Attracting Hummingbirds 

World's Best Hummingbird Feeder: * No Bees * No Ants * No Dripping*

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Hummingbird Season In Illinois

The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird can be found in Illinois starting as early as April.  Howerver, it won't be until May when most of our hummingbirds arrive.  In June, our feeder activity dips a bit as females are busy incubating eggs and raising young.  Feeder activity will pick back up in July, as babies grow and start coming to our feeders.  August and September is when feeder activity will peak.  Young and old can be seen at feeders regularly as they fuel up for Fall migration.  Visits will taper off through the end of October.*

(* Don't fall for myths, keeping a hummingbird feeder up late in the season will NOT keep hummingbirds from migrating.  Migration is triggered primarily by light and the shortened day length, not food sources.  While the activity dramatically slows in October, a few birds cann still be spotted late into the month.  Feeders can give these birds a huge boost, especailly if chilly weather makes natural food harder to find.  We recommend keeping hummingbird feeders up until Halloween.)

Habitat

Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds are found in most habitats across Illinois.  While the heaviest of populations can be found in wooded natural areas, people living in newly developed subdivisions can still attract a number of hummingbirds to their backyards.  Offering nectar feeder, adding nectar producing plants, and moving water to your backyard will help you maximize the number of hummingbirds that visit your yard.

Recommended Feeders 

We recommend using the Wild Bird Unlimited High-Perch Hummingbird Feeder to attract the most hummingbirds to your yard.  They come in a variety of sizes and models.  Shop Now!

All our High-Perch Hummingbird Feeders are designed to appeal to hummingbirds.  The feeders allow hummer to hover or perch while feeding, giving you longer views of these little beauties.  The feeders have clear bottoms, allowing you to see hummingbirds' tounges to lap up the nectar solution.  Most of the feeders come with a built-in ant moat to deter crawling bugs from reaching the nectar solution.  They are all easy to fill, clean, and hang.  The saucer-style is designed to not leak or drip.  When used with the optional Nectar Guard Tips, bees and wasps, and other flying bugs can't access the nectar solution.  Made in the USA these feeders come with a Lifetime Guarantee!

Tips and Reccommendations

  • For best viewing, place your hummingbird feeder where they are easy to see, but not too lcose to other busy feeders where the activity from larger birds may intimidate them.  
  • Hang feeders so that they are visible for birds to find them
  • Use red feeders and accessories (ant moats and weather guards) to add more red color to attract them
  • Use multiple feeders out of sight of one another to reduce quarreling and help you attract more birds
  • Add a weather guard to keep rain from diluting the nectar solution 
  • Feeder Fresh Nectar Defender makes feeder maintenance easier and extends the life of nectar to 7-10 days! 

*Don't see what you are looking for online? Call us or visit us in-person at the store for more product selection.

Be Sure To Change Your Hummingbird Nectar Every 2-3 days (and daily when temperatures are above 80 degrees)!

Changing your nectar and cleaning your feeder regularly will keep deadly bacteria from growing.  *Failure to change nectar often enough is the #1 reason people fail to keep hummingbirds coming to their feeders.