Can you put plain water in a Hummingbird feeder

What I have come to realize when offering birds water in a feeder that promises nectar, is hummers end up going without because its the sugary water they crave in the moment.

To put plain water in a hummingbird feeder will waste every opportunity to feed hummingbirds what they've come for, which is homemade nectar. Plain water is sure to be ignored by hummers and other birds who drink it. Reserve fresh water for the bird bath while using a hummingbird feeder exclusively for nectar.

I promise there's no concern when putting plain water in a feeder as the hummingbird feeder continues to be safe to use, while you carry out this experiment.

What I will say is hummingbirds frequent our hummingbird feeders with the promise of feeding on homemade nectar, to which they will go without in the moment as you believed they will drink plain water.

Never waste an opportunity to feed hummingbirds while playing about with what goes in the feeder - its homemade nectar only and nothing else.

Its similar to believing you can put sweet honey in a hummingbird feeder, and unlike plain water - experiments like this go too far with honey being dangerous to birds.

Your favorite hummingbird feeder needn't be wasted when a simple part 1/4 sugar to water ratio is simply the best thing to put in a hummingbird feeder, for now and forever.

So what you will find out is plain water can be put in a hummingbird feeder to no avail, as the feeder will be unused even if birds are seen to perch as they investigate.

On the plus side if plain water did see success at least it would resolve the bee and ant issue of them swarming your sugar-water filled hummingbird feeder.

Hummers won't drink water

Much like any common backyard bird hummingbirds need to drink too, although for them to hydrate it wouldn't be out of a hummingbird feeder.

It can be quite difficult to attract birds to a bird bath, let alone a hummer; who are less interested in visiting one - with that in mind water in a hummingbird feeder is unlikely to be touched at all.

You can put plain water in a hummingbird feeder with hummingbirds and most birds who land to investigate, will simply ignoring it.

To use plain water for wild birds - yet rarely a hummingbird seen to - would be to top up a bird bath or a dish big enough for birds to perch around to drink or actually go into the water to preen their feathers.

Hummers can be seen to come to a hummingbird feeder where you may have it hanging up, although it can lead to hummers resting until they fly off in search of nectar again.

Nectar found will likely be in a near neighbors backyard or else hummingbirds would prefer to find wild flower nectar, as found in nature.

What you must fill up a hummingbird feeder with is homemade nectar only, consisting of 1 part sugar to a 4 part water ratio.

Plain water to be ignored

Hummingbirds come to your feeder with a promise of it being full of homemade nectar, as its the sweet sugary water they want to feed on.

Feeders filled up with water would be unusual for hummingbirds to come across, thus are likely to ignore plain water as its the nectar they wish to feed on at the time.

Hummingbirds will go to a water source in nature and occasionally can be seen to use a bird bath if its clear of other birds. With that in mind a hummingbird won't make do with plain water when nectar is what they must sip on at the time.

I'll admit it to offer plain tap water to hummingbirds can see less fuss, less mess; yet its never that easy as hummingbirds still crave the sweet, sticky and often messy nectar often found in feeders which they can come to depend on.

As its happens if you can offer water to hummingbirds inside a hanging hummingbird feeder this way, then you'd avoid ants climbing over your feeder along with busy bumblebees who often disrupt feeding hummingbirds.

While ignored for 99.9% of the time, water in a hummingbird feeder can be sipped at just the once or twice from every one hundred or so hummingbirds who visit the feeder.

Other bird species may hydrate

While hummingbirds remain your top eater at the hummingbird feeder, of course the next likely visitor will be Orioles.

All of whom are birds who sip nectar in the wild so can be attracted to hummingbird feeder food - providing its kept fresh while remaining isolated from other common backyard birds and there corresponding bird feeder.

And its these birds, including Orioles and Hummingbirds of course - who can also drink plain water but rarely do, especially if tap water is found in a hummingbird feeder.

OK so the likelihood of wild birds drinking water out of a hummingbird feeder increases as more birds frequent these feeders; yet this only goes from 99.9% to 99% - so don't kid yourself as it can be very difficult to see birds drink water when they came for nectar.

Reserve the hummingbird feeder for homemade nectar only while offering plain water if it can be suspended in a water dispenser; specifically designed like a bird feeder only it filters out water.

Hummingbirds feeders work to filter nectar through the port wells, which is where birds expect nectar to be available.

Water in bird bath only

Of course there still remains the mystery of hummingbirds and their interest, or lack of should I say... concerning bird baths in your yard.

So you know, of course hummingbirds must drink plain fresh water to survive, as the nectar acts as an energy boost for what the tiny backyard birds must drink daily.

Hummingbirds are much like any other common backyard bird who enters the water to preen their feathers to keep them ship-shape - while they are seen to drink water while their there - regardless how rare it can be as birds visit your bird bath.

Hummingbirds can and do use a bird bath although its far less than other birds, but hummingbirds certainly can make the most of it even when you don't witness it yourself.

And you know what, when hummingbirds do drink water out of a bird bath, its because in the moment, they must hydrate.

Similarly, to come to a hummingbird feeder to feed on the nectar is what they needed at the time.

And there you have it, you must only put plain water in a bird bath for hummers, as they expect it when its needed - whereas nectar in a hummingbird feeder can be made accessible at all times as its what hummers come to a feeder for, not plain tap water.

To summarize

You can put plain water in a hummingbird feeder with no harm in doing so, similarly there can be no damage done to the feeder if plain water is used.

What I must tell you though is to put plain tap water in a hummingbird feeder will be without success - as hummingbirds come to their feeder expecting homemade nectar to be available.

If hummers wanted to drink water they would of done so elsewhere, including visiting a bird bath in the moment its needed.

Plain water in a hummingbird feeder will simply be ignored as hummers and other birds who drink nectar - simply want to drink the sugary water at the time of arrival.

Birds such as hummingbirds must drink to stay healthy and therefore will do without any issues; in the meantime you could be preventing them getting their intake of energy food by swapping out nectar for dull plain water.

Hummingbirds can be seen to visit a feeder still to investigate the contents, only they will find water which they will ignore by flying off, or taking a rest before they do.

You can put plain water in a hummingbird feeder although its unlikely to see any use, either by hummers or other common backyard birds.

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