Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Homes & Gardens
Homes & Gardens
Holly Crossley

Where to place a hummingbird feeder in your backyard – 5 essential tips

hummingbird on red feeder

Putting out hummingbird feeders is a great way to give these wondrous creatures a helping hand, while feeling closer to nature and bringing more color and life to your outdoor space. 

To ensure your feeder is as inviting as possible, positioning is important. Whether you're offering homemade hummingbird food or shop-bought nectar, such as Kaytee's hummingbird food from Amazon, these are the key things to bear in mind.

Welcome these small creatures to your plot (Image credit: jhorrocks / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images)

5 quick tips to remember when positioning your hummingbird feeder

Attract hummingbirds to your yard with these easy tips.

1. Place it within arm's reach for easy maintenance

'To keep hummers healthier, or at least avoid contributing to poor health, the feeder and nectar must be fresh and mold-free,' says Tammy Poppie, an expert from OnTheFeeder.com.

'Nectar needs to be refreshed every few days (more often in extreme heat),' Tammy continues. And the hummingbird feeders themselves need to be cleaned frequently. 'Even if you don't visually see mold, it is often still present.'

So, to enable you to maintain the feeder and nectar regularly, the ideal spot should be easy for you to reach.

2. Hang it somewhere shaded

Direct sunlight will encourage faster fermentation of your hummingbird food and the growth of mold. So, Tammy recommends placing your feeder somewhere that is shaded for half of the day or more to slow down the effects.

This will keep the nectar fresher for longer, and will attract more hummingbirds overall, she says. Try beneath an awning on the edge of a porch or under the canopy of a garden tree.

Keep hummingbird food fresher for longer by placing feeders out of the sun (Image credit: Rebecca Harding / Moment / Getty Images)

3. Provide nearby cover

Placing your feeders within 10-15ft of shrubs and trees will mean the birds have a safe place to shelter should any predators come along. It also gives them a shaded space to perch and rest their wings. 

Just ensure there's enough space directly around the feeder for them to maneuver.

A tree can provide shelter (Image credit: Dennis Welker / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images)

4. Keep it away from other bird feeders

Allow these small creatures their own area of your backyard so that they can feast in peace, safely away from the threat of seed-feeding wild birds.

If you have the space, it's also a good idea to hang more than one hummingbird feeder relatively closely together. This will lessen the risk of the birds acting territorially and aggressively toward one another.

5. Make sure you can enjoy the view

Part of the joy of feeding these feathered friends is watching them flit to and fro. So, when you put out your hummingbird feeder, you'll want to hang it somewhere you can see it – either from your patio or perhaps your kitchen window.

As is the case when placing any bird feeder, avoid placing it too close to a window, though, as this can encourage injuries.

Hummingbirds are a joy to watch (Image credit: robert brown / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images)

Bear these simple tips in mind and your feeder will be more inviting for birds and easier to maintain for you – not to mention more enjoyable to watch. And if you want to boost the numbers of these adorable creatures in your yard even further, why not consider growing plants that attract hummingbirds in nearby containers and flower beds, too?

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.