Best Hummingbird Feeders: 6 Picks Compared

The best hummingbird feeder for most backyards is one sized to the birds you actually have, easy to refill and clean on a frequent schedule, and showing red where the birds drink. Our Best Overall pick, the Perky-Pet Clear Antique Bottle feeder, is a 10 oz glass bottle with four perched feeding ports that Perky-Pet lists as red, and Perky-Pet’s own product page confirms its capacity and port count. The five other feeders below cover the situations it does not, from busy yards that drain a large feeder quickly to anyone who wants several feeders in one box.

We compared all six on the things that decide whether a feeder works for you after the first week: nectar capacity, number of feeding ports, how the feeder comes apart for cleaning, and whether it has any built-in defense against ants and bees. Every product spec in this guide comes from the Amazon listing for that exact product or, where we say so, from the maker’s own product page.

This guide covers choosing a feeder for backyard hummingbirds. It is not advice on caring for sick or injured birds; if you find one, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or your state wildlife agency.

We earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page. Commissions never affect our rankings or FeederBirdLab Scores.

Our Top Hummingbird Feeder Picks

• Best Overall: Perky-Pet Clear Antique Bottle Glass Hummingbird Feeder. A 10 oz glass bottle with four perched ports, both confirmed on Perky-Pet’s own product page.
• Best Large-Capacity Feeder: Kingsyard 25 oz Glass Hummingbird Feeder. At 25 oz, per the listing, it holds the most nectar of the six, and its six ports are the most among the feeders that list a port count.
• Best Solar-Lit Feeder: Nature’s Way Blue Spring Rain Glass Hummingbird Feeder. The only feeder in this guide with a built-in solar LED, set in a 16 oz hand-blown glass reservoir, according to the listing.
• Best Multi-Pack: First Nature 3051 16 oz Hummingbird Feeder (4-Pack). Four 16 oz plastic feeders in one pack, the most feeders per box in this guide.
• Best Small-Capacity Feeder: Perky-Pet 203CPBN Pinch-Waist Glass Hummingbird Feeder (2-Pack). At 8 oz per feeder it has the smallest reservoir here, plus a built-in ant moat and bee guards.

The sixth feeder, the Kingsyard 10 oz Glass Hummingbird Feeder, ranks second on our method and adds a built-in ant moat and a fifth port to the same 10 oz capacity as our Best Overall pick. No single spec separates it from the other moat feeders on this list, so it carries no title, but it is the one to choose if you want our top pick’s size with ant protection built in.

Hummingbird Feeders Compared

How We Chose

We started with Amazon US search results for hummingbird feeders and removed everything that was not a feeder: nectar, replacement parts, cleaning brushes, and feeder cameras all turn up in the same results. Each remaining feeder had to be sold new, carry a rating of at least 4.0 out of 5 from at least 30 owner ratings, and come from a brand on our reviewed list for this category. Listings whose manufacturer field named a different company than the brand on the label were removed, which cut several glass feeders from consideration.

We then read each listing in full: capacity, port count, materials, what comes in the box, and how the feeder comes apart. When two listings were the same feeder in a different pack size, we kept one listing, so the Perky-Pet pinch-waist feeder appears once, as its two-pack. For our Best Overall pick and the Perky-Pet two-pack, we also checked the maker’s own pages: Perky-Pet’s product page for the 8107-2 lists 10 oz of nectar and four feeding ports, and its page for the 203CPBN lists 8 oz, four ports, and built-in bee guards and an ant moat. Both match the Amazon listings.

Best Overall has to be a hummingbird feeder from a brand we have vetted, average at least 4.2 out of 5 (for the top spot we prefer at least 1,000 owner ratings), and have its specs confirmed by its maker. The Perky-Pet antique bottle meets all of that: Perky-Pet’s product page lists 10 oz of nectar and four feeding ports, matching the Amazon listing, and a 10 oz bottle is small enough to empty and refill on the frequent schedule nectar needs. The other five feeders follow our research order for this guide. The FeederBirdLab Score on each card is a separate measure and does not decide that order; see how the score is calculated. The Aspects HummZinger HighView hummingbird feeder is not ranked here because it was not among the feeders our main search for this guide returned; it turned up later in a search for perch feeders and appears, unranked, in the perch section below. Our full method is on the How We Review page.

How to Choose the Best Hummingbird Feeder

Size the reservoir to your cleaning schedule

Capacity is easy to get wrong, because a bigger feeder does not mean fewer chores. Audubon’s feeding FAQ says to empty and clean a feeder every day or every other day in hot weather, every three days in temperate weather, and twice a week when it is cool. Whatever the birds have not finished by then gets poured out. The right size is the one your hummingbirds drain between cleanings.

For a yard with one or two regular visitors, or a feeder you are hanging for the first time, the 8 oz Perky-Pet two-pack or a 10 oz feeder is a sensible start. If you watch several birds chasing each other off the ports by midsummer, the 16 oz Nature’s Way or First Nature feeders, or the 25 oz Kingsyard, start to make sense. You can always fill a large feeder partway; you cannot make a small one hold more.

One caution about the directions that come with feeders. The Perky-Pet antique bottle listing says to clean the feeder once every two weeks with mild soap and water, and Perky-Pet’s 203CPBN page says at least every two weeks. That is far less often than Audubon’s schedule, and Audubon also advises against dish soap because it can leave harmful residue. Audubon’s schedule is the one to follow; the two-week interval on the box allows far longer between cleanings. Before you buy, check how the parts come apart, since that decides how to clean a hummingbird feeder of that design.

Check how it comes apart

A feeder you clean every two or three days needs to come apart without tools and without small crevices you cannot reach. Look for a wide-mouth reservoir and a base that separates into parts. Both Kingsyard listings describe a two-part base that comes apart for cleaning and a wide-mouth bottle; the Perky-Pet two-pack and the First Nature feeders also list wide-mouth reservoirs. On the Nature’s Way feeder, one owner says the metal flowers pull out to reveal removable silicone sleeves, though the listing warns that the LED module is not water safe, so it has to come out before washing.

Owners of the Perky-Pet antique bottle disagree on this point. One calls refilling and cleaning easy; another says the bottle takes care to fill and compares it to filling a beer bottle. If you have trouble pouring into narrow openings, a wide-mouth design will suit you better.

Look for red at the ports, not in the nectar

Hummingbirds are attracted to red and other bright colors, according to Audubon, and Penn State Extension says adding red dye to the nectar is unnecessary because the birds are attracted to the red on the feeder itself. Penn State also suggests that if your feeder has no red, you can paint red nail polish near the openings. A clear glass bottle is fine as long as some part of the feeder shows red. Perky-Pet’s page for the antique bottle lists red feeding ports. The Kingsyard 10 oz listing mentions red but does not say where, so check the photos.

Decide whether you need built-in ant and bee defenses

Three feeders here list a built-in or included ant moat: both Kingsyards and the Perky-Pet two-pack. If ants have found your feeders before, start with one of those, or plan to add a separate moat above any feeder that lacks one; a moat is one of the standard ways to keep ants out of a hummingbird feeder. The Perky-Pet antique bottle, Nature’s Way, and First Nature listings mention no moat.

For bees and wasps, the Perky-Pet two-pack lists separate bee guards, and both Kingsyard listings say their ports are sized for hummingbird bills rather than bees. We could not verify those claims beyond the listings. If bees already crowd your yard by late summer, a feeder designed to resist bees is worth more than extra capacity, and cleaning up drips and spills matters as much as the feeder itself.

Glass or plastic

Five of the six feeders here use glass reservoirs. Glass lets you see the nectar level at a glance, which both Kingsyard listings point out, but it can break: one Nature’s Way owner received a set with one feeder broken, and another reported that a newer unit had thinner glass than the one it replaced. The First Nature four-pack is the only plastic option, and its listing pitches it on easy filling and cleaning rather than on materials.

One feeder or several

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo notes that hummingbirds are territorial and like to perch in nearby trees to chase intruders away from a feeding area. That is the case for a multi-pack: if a dominant bird guards one feeder, a second feeder in a separate spot gives other birds somewhere to drink, and the First Nature four-pack or the Perky-Pet two-pack makes that easy. If a new feeder sits unvisited, nearby plants, placement, and patience are the usual ways to attract hummingbirds to it.

Placement matters too. The National Zoo suggests hanging feeders in the shade and, where possible, near trees, which is the starting point for deciding where to hang a hummingbird feeder. Some people wrap feeders in foil to keep nectar cool in the sun, but none of the sources we checked for this guide recommends it; shade and frequent changes are the published advice.

Choosing a Hummingbird Feeder with a Perch

Five of our six picks list a perch: perched flower ports on both Perky-Pet feeders, a 360-degree perch on both Kingsyards, and perching rings on the Nature’s Way Blue Spring Rain. The First Nature listing does not mention one. A separate search for perch feeders turned up three more feeders outside our picks, unranked here, that show the main perch styles.

• A ring or basket around the reservoir: the Nature’s Way Hand Blown Garden Top Fill feeder is a different Nature’s Way model from our Blue Spring Rain pick, with no solar light listed. According to its Amazon listing, it sits in a hanging basket with leaf perches that let hummingbirds perch while feeding, which the listing says can increase feeding time. One owner says the birds do use the perches.
• A raised perch: the Aspects HummZinger HighView is a high perch hummingbird feeder; its listing says the perch invites hummingbirds to rest as they drink from any of four ports and leaves you an unobstructed view.
• Separate perches on a small feeder: the More Birds 3-in-1 holds 6 fl oz with three integrated perches and mounts on a window with suction cups, on a garden stake, or from a hanger, according to the Amazon listing.

Check the colors around the perch as well. The More Birds listing describes yellow flower ports, and Audubon magazine suggests avoiding feeders with yellow decor if bees keep coming. Treat the longer-feeding claim on the Nature’s Way listing as what it is, a seller description: none of the feeding advice we cite in this guide ranks feeders by perch, and a feeder without a perch still works, as the FAQ below explains.

Who Should Look Elsewhere

Skip our Best Overall pick if ants or bees are already a problem where you hang feeders, because its listing mentions neither a moat nor bee guards. Skip the 25 oz Kingsyard if you see only a few hummingbirds, since much of a full fill will go down the drain at each cleaning. Skip the Nature’s Way feeder if you want something you can rinse in one piece, and skip the First Nature four-pack if you want glass or need to know the port count before you buy, since the listing does not give it.

All six feeders are listed as hanging feeders; none is sold as a window or deck-rail mount. Timing matters as well: when to put a feeder out depends on where you live, since spring arrival dates vary by state. If what you really need is better food rather than a new feeder, read the labels on nectar mixes before you buy, or make nectar at home from sugar and water.

Hummingbird Feeder FAQ

What size hummingbird feeder should I buy?

Buy the size your birds empty between cleanings. Audubon advises cleaning every day or every other day in hot weather, so a feeder that sits half full at cleaning time is too big for summer. In this guide, capacities run from 8 oz per feeder (the Perky-Pet two-pack) to 25 oz (the larger Kingsyard), and you can fill any of them partway.

How many feeding ports does a hummingbird feeder need?

Of the feeders here, two list four ports, the Kingsyards list five and six, and two do not give a count. More ports only help if the birds will share. Because hummingbirds defend their feeding areas, as the National Zoo notes, a second feeder hung in a separate spot is another way to give other birds a place to drink.

Do hummingbirds need a perch to feed?

The sources we checked do not say a feeder needs a built-in perch. The National Wildlife Federation says hummingbirds like to hover around a feeder, so keep open space around it, and recommends trees, shrubs, and other sheltered spots nearby where they can hide and rest between feedings. Iowa State Extension lists a place to perch, alongside a feeder and the right plants, among the ways to attract them. A built-in perch is a feature some feeders offer, and their listings present it as a comfort and viewing feature. Whether you choose a hummingbird feeder with or without a perch, NWF’s placement advice on open space and nearby cover applies to both.

Will hummingbirds use a clear glass feeder?

Yes, as long as there is some red on the feeder. Penn State Extension says hummingbirds are attracted to the red coloring of the feeder, which is why dyed nectar is unnecessary. Perky-Pet’s page for the antique bottle lists red feeding ports; the Kingsyard 10 oz listing mentions red but not where it appears on the feeder.

Should I buy a multi-pack of hummingbird feeders?

Buy one if you plan to hang feeders in more than one spot, or if you want a clean spare ready to swap in while you wash the other. A multi-pack also means more feeders to clean on the same schedule, so if you can keep up with only one, buy one.

What is the best rated hummingbird feeder?

Ratings change over time, so we do not rank feeders on rating alone. Our Best Overall, the Perky-Pet Clear Antique Bottle feeder, clears every threshold on our How We Review page and our Best Overall bar, and Perky-Pet’s own page confirms its 10 oz capacity and four feeding ports. If ants reach your feeders, look at the picks with a built-in ant moat instead.

Final Thoughts

Pick the feeder you will actually clean, sized to the birds you actually have. Our picks by need:

• Best Overall: Perky-Pet Clear Antique Bottle Glass Hummingbird Feeder, for a 10 oz glass feeder with four perched ports in a yard without ant or bee trouble.
• Best Large-Capacity Feeder: Kingsyard 25 oz Glass Hummingbird Feeder, for busy yards that drain nectar quickly.
• Best Solar-Lit Feeder: Nature’s Way Blue Spring Rain Glass Hummingbird Feeder, if you want a decorative piece that glows at dusk.
• Best Multi-Pack: First Nature 3051 16 oz Hummingbird Feeder (4-Pack), for setting up several feeding spots at once.
• Best Small-Capacity Feeder: Perky-Pet 203CPBN Pinch-Waist Glass Hummingbird Feeder (2-Pack), for light traffic and small spaces.

Whichever you choose, change the nectar and clean the feeder on the schedule Audubon and the National Zoo describe, especially in summer heat. For nectar, insect control, and seasonal timing, see our Hummingbird Feeders section.

About the author