NATIONAL HUMMINGBIRD MONTH 2005
Research Project
The Drink of the Jewels
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With the intent to understand our hummingbird's feeding needs, several members embarked on a short study of nectar ratios preferred by our backyard buddies.  Although this research was not done scientifically, a lot was learned by this study.
Hummingbirds of different regions have different tastes and preferences as to how their food is mixed.  Even with these results, the recommended and best mixture ratio is still 4 parts water to 1 part white cane sugar.
We would like to thank those members that participated in this study.  For without their time, energy and dedication, this study could not have taken place.   Therefore we wish to thank Von of Ohio, TJ of North Carolina and Lizz of Arkansas.
TJ set up her experiment using 4 small Artline flower feeders, which held about ¼ cup of juice or 2 ounces, with various colored flowers.  She found that the flower color made no difference in the amount of nectar drank in them.  Each feeder would be filled to the same level and each would have a different water to sugar ratio.  They were checked and changed every day or so.  She ran her experiment for several weeks. Her feeders were placed so that no rain could get in and she noticed very little evaporation since they were changed daily.  TJ never saw anything consuming her mixtures except hummingbirds and a few gnats, which the hummers loved as it made for some good gnat soup for them.
Von initially set out 4 feeders filled with water and various ratios of water to sugar.  Toward the end of her experimentation she noticed a change in the amount of nectar consumed and realized that finches and orioles were sharing the feeders with her hummingbirds.  At that point she stopped her experiment.
Lizz used two Artline Strawberry feeders.  Although they were of different sizes, she filled both with the same amount of nectar but in different ratios.  Each feeder was changed and measured every 3 days for two weeks. Very little rain occurred during the test period therefore rain was not a factor but evaporation could have been, Lizz noted.  An occasional wasp would inspect the feeder but the bee guards kept him from getting anything but what the hummers dripped.  The last 2 weeks of her study, she did notice an increase in black ants but after installing ant moats that problem was solved.
It has been known for sometime that Hummingbirds need water in their diet.  However most of the water for hydration comes through nectar or from droplets of dew that accumulate on leaves.  Yet often on very hot days, hummingbirds have been known to fly through misters or fly above pools of water to cool themselves.  They have also been known to visit feeders that were filled only with water, but only on a limited basis. (See research done by Von in the 2001 HLC Research Project)
TJ's Feeders
Lizz's Feeders
TJ's Water Feeder
Despite their use of water, hummingbirds appear to be less interested in a low sugar (weak) mixture of nectar. TJ found that more of the plain water, an average of 1 ounce per day, was used than the 4 parts water to 1 part sugar and the 5 parts water to 1 part sugar. Her research has been an on-going thing and was not for a limited time span.  Von found that on average in two days, half as much water was drank as her feeder with the 4 parts sugar to 1 part water. Such a substantial amount more water was consumed than her mixture of 5 parts water to 1 part sugar that she took that feeder down after just a few days.  So when hummingbirds want water, they want it without the sugar.
TJ learned that when given a choice of 2:1, 3:1, 4:1 and 5:1 nectar mixtures, her hummingbirds overwhelmingly prefer the 2:1 mixture.   She reports that the 4:1 and 5:1 are consumed at the same rate.  The 3:1 was gone in 24 hours with only a drop or 2 left in the feeder on some days. But when TJ added a feeder that was at the rate of 2:1, she remarks that the hummers went crazy for it.  An adult male that had never fought for a feeder before became vicious to protect the 2:1 solution.  This could be a need to fatten up for the fall migration as this change in the study was done in late July.  TJ says that she would watch the youngsters test each feeder and learn that they liked the 2:1 best and go straight for it.  However those hummingbirds that preferred the 2:1 mixture also visited the plain water feeder more.  It was noted that 2 adult females and 1 juvenile definitely chose the 3:1 mixture over the other mixtures.  And once the 2:1 flower feeder went out the 4:1 feeder was hardly touched at all. But if all of her feeders contain the same ratio they are consumed at the same rate.
2:1 Feeder with Water Nearby
For years Von has noticed her hummingbirds regularly visit flowers that are high in sugary nectar, which she calls "sticky" flowers.  She notices this while deadheading them.  She says that flowers that are less-sugary have far fewer or no hummers visiting them.  Her experiment reveals the same conclusion.  On average in a two day time span, 1/2 of the nectar is used in the feeder with the 4:1 composition and ¾ of the nectar has been eaten on the 3:1 mixture.  She also noticed that the female hummingbirds are more attracted to the 3:1 juice while the males tend to visit the 4:1 feeders most often while she was watching them.
4:1 Feeder
Lizz began her experiments on June 13th, just after the first nestlings had fledged in her area.  She placed her feeders in a regular feeder location but not the most favorite location so as to lure the fledglings into that feeding location and where the dominate males had not started guarding that area.  For 2 weeks she set up one feeder with a 4:1 ration and a second feeder with 3:1 mixture and changed and measured remaining nectar every 3 days.  Weather conditions were fairly constant during that time frame.  Each feeder was filled with 8 ounces of its particular ratio of sugar to water.
Of the 40 ounces placed in each feeder during that 2 weeks, 7.5 ounces (less than 20%) was consumed in the 4:1 feeder while 20 ounces (50%) was used in the 3:1 feeder.  The second 2-week period the mixture of the 3:1 was changed to 5:1.  Although the weather was a little cooler and wetter, feeder activity seemed to drop a little.  The 4:1 feeder, in the same location as it had been, had 9 ounces (22.5%) consumed in this test period, while the 5:1 had only 3 ounces (7.5%) used.  In a third 2-week period, Lizz decided to try a mixture of 2:1 to see what would happen.  Again placing a feeder of 4:1 in the same location but with considerably warmer and drier weather (temperatures around 100 degrees), her results were amazing to her.  The 4:1 nectar had 34 ounces (85%) used and the 2:1 feeder had 39 ounces (97.5%) gone.  Evaporation could have affected the higher number to some degree Lizz noted as well as a second fledging of young hummingbirds coming to the feeders.  She also saw several adult males using the 2:1 feeder and wondered if they were putting on fat for the fall migration.
As stated before these are not scientific studies, but by the data collected in these 3 experimental researches, it seems that hummingbirds do like it sweet.  However we would never recommend these ratios for use unless your hummingbirds had their regular ratios (4:1) nearby and water for them to drink along with the higher ratios.  Most hummingbirds are happy with the usual ratio of 4:1 and do not need a higher sugar intake except possibly during migration.
Satisfied Hummingbird
Eeenee Meenee Mynee Moe