Updated at: 06-06-2023 - By: Jane Brody

Hummingbirds are far too cautious around other bird species to ever be observed feeding in the wild or in our yards alongside other typical backyard birds.

Since hummingbirds only visit the United States and Canada during the summer, they avoid feeding in the same areas as year-round residents like sparrows and crows. Set up a hummingbird feeder in a separate area, away from where other birds congregate, to ensure their safety.

Can You Put A Hummingbird Feeder Next To A Bird Feeder

Hummingbirds are so solitary that you should never attempt to feed more than one at a time.

Of course, a hummingbird feeder with many port wells is ideal for feeding a large number of hummers at once, but a standard suet, peanut, or seed bird feeder needs to be hung at least 20 feet away.

Hummingbirds will be far more likely to utilize the hummingbird feeder if you conceal it from view of the standard bird feeder.

A hummingbird feeder can be moved around the yard to different spots in the hope that one of them would attract more hummers. Allow each new spot some time to get established before declaring it unattractive to hummers.

Hummingbird feeders, if the hummingbirds are willing to feed there, can be put on a table top or deck railing instead of being suspended from the ceiling.

You want to attract hummingbirds to your yard, but you also want to keep the sparrows and other birds at bay.

Hummingbirds are territorial, so if you want to attract them to your yard, you should put their feeders somewhere other than on the same pole as the usual bird feeders.

Hummers will NOT feed near other birds

Can You Put A Hummingbird Feeder Next To A Bird Feeder-2

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hummingbird in the same vicinity as other songbirds; I certainly haven’t seen them depicted or read any recommendations for feeding both species together.

Hummingbirds, then, probably won’t eat in areas with lots of other birds. Some such birds are the ubiquitous backyard songbirds like the titmouse, house finch, bluebird, and American robin.

As a result, hummingbirds should never be fed in the same area as other birds.

When around their own kind, hummingbirds can be fairly outgoing, but when confronted by members of other species, they become noticeably more reserved, showing little willingness to share feeding sites or even airspace.

Since most hummers travel between North America and Mexico on their annual migration, they seldom spend enough time in either country to truly call it home.

Hummingbird feeders should be placed at least a foot apart from any feeders containing suet, seed, or peanuts, but you can set these feeders as close as a few inches apart.

The increased use of these feeders increases the likelihood that species of bird other than hummers will visit the yard.

Designate feeder in own area

Hummingbird feeders shouldn’t be hung too close together, and you shouldn’t put one on the same pole as any other feeders.

Since most backyard birds probably forage high in trees in the wild, you may need to hang the ordinary bird feeders from a tree branch, while the hummingbird feeder can be hung from the solitary bird feeder pole.

If you hang your hummingbird feeder in a tree, other birds may take advantage of it more than the hummers.

Put the hummingbird feeder in a specific location, even if it involves rearranging your other feeders.

Consider purchasing a bird feeding station pole with many brackets, in addition to two bird feeder poles, one of which should be a Shepherd’s Hook if you have one.

Keep your hummingbird feeder in a secluded area, apart from other feeders, if you want the tiny birds to come to it.

Create space if yard allows it

Can You Put A Hummingbird Feeder Next To A Bird Feeder-3

If you want to attract a variety of birds to your yard, one thing you can do is make sure the much shyer hummingbirds have lots of room to fly around in.

Hummingbirds prefer to have their feeders at least 20 feet away from other types of bird feeders, such as those that provide suet or seeds.

Only worry about maintaining hummingbird feeders far away from other bird feeders; spacing between them is unimportant.

In my opinion, a distance of twenty feet is ideal, but hiding the feeder from other birds is much better.

Put up a hummingbird feeder if you have a tree, shed, or bushes large enough to conceal it. The goal is to make it so that the birds can’t see from feeder to feeder.

A hummingbird feeder must be hung in a clear place, preferably from a bird feeder pole, and there are other regulations to observe as well.

Hummingbird feeders should be placed in bright sunlight if possible, although some shade is preferred to prevent the nectar from spoiling.

Birds can intimidate Hummers

Never seen traveling or staying in flocks within the species, hummingbirds can be solitary, soaring birds.

Because of this, it’s not surprising that hummingbirds don’t get along with other species of birds.

In fact, other birds who visit our yards and can temporarily get within range with hummingbirds just terrify hummingbirds due to their size or copying noises.

As a result, hummingbirds never get too close to other garden birds for fear of being hurt by them.

And if you try to feed hummingbirds in the same area as other birds, the hummer will avoid the area entirely, regardless of whether the other birds are interested in the food or not.

If you want to attract hummingbirds to your yard and, by extension, your hummingbird feeder, you’ll need to essentially raise baby hummingbirds.

Even if other songbirds don’t mind sharing a perch with them, hummingbirds won’t dine near them.

To conclude

In the wild or at your backyard feeder, hummingbirds won’t eat near other birds, as previous research has shown.

Most states only see the hummingbirds briefly during the summer, so the local birds in your backyard are probably used to sharing their space with their seasonal visitors.

Since hummingbirds often only spend a few weeks at a time in a given location, they never get to know the other backyard birds and thus are very wary of them.

So long as you want the hummingbird feeder to be used, you’ll need to provide it a certain spot in the yard.

Hummingbirds will not visit bird feeders that just offer suet, peanuts, or seeds, although other types of songbirds are fine with sharing.

If you only have room for one or two hummingbird feeders on the bird feeder pole, by all means use that space for them; if you have a tree in your yard, hang the other songbird feeders from its branches.

You can use the pole that came with your bird feeders or purchase a second one specifically for hummingbird feeders, but under no circumstances can a tree prevent you from using the one that came with your feeders. For hummingbirds only, of course, and only if you put it in a remote enough location.

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