Perch Supply
Diet

What do rufous hummingbirds eat?

Nectar and insects.

Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)Rufous HummingbirdSelasphorus rufus

Spring and summer diet

  • Nectar and gnats

Fall and winter diet

  • Winters in Mexico; some along the Gulf Coast

Best feeder foods

  • Sugar water 1:4

The most aggressive hummingbird — one male may guard all feeders; hang several out of sight of each other.

Which feeder works best for rufous hummingbirds →

Where rufous hummingbirds need winter food

Regions where rufous hummingbirds are present in the cold months:

AlabamaFloridaGeorgiaLouisianaMississippiSouth Carolina

Frequently asked

What do rufous hummingbirds eat?

Nectar and insects.

What is the best food to feed rufous hummingbirds?

Sugar water 1:4.

What do rufous hummingbirds eat in winter?

Winters in Mexico; some along the Gulf Coast.

Sources

  1. Rufous Hummingbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Rufous Hummingbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Rufous Hummingbird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.