Hummingbirds can be found throughout the United States. All species are attracted to flowers by sight and their favorite colors are red, pink, and orange. Flowers of these colors are more likely to provide nectar that they need for energy.

Plant plenty of the flowers that attract them to satisfy their voracious appetites. Plant perennials that bloom at different times and throw in some annuals to fill in the gaps of perennial blooms. That way, the hummingbirds have a constant food supply. Flowering shrubs and vines provide a source of nectar for them. They also eat aphids, tiny spiders, and other small insects, so they are beneficial to your garden as well as providing entertainment for you.

You can also provide artifical nectar in a feeder which will give them energy but not much nourishment. They need the flower nectar for that, but the feeders can help ensure their survival when they return from their winter homes. Sometimes they arrive before the flowers have bloomed or only a few are blooming. The feeder solution should be made from sugar and water without adding red food coloring. It should be made of a 4:1 ratio. Boil 4 parts of water then add 1 cup of sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and let cool before putting into feeder. Store any unused syrup in the fridge. Be sure to label it so the family won't think it's just a jug of water. In our area, the wasps come up to the feeders. Our hummingbirds won't feed while the wasps are there.