Most people picture hummingbirds sipping nectar, and that is a big part of the story — but it is only half of it. To survive, these tiny birds also need protein, and that comes from bugs.
Nectar for energy
Hummingbirds have an incredibly fast metabolism and must fuel it constantly. They get that energy from sugar — the natural nectar inside flowers, and the sugar water we offer in feeders. They also sip tree sap from wells drilled by sapsuckers. A hummingbird may visit hundreds of flowers a day and feed every 10–15 minutes.
Insects for protein
Sugar alone is not enough. Hummingbirds eat lots of small insects and spiders — gnats, fruit flies, aphids, mosquitoes and more — which provide the protein, fat and nutrients that nectar lacks. They catch bugs in mid-air, pluck them from leaves, or take them from spider webs. Insects are especially important for growing chicks.
What about water?
Hummingbirds get most of their water straight from nectar, so they rarely need to drink separately. They do love to bathe, though — in shallow water, a fine mist, or wet leaves — which keeps their feathers in top flying condition. To feed them yourself, offer plain homemade sugar-water nectar and let nature provide the bugs.