Hummingbird Nectar Recipe

Hummingbird nectar is a 4:1 ratio*; 4 parts water to 1 part white table sugar (sucrose).

Add one cup of white table sugar (sucrose) to 4 cups of water. Mix to dissolve sugar. Use right away or refrigerate until you're ready to fill your hummingbird feeders. This concentration has proven safe and attractive to hummingbirds and also mimics the natural concentration of the average natural nectar sources on which hummingbirds feed.

Don’t change the water to sugar ratio, add red dye, or use sugar alternatives as doing so may be harmful to hummingbirds. 

*Nectar ratio is the same for Orioles. For butterflies, the ratio is 18:1.