Hummingbird Babies

To support a mother hummingbird feeding her chicks, it’s crucial to mimic the natural foods she needs for both her energy and to nourish her young. Here’s what’s best:

✅ Best Food: Homemade Nectar (for energy)

Recipe: 1 part white granulated sugar to 4 parts boiled water (e.g., 1 cup sugar + 4 cups water) Important: Let it cool completely. Do not use honey, red dye, or artificial sweeteners.

Purpose: Gives the mother the energy she needs to forage for insects and keep warm.

✅ What Her Chicks Really Eat

While nectar powers the mother, she feeds her babies mostly insects and spider eggs, not nectar.

Key protein sources she hunts: Tiny insects (gnats, aphids, fruit flies) Small spiders or their eggs Tree sap (in the wild, from woodpecker holes)

✅How You Can Help (Safely)

Do: Offer fresh nectar in a clean feeder. Plant insect-attracting native flowers and let parts of your yard go wild to support insect populations. Avoid insecticides or pesticides near feeding/nesting areas. Don’t: Try to feed the babies yourself — they require precise regurgitated food and warmth from the mother.