Hummingbirds are some of the most fascinating birds, capturing our imagination with their glittering, iridescent feathers and incredible flying abilities. Their tiny size and high metabolisms require that they eat frequently to sustain their high energy levels.
This leaves many people wondering – do hummingbirds like oranges? Can they or should they eat citrus fruits?
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: While hummingbirds can technically eat oranges and other citrus fruits, these fruits do not provide an ideal food source. Hummingbirds thrive best on a diet of nectar and insects.
An Overview of Hummingbird Diet and Nutritional Needs
Nectar as their main energy source
Hummingbirds get most of their energy from flower nectar. Their long, slender beaks and tongues are perfectly adapted for accessing the nectar hidden within flowers. Hummingbirds have rapid metabolisms and need to consume a lot of calories every day, with some species consuming up to twice their body weight in nectar daily.
Hummingbirds can visit hundreds or even thousands of flowers each day to meet their high energy demands. They prefer nectar with higher sugar concentrations, typically from ornamental flowers rather than wildflowers.
Providing hummingbird feeders with a 4:1 sugar water ratio allows them easy access to the quick energy they require.
Insects and spiders provide protein
While nectar provides hummingbirds with carbohydrates for energy, they get most of their protein from insects and spiders. Adult hummingbirds will eat flies, mosquitoes, aphids, gnats, beetles, caterpillars, ants, weevils, and spiders.
They are opportunistic foragers and will readily eat any small insects they encounter. Baby hummingbirds need the protein from insects even more than adults to sustain their rapid growth. A mother hummingbird will gather thousands of tiny insects each day to feed her nestlings.
Because insects tend to be seasonal, migrating hummingbirds time their migration to take advantage of peaks in insect populations.
Minerals obtained through water and food
In addition to energy and protein, hummingbirds need essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. They get these minerals from flower nectar and from the insects and spiders they consume. Drinking plain water also provides trace minerals.
Access to a clean water source helps hummingbirds maintain electrolyte balance and hydration. Adding electrolytes to hummingbird feeders may provide an extra mineral source. A nutrient-rich diet helps hummingbirds maintain their high metabolism, rapid breathing and heart rate, and their ability to hover and fly backwards.
Can Hummingbirds Eat Oranges and Other Citrus Fruits?
When it comes to hummingbird diet and behavior, many people wonder if these tiny birds can eat oranges and other citrus fruits found in their yards.
Hummingbirds can physically consume citrus fruits
With their slender, needle-like bills that are perfect for slurping nectar from flowers, hummingbirds are physically capable of eating oranges and other citrus fruits. Their bills allow them to puncture the skin of these fruits and consume the juicy insides.
In fact, orioles, which are in the same bird family as hummingbirds, are known to happily feed on oranges and grapefruits placed in backyard feeders. So physically, there is nothing stopping hummingbirds from eating citrus fruits.
Oranges lack the nutrients hummingbirds need
However, that does not mean oranges and other citrus fruits are good food sources for hummingbirds. The ideal hummingbird diet consists of nectar and tiny insects, which provide a balance of carbohydrates and protein.
While citrus fruits are juicy and sweet, they lack the essential nutrients, especially protein, that hummingbirds require to thrive. Without sufficient protein from insects, hummingbirds can develop symptoms like lethargy, muscle wasting, and stunted growth.
Food Source | Nectar | Insects | Oranges |
---|---|---|---|
Carbs | High | Low | High |
Protein | None | High | Low |
As the table shows, oranges may provide carbohydrates but lack the protein hummingbirds need. Researchers have found that hummingbird nestlings fed only sugar water solutions have higher mortality rates than those fed insects as well (1).
Acidity can upset their digestive system
Finally, the acidic nature of citrus fruits may cause issues for hummingbirds if consumed in large quantities. Hummingbirds have very fast metabolisms, needing to eat at frequent intervals throughout the day.
Since oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruits have high acidity levels, large amounts could potentially upset the digestive system of hummingbirds, causing stomachaches or mouth irritation.
So in small, occasional quantities, citrus fruits likely do no harm to hummingbirds. But the lack of protein and potential acidity issues mean oranges and other citrus should not be a regular part of hummingbird diet.
Instead, it’s best to stick with specialized nectar mixes and feeders designed specifically for hummingbird diet and nutrition needs. Offering grape jelly water in the spring and summer can also provide extra calories for nesting and migrating hummingbirds in your yard.
To learn more about natural food sources for hummingbirds, check out these helpful sites:
Offering Hummingbirds the Best Diet at Feeders
Use a nectar ratio of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water
When it comes to feeding hummingbirds, using the proper ratio of sugar to water in nectar is crucial. The optimal ratio is 1 part regular white table sugar dissolved in 4 parts water. This proportion best mimics the natural nectar that hummingbirds feed on in the wild.
Preparing nectar with too much sugar can be harmful to hummingbirds, as the excess sugar can crystalize in their throat or crop. On the other hand, nectar that is too watery lacks adequate calories to sustain these busy little birds.
By sticking to the tried and true 1:4 ratio, you can ensure your feeders provide the ideal fuel source.
Avoid food dyes and make homemade nectar
While commercial pre-made nectar may seem like an easy option, it often contains unnecessary and potentially harmful ingredients like food dyes and preservatives. Red food dye is commonly added to mimic the color of natural nectar, however scientific studies have shown that these dyes provide no benefit and may even be detrimental to hummingbird health and reproduction.
The best approach is to simply use plain white sugar when making nectar and avoid anything with added colors or chemicals. Making your own fresh nectar every few days with the basic sugar water recipe is easy and ensures the birds get the most natural diet possible.
Supplement with fruit flies or mealworms
While nectar is the key energy source for hummingbirds, they also need protein from insect prey to thrive. Providing supplemental bugs at feeders is a great way to replicate their natural food sources. Mealworms are an excellent high-protein option that can be served dried or soaked in nectar.
Fruit flies are a smaller food source many hummingbirds eagerly snap up. You can collect fruit flies by setting out ripe banana peels or melon chunks. Adding a mesh bag of live fruit flies or mealworms to your feeder setup helps provide essential amino acids the birds need to build muscle and reproduce successfully.
Just be sure to keep insect feeders out of direct sunlight and clean them regularly.
Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Garden
Plant tubular flowers in red, orange, pink
Hummingbirds are naturally drawn to tubular flowers in vibrant colors like red, orange and pink. Some excellent options include:
- Fuchsia
- Trumpet vine
- Coral bells
- Gladiolus
- Bee balm
These flowers provide an ideal food source with their nectar-rich blossoms. Plant them in beds, borders or containers where hummingbirds can easily spot them. Group together different colors and varieties for maximum appeal.
Provide a water feature like a mister or fountain
Adding a water feature to your garden gives hummingbirds a place to drink and bathe. The sound and movement of running water will grab their attention. Some good options include:
- Misting system – Attaches to a hose and releases a fine spray when turned on.
- Fountain or birdbath – Choose a shallow design and add stones for perching.
- Waterfall – The cascading water attracts hummingbirds.
Place your water feature in a visible spot near nectar flowers. Clean it regularly to prevent mold or bacteria growth. Consider adding a heating element during winter so the water stays ice-free.
Avoid pesticides that could be harmful if consumed
Hummingbirds are sensitive to chemicals and ingest small amounts of nectar and water throughout the day. It’s best to avoid using pesticides and herbicides in areas they frequent. Natural options include:
- Insecticidal soaps
- Horticultural oils
- Neem oil
- Diatomaceous earth
- Pyrethrin
Always read product labels thoroughly and follow safety precautions. Non-toxic solutions will control pests without posing risks to delicate hummingbirds. Maintaining a chemical-free environment supports their health.
When Oranges May Be Acceptable for Hummingbirds
During migration when other food is scarce
Hummingbirds get most of their nutrition from flower nectar and small insects. However, during migration seasons when blossoms are fewer and flying insects are less abundant, hummingbirds may have a harder time finding their usual food sources (US Fish and Wildlife).
As the tiny birds burn huge amounts of energy flying hundreds or even thousands of miles between their summer and winter homes, they can become desperate for more calories. This is when an occasional treat of orange slices may be a life saver.
Many hummingbird enthusiasts and experts like the National Audubon Society say that offering sliced oranges during migration can provide hummingbirds with a quick burst of energy from natural sugars. The sweet juice may help sustain the birds when flower nectar is harder to find.
Just make sure to only provide tiny pieces of orange, and remove any rinds or seeds first—the tough skin could be dangerous for a hummingbird’s tiny beak and digestive system.
Offering oranges for hummingbirds during migration should only be done if you regularly see the birds visiting your yard, and notice fewer flowers available in your area. Pay close attention to any signs of distress like unusual lethargy or agitation.
If a hummingbird seems weak or ill, oranges likely won’t be enough—it’s best to contact a wildlife rehabilitation center right away for advice and care.
As a very occasional treat in small amounts
Apart from migration seasons, most experts advise against offering fruit as a regular part of a hummingbird’s diet. Their tiny bodies and high metabolisms are simply not designed to process large amounts of sugar and human food (University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources).
However, as an infrequent treat during summer months when blossoms are plentiful, a few licks of orange juice may be harmless.
If you want to offer a small orange snack, make sure the slices are no bigger than a quarter inch to prevent choking hazards. Only put the slices out once a week at most, and never leave sliced fruit sitting for more than an hour or two. Rotting oranges can breed dangerous molds and bacteria.
While tiny tastes of orange are probably not harmful for hummingbirds, they provide virtually no real nutrition or health benefits. It’s best to focus on planting a variety of nectar-rich native flowers and flowering shrubs that will nourish the birds all season long.
Maintaining hummingbird feeders stocked with proper ratio sugar water will also help supplement their diet between blossoms.
The best approach is to provide healthy natural food sources as much as possible, and minimize processed human food. But for the occasional limited orange treat, small slices once a week or so during summer won’t hurt—just don’t overdo it!
Conclusion
Hummingbirds are amazing little birds that have adapted to thrive on nutrient-rich nectar and protein from insects. While they can physically eat citrus fruits like oranges, these lack the carbohydrates they need and may upset their digestive system.
To support hummingbirds, focus on providing habitat with suitable flowers, clean water sources, and small insects. With some thoughtful landscaping choices, you can create an ideal environment to attract these special birds.