Many of us put out special nectar feeders each spring to try and attract hummingbirds to our yard. If you’re one of those people, you may wonder if hummingbirds are the only bird that likes to drink nectar. Are there other birds that drink nectar from hummingbird feeders?
Yes, there is actually a pretty wide variety of bird species that enjoy the sugary goodness of nectar. In this article we will find out what other types of birds you may see at your hummingbird feeders, and even what you can do to encourage other birds to drink from nectar feeders.
Birds that Drink Nectar From Hummingbird Feeders
Sugar isn’t the easiest high-energy treat to find in the wild. Hummingbirds have evolved everything from their beak shape to hovering ability to take advantage of the high-energy nectar found deep inside flowers.
But other birds enjoy sugar too. It provides quick calories and energy that help feed their high metabolism. Flowers aren’t the only natural source of sugar. Tree sap is a source enjoyed by many birds (and us on our pancakes!). Certain berries and fruits also contain natural sugars enjoyed by birds.
Because of this, it is often birds that already incorporate tree sap and fruit in their diet that are drawn to hummingbird nectar.
Here a few of the North American birds that you might catch trying to take a sip from your hummingbird feeders:
- Orioles
- Tanagers
- Chickadees
- Titmice
- Gray Catbirds
- Finches
- Woodpeckers (often downy or red-bellied)
- Verdins
- Warblers
- Escaped or naturalized parrots
Orioles
Orioles are perhaps the most commonly seen birds at hummingbird feeders (well, other than the hummingbirds!) They love fruit, and often people attract them to their yard by putting out orange halves, grapes and jelly. So it’s no surprise they would be interested in nectar as well.
In fact, you can purchase nectar feeders specifically made for orioles, like this nice one from Perky Pet. The general idea of the feeder is the same, with some slight tweaks designed for orioles larger bodies.
Oriole feeders tend to have orange on them as the attracting color, rather than the red of hummingbird feeders. An oriole feeder will also have larger feeding port holes to accommodate their larger beak size. It will usually also have larger perches, and may include a place to put fruit or jelly.
