home with a few

easy steps. Once they start

visiting your garden, it’s

likely some will stay the

entire season and even

return the following year.

Audubon Guide

to Attracting

Hummingbirds

and Orioles

Small birds, big appetites

Hummingbirds and other nectar eaters are some of the

most intrepid migrants—they can travel thousands of

miles each year. To accomplish these remarkable feats,

they rely on the abundant supply of nectar usually

found within ﬂowers that have co-evolved with nectar

eaters over thousands of years. Although hummingbirds

are the tiniest of vertebrates, they have the largest brain

and greatest appetite of all birds their size. Humming-

birds must eat once every 10 to 15 minutes and visit

between 1,000 and 2,000 ﬂowers per day to sustain

their supercharged metabolisms.

Like other migrants, nectar-drinking birds are also vul-

nerable to extreme weather, disease, and predators. In

addition, climate change and development are causing

habitat loss, and the birds are threatened by collisions

with windows and cell towers.

Backyard gardens, large and small, provide sanctuary

for resident and migrating nectar-eating birds. Sugar

water feeders provide nourishment, but they are most

helpful as a supplement to the natural nectar obtained

from ﬂowers. It’s best to create gardens that provide

real ﬂower nectar as part of a complete habitat that

oers shelter, nesting places, and water.

It may take weeks after you’ve set out ﬂowers and

feeders before nectar-loving birds discover your new

garden. But if you’re lucky, they’ll show up much faster—

sometimes within moments!

NECTAR LOVERS

BIRD FEEDING BASICS

About Audubon

The National Audubon Society saves birds and their

habitats throughout the Americas using science,

advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation.

Audubon’s state programs, nature centers, chapters,

and partners have an unparalleled wingspan that

reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire,

and unite diverse communities in conservation action.

Since 1905, Audubon’s vision has been a world in

which people and wildlife thrive.

Written by Stephen W. Kress, PhD.

Cover, clockwise from top left: Mike

Fernandez/Audubon; Paintbrush

(Castilleja), Photo: vkbhat/iStock;

Rufous Hummingbird. Photo: birdiegal/

Adobe Stock; Mike Fernandez/Audubon;

Baltimore Oriole. Photo: Steve Byland/

Dreamstime; Columbine (Aquilegia

canadensis). Photo: Graﬁssimo/iStock.

Inside, bottom left: Coral Bells (Heuchera

sanguinea). Photo: Tamara Kulikova/

iStock. Inside, center: Ruby-throated

Hummingbird and Bee Balm (Monarda).

Photo: mtruchon/Adobe Stock

Visit Audubon online for

more information and tips on

creating a bird-friendly yard.

www.audubon.org

225 Varick Street

New York, NY 10014

844.428.3826

Summary of content (8 pages)

PAGE 1
BIRD FEEDING BASICS About Audubon The National Audubon Society saves birds and their habitats throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon’s state programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. Since 1905, Audubon’s vision has been a world in which people and wildlife thrive.
PAGE 2
BIRD FEEDING BASICS Creating a hummingbirdand oriole-friendly yard CHOOSE PLANTS WITH RED, PINK, OR ORANGE FLOWERS, AND WITH A TUBULAR SHAPE Tubular flowers contain nectar at the bottom, which encourages these long-beaked birds to probe for their sweet meal. In general, flowers that rely on fragrance to attract insect pollinators are not good nectar sources, as most birds have a poor sense of smell.
PAGE 3
BIRD FEEDING BASICS Bird feeders are an excellent way to attract a bevy of birds to your property. There are a variety of feeders to accommodate specific types of birds and their diets. Birds usually feed at different heights, and having multiple feeders will not only attract a variety of species, it will also help avoid feeder congestion. When placing feeders close to windows so that you can enjoy the action, be aware that large picture windows may result in collisions.
PAGE 4
BIRD FEEDING BASICS Six bird feeders every home should have GROUND FEEDERS These simple screenbottomed trays typically sit several inches off the ground or your deck and help to keep grain or seeds and bird droppings from coming in contact with each other. Some feeders have covers to keep out snow; others have wire mesh to keep out squirrels and large birds like crows.
PAGE 5
BIRD FEEDING BASICS About Audubon The National Audubon Society saves birds and their habitats throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon’s state programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. Since 1905, Audubon’s vision has been a world in which people and wildlife thrive.
PAGE 6
BIRD FEEDING BASICS Homemade recipes to add to your bird feeders Suet (beef fat) attracts insect-eating birds such as woodpeckers, wrens, chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice. Place the suet in special feeders or net onion bags at least five feet above the ground to keep it out of the reach of dogs, squirrels, etc. Although suet is particularly helpful during cold weather and migration, when birds need extra fat reserves, “no melt” suet cakes are now available for use in warmer weather.
PAGE 7
BIRD FEEDING BASICS About Audubon The National Audubon Society saves birds and their habitats throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon’s state programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. Since 1905, Audubon’s vision has been a world in which people and wildlife thrive.
PAGE 8
BIRD FEEDING BASICS CRACKED CORN SAFFLOWER SEEDS Medium cracked corn attracts many kinds of ground-feeding birds, but it is prone to rot, since the interior of the kernel readily soaks up moisture. Feed small amounts, mixed with millet, on feeding tables or from watertight hopper feeders. Avoid fine cracked corn, since it quickly turns to mush; coarse cracked corn is too large for small-beaked birds. Cracked corn attracts quail, doves, jays, juncos, and towhees.