Training a Hummingbird To Be Hand Fed

Training a hummingbird to feed from your hand is a rewarding experience and requires consistency, patience, and respect.

In this article I will explain how to train a hummingbird to feed from your hand with tips and also things to avoid when attempting this enjoyable experience.

How do you train a hummingbird to be hand fed?

• Establish an attractive feeding site
• Purchase full-sized and hand held feeders
• Create a routine
• Build trust
• Introduce your hand 
• Transition to hand feeding
• Spend 20 minutes a day using your handheld feeder

A popular pastime activity is training a hummingbird to feed from your hand. Hummingbirds are fascinating when seen up close and in person. I have watched many videos online and am fascinated and amazed at how hummingbirds are fearless when it comes to finding food.

I decided to learn the most successful ways to get a hummingbird to drink out of my hand and participate in this very rewarding experience.

All you need to get started are hummingbird feeders, some patience and a few minutes regularly every day devoted to your training session.
Below are some guidelines to follow.

Establish An Attractive Feeding Site

Set up a reliable food source area and introduce plenty of full-sized red hummingbird feeders to your backyard.

Make homemade hummingbird nectar and fill your feeders using 1 part white granulated sugar to 4 parts water.
When mixed correctly it best resembles the natural nectar found in flowers. 

Read my article:
Forget Commercial Hummingbird Food Try Making Homemade Nectar

Place the feeders in a quiet, shaded location where you can observe them without disturbing the birds.

Keep the feeder consistently clean and full to build trust and establish your yard as a reliable feeding spot.

Attract hummingbirds to your backyard feeding site by planting and adding a multitude of orange to red long tubular flowering plants.
This flower shape is known to hold the most nectar. 

Popular plants that attract hummingbirds are any type of Salvia, particularly the “Hot Lips”, and the Cigar Plant. Both plants are drought tolerant and bloom most of the year.

Create a forest of multi-leveled plants for an outdoor gymnasium to catch the curiosity of a hummingbird.
The provided combination of feeders and flowers to your training area will supply quick energy for your hummingbirds. 

Adding a water feature to your yard will significantly enhance your hummingbird training area and  increase their visits. The sound of running water, such as a stream or fountain, creates a calming ambiance that attracts hummingbirds.
The glistening water droplets catch their attention. They love to bathe in the spray from fountains, water features, or even a garden hose. 

Read my article:
Increase Backyard Hummingbird Activity in 7 Days or Less

Last but not least remember to make your backyard friendly and remove home pets along with other potential wild outdoor predators from your training area. Pets have a natural instinct to hunt and to protect their territory. 

Some other predators to watch out for include owls, hawks and even praying mantises. Discourage their presence as much as possible.

Read my article:
10 Common Things That Kill Hummingbirds

Purchase Full-Sized And Handheld Feeders

Entice hummingbirds to visit and place many full-sized hummingbird feeders all throughout your feeding site area in your yard.

Shop for long cylinder plastic or glass 16 oz hummingbird feeders with red ports and a red base.
Also, find lightweight and easy to hold handheld hummingbird feeder kits that come with a hand brush or a Hummingbird Ring feeder set as these are the most popular.

Make your homemade nectar (1:4) sugar to water ratio and allow the temperature to cool completely before filling your feeder in order not to burn the tongues of the hummingbirds.

Divide the sugar water evenly among your feeders leaving a small portion to fill your handheld feeders.

Hummingbirds see the color red more than they see the color yellow. They are inquisitive animals and their curiosity will give them the desire to scout out new red objects.
Using a hummingbird feeder base that is all red, including the flowers, will result in catching a hummingbird’s attention.

However, there are times when the shape of the flower even though yellow can still entice a hummingbird to feed as it is the red base that first caught their attention.

Most commercial feeders have a red base with yellow, white or red flowers.
Find hummingbird feeders that provide only red flowers or red slits on the base.
The last option is to paint the yellow or white flowers with non-toxic red paint.

Some commercial feeders have a red base with yellow flowers, contradicting the above information, however the answer could be as simple as a marketing tool that never got corrected.

By being informed and knowing that hummingbirds see red and not yellow, you are already ahead of the game along with the experts in the field.

Create a routine

Regularly spend time near the feeder and create a routine so the hummingbirds become familiar and accustomed to your company.

During periods of higher activity, such as in the morning (to replenish their bodies) and in the evening (to refuel before bed), are the best times to patiently sit or stand close to a feeder. 

It is easiest to be somewhere you can be sitting and able to rest your arm as the process can be tiring!

Stay still and avoid sudden movements, loud noises, or anything that may startle them.
Over time, hummingbirds will regularly associate your presence with food and safety.

Practice regular sessions at the same time of day for consistency.

Be patient and do not be discouraged if they are easily frightened. It will take some time and they will eventually warm up to you.

Build Trust

Spend time in the same location and create a comfortable environment, allowing hummingbirds to become relaxed and feel safe in your company.

Over several days or weeks, reduce the distance between yourself and the feeder by gradually moving closer to the feeder while the hummingbirds are feeding.
This signals to them that you are not a threat and creates a trusting atmosphere while allowing the hummingbirds to become accustomed to your presence.

Be consistent and patient. 

Learn their feeding schedule, observe peak times for the best chance of success, and train at the same time each day.
Never force or rush the process; let the birds approach at their own pace.

Building trust with this routine allows the hummingbirds to associate you positively with reliable food sources, feeling more comfortable and accustomed to your familiar face while visiting the feeder.

Introduce your hand 

Once the hummingbirds are accustomed to feeding with you nearby, hold the full-sized feeder in your hand instead of hanging it up.

Keep your hand steady and stay as still as possible while they approach.
Engaging in a hummingbird’s curiosity encourages them to check out the handheld feeder on your hand.

If the birds hesitate, leave the feeder in its usual spot and try again later.

Know that it is not illegal if a hummingbird touches you but it is illegal to capture a hummingbird without a permit. Therefore, be comfortable in the knowledge that training a hummingbird to feed from your hand is perfectly legal and hygienically safe.

Transition to hand feeding

Transitioning from a full-sized hummingbird feeder to a handheld one requires the hummingbirds to trust your presence and associate you with providing a constant supply of reliable food.

Signs it is time to transition:

• Hummingbirds are comfortable feeding near you.
• They feed regularly at the feeder even when you are close (within a few feet).
• They appear calm and unbothered by your presence.
• Small, gradual movements near the feeder (such as adjusting your seating position) do not scare them.
• They occasionally hover near you, showing curiosity.

For a few days, gradually introduce and place small handheld feeders next to larger feeders so the hummingbirds will get used to drinking from them.

Once the hummingbirds are comfortable feeding with you nearby, hold a closed top handheld feeder. Keep your hand steady and stay calm as they approach. It may take several attempts before they feed.

In order not to tire out your arm or wrist I recommend laying your arm down on an outside table near the main hummingbird feeder.

Some suggest removing the full-sized hummingbird feeders and only provide hand held (flower design) feeders once you have gained their trust.
The job of the full-sized feeders in the beginning is to first catch the hummingbird’s attention and then eventually are replaced by a human holding a hand feeder.

Encourage direct hand feeding and wear red to attract them such as a red shirt, glove, or hat.
Sporting sunglasses will hide your eyes from staring at the hummingbird directly and alleviate any discomfort.

Stay still and patient, as some birds may never fully land on your hand but may still feed comfortably from the nectar in your palm.
Over time, the birds will come to recognize your hand as part of the feeding routine.

Additional Tips

• Time of Day: Early morning or late afternoon is best when hummingbirds are most active.
• Seasonal Awareness: Training is easier during the summer when hummingbirds are abundant and actively feeding.
• Backyard Friendly: Remove home pets (such as cats & dogs) that cause stress along with other potential wild outdoor predators.
• Regularly Clean Your Hummingbird Feeders: Feeders exposed to the sun are prone and susceptible to breeding bacteria and mold. When this occurs hummingbirds can catch a fungal infection on their beak or tongue limiting their intake of nutrition.
• Place Hand Held Feeders Next to Full-size: Add tiny hand held feeders next to regular sized feeders for a few days so the hummingbirds will be accustomed to drinking out of them.

Things to Avoid

• Do not grab or touch hummingbirds, as they are delicate and can be injured.
• Avoid red dyes or artificial nectar, as these can harm them.
• Don’t overstay near the feeder—give the birds a break to feel secure.

Training a hummingbird to feed from your hand is a magical experience, requiring a mix of patience, routine, and perseverance. Before you know it, you will have more than one friendly face competing for space to drink out of your hand. 

Enjoy the process!

What is the best handheld hummingbird feeder to purchase?

Purchase a red closed-top handheld hummingbird feeder. It keeps the sugar nectar from spilling onto the hummingbird’s feathers or beak and is drip resistant. If a hummingbird’s feathers get wet with the sugar nectar, it inhibits their ability to fly and function properly.

There are a variety of closed top handheld feeders to choose from, some simply just sit in your hand while others can be worn as a ring.

Some popular handheld feeders on the market include:

• AROMA TREES Handheld Hummingbird Feeders kit on Amazon.
  (It even comes with a hand brush and is the most popular.)
• NECTAR DOTS Hummingbird Feeder Kit on Amazon
• ZUMMR Hummingbird Ring Feeder Trainer Starter Set on Amazon

Along with having handheld feeders, also purchase full-sized hummingbird feeders to entice more hummingbirds to your training area.

Popular full-sized hummingbird feeders include:

• FIRST NATURE 16 oz. Hummingbird Feeder (2 Pack) Red on Amazon
• FIRST NATURE 3055 32-ounce Hummingbird Feeder on Amazon
• JUEGOAL 12 oz Hanging Hummingbird Feeder on Amazon (Has built-in ant moat.)

Unlike full-sized cylinder feeders, saucer feeders provide a leak proof easy to clean hummingbird feeder design.

No matter what time of day, locating food is always their number one priority. You can never have too many hummingbird feeders. The goal is to attract as many hummingbirds as possible.

How long should I practice using my handheld hummingbird feeder?

After you have observed high volumes of visitors to your full-sized feeders, spend at least 20 minutes a day using your handheld feeders. Remove all of your full-sized feeders and only use your handheld hummingbird feeder.
Choose the afternoon and evening time where you will witness the highest traffic activity.

The objective is to first catch the hummingbirds attention with larger full-sized feeders and have them consistently visit your backyard. This action will entice massive amounts of hummingbird traffic to your area.

To help the hummingbirds become used to drinking from the hand held feeders, place them next to large full-sized feeders for a few days.

Once that is established, some say to take away the full-sized feeders to entice them to fully feed on your small handheld one. When they buzz in to locate their familiar feeders, low and behold they will find your handheld feeder matching the same friendly flower print as the full-sized feeder and be more interested in feeding.

When you have completed your 20-minute session, replace the accustomed full-sized hummingbird feeders. It’s best to repeat this 20 min training session daily until the hummingbirds are very comfortable drinking out of your hand.

How do you get a hummingbird to trust you?

To earn a hummingbird’s trust, establish a secure environment, provide dependable food sources, spend time close to the feeder, avoid eye contact, and exercise patience.
Over time, they will see you as a non-threatening, reliable food source.

Set up a hummingbird-friendly area with feeders, flowering plants, and water features.
Ensure the area is quiet with reduced background noise, free from predators, and provides perches or hiding spots.

Offer reliable food sources with clean feeders filled with homemade nectar;
1 part sugar to 4 parts water (1:4).
Refill and clean the feeder regularly to maintain trust and attract frequent visitors.

Visit your training area daily and spend time at the same place to build familiarity.
This will give them the opportunity to adjust themselves with a new person in their space and feel less threatened.

Practice hanging out on your outside patio and sit quietly while the hummingbirds first find your full sized hummingbird feeders during their peak feeding times. 

You will find increased activity in the morning hours (to refuel their bodies) and in the evening hours (to fill up before bed).
The hummingbirds will associate your presence with safety and food.

Avoid sudden movements, loud noises or eye contact.
Direct eye contact feels threatening and scares the hummingbirds as they associate staring eyes with predators. 

Wear sunglasses or keep your gaze slightly averted while they feed. Shielding your stare makes them feel safer, improving their chances of feeding from your hand and enjoying the nectar source without fear. 

Some are also able to get a hummingbird to perch on their finger and rest while drinking the nectar. If you are extremely lucky you will have more than one friendly face competing for space or waiting patiently in line to feed out of your hand.

Building trust takes time as some hummingbirds may warm up quickly, while others may need weeks to feel comfortable. Have persistence and never give up!

Final Thoughts:

Training a hummingbird to drink from your hand is simple with preparation and patience. Start by planting flowers that attract hummingbirds and fill full-sized feeders with homemade nectar. Once the hummingbirds find the feeders, introduce and replace them with handheld ones.
Sit quietly for 20 minutes daily to gain their trust, and minimize distractions.

Happy Hummingbird Training!