Hummingbirds are captivating creatures that bring joy to any garden with their vibrant colors and mesmerizing flight. Did you know that a hummingbird’s heart beats up to 1,260 times per minute?1
As a responsible bird enthusiast, you may want to offer these tiny visitors a variety of treats. However, not all foods are safe for hummingbirds. In fact, some seemingly harmless offerings can be dangerous or even deadly.
To ensure the health and well-being of these enchanting birds, here are 12 things you should absolutely avoid feeding hummingbirds.
1. Honey

While it may seem like a natural sweetener, honey can be harmful to hummingbirds. When diluted with water, honey can ferment quickly, promoting the growth of dangerous fungi and bacteria. These microorganisms can cause a fatal fungal infection called candidiasis, which affects the bird’s tongue and throat, making it difficult for them to eat or drink.
Furthermore, honey lacks the essential nutrients that hummingbirds need to thrive. It is far too dense in calories compared to flower nectar, which can lead to obesity and other health issues in these tiny birds.
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2. Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin, should never be used in hummingbird feeders. These substances do not provide the necessary calories and nutrients that hummingbirds require to maintain their high metabolism and energy levels. In fact, consuming artificial sweeteners can lead to malnutrition and even starvation in these tiny birds.
Moreover, some artificial sweeteners have been linked to potential health risks in humans, and their effects on hummingbirds are not well understood. It’s best to avoid using any artificial sweeteners and stick to plain white sugar when preparing nectar for your feathered friends.
3. Red Food Coloring
While red is a color that naturally attracts hummingbirds, adding red food coloring to their nectar is unnecessary and potentially harmful. Most commercial food dyes contain chemicals that can be toxic to these delicate birds. Ingesting these substances can lead to organ damage, tumors, and even death in hummingbirds.
Instead of relying on artificial coloring, opt for a feeder with red parts or tie a red ribbon around it to catch the attention of passing hummingbirds. The birds will be drawn to the color and the sweet scent of the plain sugar water, making additional coloring completely unnecessary.
4. Moldy or Spoiled Nectar
Hummingbird nectar can spoil quickly, especially in hot weather. Moldy or fermented nectar can cause serious health problems for hummingbirds, including fatal fungal infections. It’s crucial to change the nectar in your feeders every 3-5 days, or even more frequently during heat waves, to prevent the growth of harmful mold and bacteria.
If you notice any cloudy or milky-looking nectar, or if you detect an off-odor, dispose of it immediately and thoroughly clean the feeder before refilling it with fresh sugar water. Regularly cleaning and maintaining your feeders is essential to ensuring the health and safety of your hummingbird visitors.
5. Milk or Dairy Products
While it may be tempting to offer hummingbirds a saucer of milk or cream, these dairy products can be extremely harmful to their health. Hummingbirds are not equipped to digest lactose, the sugar found in milk, and consuming dairy can lead to severe digestive issues, diarrhea, and even death.
Moreover, milk and cream can quickly spoil in warm weather, attracting bacteria and other harmful microorganisms that can cause infections in hummingbirds. Stick to offering plain sugar water in your feeders, as this mimics the natural nectar found in flowers that hummingbirds have evolved to consume.
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6. Bread or Crackers
While you may want to offer hummingbirds bits of bread or crackers, these foods are not suitable for their diet. Hummingbirds have evolved to consume nectar and small insects, and their digestive systems are not equipped to handle processed grains and starches.
Feeding bread or crackers to hummingbirds can lead to malnutrition, as these foods do not provide the essential nutrients, such as protein and fat, that the birds need to maintain their high metabolism and energy levels. Stick to offering plain sugar water and let the hummingbirds forage for insects on their own to ensure a balanced, healthy diet.
7. Fruit Juices
Although fruit juices may seem like a healthy alternative to sugar water, they are not suitable for hummingbirds. Most commercial fruit juices contain added sugars, preservatives, and other chemicals that can be harmful to these tiny birds.
Additionally, the acidity in many fruit juices can upset the delicate balance of a hummingbird’s digestive system, leading to health issues.
Even pure, unsweetened fruit juices should be avoided, as they may ferment more quickly than plain sugar water, promoting the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi. Stick to offering a simple solution of white sugar dissolved in water to provide safe, nutritious nectar for your hummingbird visitors.
8. Insect Repellents
Even though it’s important to keep your hummingbird feeders free from ants and other insects, using chemical insect repellents near the feeders can be extremely harmful to the birds. Hummingbirds may inadvertently ingest these toxic substances while feeding, leading to poisoning and potentially fatal consequences.
Instead of using insect repellents, try placing your feeders away from areas where insects are prevalent, or use physical barriers like ant moats to keep unwanted pests away from the nectar.
By opting for natural, non-toxic solutions, you can ensure the safety of your hummingbird visitors while still maintaining a clean, insect-free feeding area.
9. Chocolate or Cocoa
Chocolate and cocoa products should never be offered to hummingbirds, as they contain substances that can be toxic to these tiny birds. Theobromine and caffeine, two compounds found in chocolate, can cause heart arrhythmias, seizures, and even death in hummingbirds.
Moreover, chocolate and cocoa products are high in fat and calories, which can lead to obesity and other health issues in hummingbirds. These birds have evolved to consume a diet primarily consisting of nectar and small insects, and their digestive systems are not equipped to handle the complex compounds found in chocolate.
10. Carbonated Beverages
Carbonated beverages, such as soda or sparkling water, should never be offered to hummingbirds. The carbonation in these drinks can cause bloating and discomfort in these tiny birds, leading to digestive issues and potentially fatal consequences.
Additionally, most carbonated beverages contain added sugars, artificial sweeteners, and other chemicals that can be harmful to hummingbirds. These substances do not provide the essential nutrients that the birds need to maintain their high metabolism and energy levels.
11. Peanut Butter
While peanut butter is a popular treat for many backyard birds, it is not suitable for hummingbirds. These tiny birds have long, slender bills adapted for sipping nectar from flowers and catching small insects, and they cannot easily consume thick, sticky substances like peanut butter.
Attempting to eat peanut butter can cause a hummingbird’s bill to become clogged, making it difficult for the bird to feed and potentially leading to starvation. Additionally, peanut butter is high in fat and protein, which can upset the delicate balance of a hummingbird’s digestive system.
12. Flavored Syrups or Extracts
Flavored syrups and extracts, such as vanilla or almond, should never be added to hummingbird nectar. These substances often contain artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives that can be harmful to the birds. Ingesting these chemicals can lead to digestive issues, organ damage, and potentially fatal consequences.
Moreover, the strong scents of flavored syrups and extracts may actually deter hummingbirds from feeding, as they are not naturally attracted to these artificial odors.
By avoiding these 12 items and offering only plain sugar water, you can ensure that your backyard remains a safe haven for these enchanting, tiny birds. Remember to clean your feeders regularly, keep the nectar fresh, and enjoy the mesmerizing aerial displays of your hummingbird visitors as they thrive under your responsible care.
Source:
Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.