Hummingbirds are some of the most charming birds native to the US and you can attract them to your yard by making it a resourceful and peaceful space for them. Our latest obsession, a hummingbird nook, incorporates all of the elements these birds look for in a yard, providing a retreat for them to rest and rejuvenate in.
A hummingbird nook is a corner of your yard with all the essential resources these birds need: food, shelter, and nesting materials. To effectively attract hummingbirds to your yard, you also need to make careful choices around where to position your hummingbird nook, so there is limited disruption that could scare them away.
Fall is actually a great time to make a hummingbird nook, as the hummingbird migration begins. This is when hummingbirds head south, so it's a common time to spot these colorful winged creatures in your yard as they head on their journey. With a carefully curated hummingbird nook in your garden, they might just make a pitstop – here are five key elements to include.
5 steps to make a hummingbird nook in your yard
By keeping your hummingbird nook fully stocked throughout the year, you might be lucky enough to spot a hummingbird nest during late spring and summer. In fall and winter, you can expect hummingbirds stopping by for nectar and using shelter for a rest stop.
Having said that, those living along the Pacific coast of the US may still see the species Anna's hummingbird, among others, which have adapted to stay further north during the colder months. The resources a hummingbird nook provide are especially important for them during this time.
1. Choose a quiet location
Before getting together the different elements of your hummingbird nook, you need to get the location right.
The right mix includes somewhere that gets sunlight for a few hours in the day but also offers some shade, somewhere protected from strong winds, and most importantly, somewhere quiet.
You're unlikely to get lots of hummingbird visitors if your hummingbird nook is in a busy spot of your yard where there's a lot of footfall and human activity.
The best trees for privacy can be a great foundation for your hummingbird nook for this reason. It can provide a natural windbreaker and some foliage for shade during the warmest days.
2. Add hummingbird perches
Hummingbirds often perch to rest and look out for potential predators. A hummingbird nook with plenty of resting points is therefore very attractive to them.
Planting trees that attract hummingbirds with thinner branches and stems for them to perch on is a good idea, for example a tulip tree (like this tulip tree from Nature Hills) has plenty of perching spots, as well as nectar-rich blooms they like to feed from in spring and summer.
You can also add purpose-built hummingbird perches, like these charming hummingbird perches from Amazon, which can be hung from tree branches in your hummingbird nook.
3. Plant plenty of hummingbird-friendly blooms
If you want to make a hummingbird nook that gets lots of visitors, there's one essential to include: plants for hummingbirds.
The best plants for hummingbirds are nectar-rich and trumpet shaped. Choose from the best climbers to attract hummingbirds, best perennials to attract hummingbirds, and the best shade plants to attract hummingbirds.
Top picks include coral honeysuckle (live plants from Amazon), hummingbird trumpets (live plants from Amazon), and mandevilla (live plants from Amazon).
Adding these plants to your hummingbird nook provides plenty of food sources for them. Just remember to make planting choices based on your US hardiness zone to ensure they grow well and provide a continuous resource to hummingbirds in your yard.
4. Hang a hummingbird feeder
As well as planting hummingbird-friendly plants, you can provide extra food sources by hanging a hummingbird feeder in your nook.
These are specially designed bird feeders that dispense nectar for hummingbirds, with narrow holes for them to feed through.
Hummingbird feeders are widely available on Amazon, but there are a few things to be aware of to ensure you don't make common hummingbird feeder mistakes.
This includes using the wrong type of sugar in your feeder. Stick to commercially available hummingbird nectar products (like this one from Amazon) as a safe choice.
You can also stop other birds from using a hummingbird feeder (which may scare away hummingbirds) by providing alternative bird food in a spot far from your hummingbird nook.
5. Provide nesting materials
The final element to your hummingbird nook is nesting materials. Hummingbirds will typically nest through spring and summer, but it does vary depending on species and location.
When they build their nests, they make it from plant fibers, moss, lichen, and spider silk. Having these materials readily available in a hummingbird nook will make it a more appealing place for them.
Place undyed cotton, wool, and pet hair in a suet cage (from Amazon) or mesh vegetable bags (like these from Walmart) and hang them in the trees in your hummingbird nook for the birds to retrieve from.
You can also purchase ready-made nesting material cages (like this from Amazon) to hang up and refill as needed.
Allowing fluffy seeds to develop, such as on dandelions and thistles, can also provide a valuable nesting material for hummingbirds.
FAQs
Are hummingbirds attracted to red?
Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red, which is why hummingbird feeders are often red. If you have created a hummingbird nook in your yard, it can be a nice addition to add red accents, such as ribbon tied on tree branches, to enhance attraction.
Of course, there are lots of other elements you could add to a hummingbird nook. For example, hummingbirds prefer moving water and mist over deep bird baths. A bird bath fountain pump (like this one from Amazon) offers a spray for them to fly through.
Something to avoid is hummingbird houses, which are commercially available bird houses for hummingbirds. These are not suitable for the type of nest hummingbirds create, which typically sits on a tree branch rather than in a cavity. Having one in your hummingbird nook will likely attract cavity nesting birds, potentially scaring away hummingbirds.
Shop hummingbird nook accessories
These beautiful hummingbird perches can be hung from tree branches, offering a narrow perch for the birds to sit on.
This hummingbird feeder is perfect for providing hummingbirds with nectar. It has perches for the birds to sit on while feeding.
Hang these hummingbird nesting material cages from trees for hummingbirds to build their nests from. It contains natural materials and fibers like cotton, and it can be refilled when empty.
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