So, you have some regularly visiting hummingbirds in your backyard or are trying to attract one. Of course, a big part of it would be providing them with the sweet nectar and an easy way for them to consume said nectar. Now, your first plan might be to DIY hummingbird feeder. There are many Types Of Hummingbird Feeders.
However, to do that, not only do you need to learn how to make a hummingbird feeder but you will also have to understand the Types Of Hummingbird Feeders there are. In general, there are two prime feeder styles. These are saucer and inverted feeders.
And today is as good a day as any to learn about them.
1 . Inverted Feeder
Among the bird feeders for hummingbirds, the inverted feeder is the one with a reservoir at the very center. This reservoir hangs over the feeding ports and so, the nectar is released from above. This way, the ports are always full or at least at a good level of full.
In case of Inverted Types Of Hummingbird Feeders, checking on the nectar level is easier due to the position of the reservoir. They also tend to have more space for nectars in them compared to saucer inverters. However, these wonderful pros come with the fact that this type of feeder is likely to leak more easily. And if the nectar gets out, it doesn’t take long to attract insects to it. Cleaning it is also that easy because of the same reason. The position of the reservoir also makes it hard to fill without leaking some nectar while you are trying to transfer the liquid.
2. Saucer Feeder
In case of a Saucer Feeder, what you get is actually a dish where the nectar is filled, though it is quite narrow in shape. The ports are over the reservoir in this case. Which means, hummingbirds can actually drink straight from the nectar. Their bill and tongue laps up the sweet treat easily.
What makes the saucer feeder a good contender for best hummingbird feeder is that the position of the reservoir and feeding ports in this case makes it easy for one to clean up the feeder easily. It is also way easier to fill up the feeder with nectar. The assembling part of the job also takes less time.
The shape also allows you to mount over railings with ease. However, for hummingbirds, the small feeder might be something that they fail to pay attention to as it’s not immediately obvious it is filled with nectar. There is also the fact that the saucer is capable of holding less nectar than inverted feeder. This means you will have to fill it up more regularly than saucer feeder, which in turn means you will have to clean it more regularly.
Final Thoughts
Well, now you are well acquainted with the types of bird feeders for hummingbirds. These are the two most basic models though if you look at the market, you might find really fancy ones. There are some that mix the quality of inverted and saucer feeder to form a completely different and more efficient feeder. However, those are harder to make at home and so, you should probably stick with the basic hummingbird feeders if you are going to assemble them yourself.
When choosing material for the feeders, also remember to choose as many red parts as possible. Hummingbirds are infamously attracted to the color red and whether it is flowers or feeders, if they see the red color, they are likely to take another look before they figure out something meant specifically for them to feed from.
