Updated at: 18-06-2023 - By: Jane Brody

Hummingbird safety should always be the top priority when hanging a feeder, and while nectar will go bad if exposed to direct sunlight, it is easy to replenish.

Hummingbird feeders should be hung in a visible, central area where hummers can perch or hover, giving you a front-row seat to their antics. Shade is preferable to direct sunlight, so a backyard fence or hedge is a good idea, and so are flowers that attract beneficial insects.

Where To Hang Hummingbird Feeders

Hummingbirds will visit your feeder if it is in a secure location, but if it isn’t, they may choose to go elsewhere.

In an effort to keep the hummingbird feeder primarily in the shade throughout the day, I recommend hanging it in a central location on the grass, with the option to relocate it to the backyard boundary fence or wall.

I’ve mentioned a few different ways that most people can place hummingbird feeders, such in a central location, at a boundary, or under a porch or roof overhang.

The hummingbird feeder should be permanently attached to a pole with a bracket or a solid screw with a hook at the end, and should be hung from the ceiling of your porch.

Hummingbird feeders attract ants and bees and bears, so if you don’t want them in your yard, you’ll need to place it higher than usual or bring it inside until the insect problem goes away.

A simple ant moat will keep ants away, while bee guards will keep the bees at bay.

A hummingbird feeder needs to be within easy reach so that you can clean it regularly and replace old nectar at least twice a week.

You will need complete access to the hummingbird feeders wherever they may be hanging in the yard in August–mid-September, and again in March.

The placement of a hummingbird feeder can be altered in the future to provide more protection from the sun if the birds’ well-being becomes a concern; for now, though, it’s more important to keep them safe.

Centralize Hummingbird Feeder on pole

Where To Hang Hummingbird Feeders-2

Hummingbird flying toward a hummingbird feeder mounted on a bracket above ground in a spacious, open backyard.

Hummingbird feeders are best hung from the arm of a bracket on a bird feeding station pole or Shepherd’s hook, as shown.

The metal pole won’t give way and crush you or the hummers as they feed, which is a major advantage. Just the pole for the hummingbird feeder will remain after you’ve dug it deep enough.

Hummingbird feeders should be hung at least four feet off the ground to protect the birds and their food from predators and other dangers in the backyard.

The poles for bird feeders can be driven into the ground wherever you like, but placing them in a central place will make it easier for hummingbirds to feed.

Similarly, if you’re being completely self-centered, this central location must provide you with unimpeded views of passing hummers all day long.

This is the finest way, in my opinion, to hang a hummingbird feeder since it allows for complete access around the pole, making it simple to clean, replace nectar, or make any other adjustments that may be required.

In addition to the obvious advantages of a centralized bird feeder pole location, you may rest assured that the hummingbird feeder will not be placed too low, at a minimum of 4 feet.

Many homeowners don’t have room in their yard for a hummingbird nectar station, so placing feeders on either side of the yard is often the next best thing.

Boundary location in open

Hovering while feeding is the only option for this hummingbird because there are no perches near where the feeder is hung.

Hummingbird feeders don’t need to be hung in the exact middle of the yard; rather, they’re most effective when hung near the yard’s edge.

The same holds true for a site that is not dead in the middle of the yard.

Put the hummingbird feeder as far back into your yard as possible, or place it next to the neighbor’s fence or wall to denote the yard’s boundary.

Hummingbirds prefer a peaceful feeding spot, thus the barrier around it shouldn’t hinder the birds’ freedom of movement.

Placement of the bird feeder pole is crucial, as is hanging the hummingbird feeder. A good hover place requires at least a foot or two of clearance from the next fence or wall.

Hummingbirds will be able to approach your feeder from all directions while perching on the neighboring fence and planning their approach.

A hummingbird feeder can be hung without much bother from a bracket attached to this fence or its post, rather than from a pole.

Hummingbird feeders should be hung in shady areas along the yard’s edge, such as beneath overhanging flowers, plant pots, or even the neighbor’s tree.

As the nectar in a hummingbird feeder quickly spoils when exposed to the sun for an extended period of time, it is best to place the feeder in a region where it will be partially shaded.

Under cover protection

Where To Hang Hummingbird Feeders-2

The hummingbird feeder is strategically placed under the overhang of the porch roof, out of direct sunlight yet with enough of cover from the elements.

Instead of relying on the tried-and-true method of mounting a hummingbird feeder to a sturdy bird feeder pole, consider some of the other common places where such feeders are hung.

You can keep your hummingbird feeder safe from rain, snow, and extreme heat by placing it beneath your porch or the overhang of your roof.

Hummingbird feeders can benefit from an overhanging roof by shielding the food from precipitation and snow if the wind is blowing in the right direction. Even though this is technically a boundary position, you should still move the feeder’s placement a couple of feet further out while maintaining the standard height of 4-6 feet.

Hanging a hummingbird feeder beneath the porch is one option, but there may be other places where shade is more important.

A hummingbird was spotted coming close to a feeder that was hung deep under shelter of a roofed porch, suggesting that the tiny birds may be lured indoors.

To avoid discouraging hummingbirds, the feeder shouldn’t be hung too close to the house.

Because of the high concentration of sugar in the water that can seep from hummingbird feeders, the deck can be ruined.

What I mean is to put the feeder on the outer edge of the porch, so that you can still use the porch, but the hummers have a quick exit into the open yard.

The flower pot basket hook or bracket, or the lack of a screw in a hook point in the porch ceiling, is what you should use to hang hummingbird feeders.

Near insect attracting shrubs

Although having hummingbirds visit your yard without any effort on your part is a dream come true, the actual challenge lies in luring hummers to a yard where they are not already present.

A hummingbird feeder isn’t going to magically bring them to your location, so I won’t hold my breath waiting for them to show up. If you want hummingbirds to visit your feeder, it’s important that they be in the area.

Since hummers are insectivorous, it makes sense to place your feeder in an area with plentiful flying insects. If you want your flowers or plants to thrive, you need to put them in a sunny place.

It is not necessary to provide additional shade in order to hang hummingbird feeders.

Do not move the hummingbird feeder from its central or boundary place; instead, put flowers around the pole’s base.

As bees are among the many insects that can be drawn to nectar blossoms, it’s possible that you’ll need to eliminate bees from your hummingbird feeder by maintaining a spotless environment for the birds to feast.

Hummingbirds can be attracted to feeders by placing them in shady areas near flowering plants that feed on insects.

In addition to luring hummingbirds to your garden with the help of these blooms, you may also succeed in convincing them to stop by your feeder for a snack.

Hummingbirds are attracted to insect-attracting blooms, so don’t discount the effort required to cultivate such a garden just because you plan to install a feeder nearby.

The best places to hang a hummingbird feeder are either underneath or on top of hanging flowers, whether you’re placing the feeder beneath a porch or against the side of a home.

Hang the bird feeder bracket over the grass, with flowers right below it and near to the deck’s perimeter, if you just have an uncovered deck.

Space out in yard to get noticed

Putting up an extra feeder or two for hummingbirds can be all that’s needed if you’re not seeing much action at your current location.

Even if you have the best hummingbird feeder on the market, additional feeders may be required during peak feeding times or if a dominant hummer drives away its peers.

Hummers are not certain to spot a red in color speciality hummingbird feeder packed with their favorite nectar.

To guarantee that at least one hummer notices it, you would attach other feeders throughout the yard.

Because of their extreme timidity, hummingbirds should never be kept in close proximity to other bird feeders.

The bright red color of this single, exposed feeder will attract the attention of passing hummingbirds; if they don’t, you can always hang up other feeders throughout the yard.

The nectar feeder for hummingbirds should be placed 10–20 feet away from any feeders containing peanuts, seed mixtures, or suet.

Make sure the hummingbird feeder won’t be visible from other feeders by placing it around a corner or on the opposite side of a tree or other backyard feature.

Hummingbird feeders should be placed in an open area with some shade and lots of sunlight. Hummingbirds are less likely to visit a feeder hung from a tree, but one can try placing it on a branch where the birds will have a good view.

If you don’t have anywhere suitable to hang a feeder, you can train hummingbirds to eat directly from your hand or entice them to a feeder placed on a tabletop.

Favor more shade

The nectar in a hummingbird feeder will soon go bad if exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods, therefore keeping the feeder in the shade for the majority of the day is essential.

Serving nectar to hummingbirds requires that it be at room temperature, which is difficult to maintain in hot or cold weather. Nonetheless, you should do everything you can to keep the nectar from going bad before it is given to the birds.

Therefore, a hummingbird feeder might need to be hung in the shade during the hottest parts of the day, which are often late morning to early afternoon.

Hummingbird feeders should be placed next to the backyard fence for shade or under a tree for protection from the sun.

Hummingbirds need to be in the sun at all times, but they can be provided partial shade by a house or other building in the yard during the middle of the day.

Finding the spot in the yard where the shade stays for the longest is the first step in making that spot the permanent home of the hummingbird feeder.

Hummingbird nectar can be kept cool by hanging the feeder near tree cover, so use your home or garden structures to create shade.

You can hang a hummingbird feeder in full sun if the weather is mild, but in really hot and humid weather, you should give shade more consideration.

There’s no way to beat the humidity, but a spot in the shade that stays cool for a while can ensure that the nectar lasts.

However, nectar spoilage can be avoided by replacing it daily.

In the meantime, make sure to clean the hummingbird feeder frequently to avoid the growth of bacteria around it.

If hummingbird feeders aren’t cleaned frequently, or at all, mold will grow in them.

Cleaning the feeder with a vinegar solution will kill any mold or germs that may be hiding in inconspicuous crevices. Of course, shade isn’t a substitute for a consistent cleaning regimen in the prevention of mold and bacteria growth.

To sum it up

Hummingbirds’ well-being and safety should be your top priorities whenever you hang a feeder for them.

Hummingbird feeders should be hung in a central part of the yard where there is plenty of space for hummers to perch or hover, and where you can easily observe their antics.

Hummingbird feeders should be hung from a bird feeder pole, ideally in the yard’s center but acceptable elsewhere.

If you don’t have a good spot in the middle of your yard, you can always just stick the pole of the bird feeder into the ground about a foot or two from the edge of your yard.

You can prop the feeder up against the neighbor’s fence or wall with some overhanging vegetation, or you can move it to the boundary farthest from the home if you prefer.

However, nectar can degrade fast when exposed to direct sunlight, which is when hummingbirds prefer to dine at feeders. If you must compromise, put the feeder where it will receive partial shade rather than full light.

Where there is some protection from the sun, the nectar won’t degrade as quickly.

The prepared sugary water needs to be kept at a temperature just above freezing, and a clouded container indicates it’s time to replace the nectar.

In fact, the nectar can be changed less frequently before it expires than the location of the feeder, so it’s important to keep the hummingbirds’ safety in mind.

Hang the feeder throughout the day on the side of the house or another structure in your yard that gets the most shade.

Hummingbird feeders can be hidden on the side of a tree or hung from a pole bracket in a shady area near the yard’s perimeter.

In this way, hummingbirds that need to perch can do so wherever they like, and those that prefer to hover as they eat won’t be hindered.

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