As temperatures warm and spring progresses, our landscapes come alive. Plants resume growth and begin flowering, insects emerge, and hummingbirds return. These charismatic birds captivate us with their iridescent plumage and aerial agility. Many gardeners put out feeders to attract hummingbirds, but there is much more we can do to make our landscapes attractive and hospitable for them.
Hummingbird arrival in Illinois
There are more than 360 species of hummingbirds worldwide, but only one, the ruby‑throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), breeds in Illinois. Each spring, they migrate north from overwintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. During this journey, many cross the Gulf of Mexico in a nonstop flight of about 600 miles that can take more than 16 hours.
Ruby‑throated hummingbirds typically begin arriving in Illinois in mid to late April, though timing can vary from year to year (they are arriving early in 2026). They spend the summer across the eastern U.S. and Canada before returning south in late summer and fall.
Plants for hummingbirds
Nectar is an essential part of a hummingbird’s diet, and incorporating nectar‑rich flowering plants into a landscape is one of the best ways to attract them. Hummingbirds rely on sight, not smell, to locate flowers. They are especially drawn to tubular red, orange, and bright pink blooms, though they will also feed on flowers of other colors. Some plants readily visited by hummingbirds include:
Perennials
- Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
- Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
- Bee balm (Monarda didyma)
- Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
- Blazing star (Liatris spp.)
- Royal catchfly (Silene regia)
Trees and shrubs
- Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia)
- Rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos)
- Tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Annuals
- Fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.)
- Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
- Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana spp.)
- Zinnia (Zinnia spp.)
Grouping plants together makes them easier for hummingbirds to locate and increases feeding efficiency. Planning for continuous bloom from spring through fall helps ensure a consistent nectar supply.
Don’t forget about insects
While nectar provides the sugar hummingbirds need for energy, insects are an essential, and often overlooked, part of their diet, especially during egg‑laying and while raising chicks. In fact, an adult female hummingbird can consume up to 2,000 insects per day.
Hummingbirds feed on small insects such as gnats, aphids, mosquitoes, caterpillars, insect eggs, and even spiders. Providing flowering plants and pollinator habitat helps attract insects that hummingbirds can feed on. Reducing or eliminating pesticide use is also important, particularly in areas where you are trying to attract hummingbirds (or other pollinators). Insecticides not only reduce food availability but can also poison hummingbirds directly.
Trees, shrubs, and nesting habitat
Landscapes with a mix of trees, shrubs, and open garden areas closely resemble the preferred habitat of ruby-throated hummingbirds. They depend on trees and shrubs for nesting, perching, and protection from predators. Female hummingbirds build small nests (about 1.5 inches in diameter, about the size of a golf ball) on branches, using plant fibers such as thistle or dandelion down, bud scales, and lichens. Spider silk is used to bind materials together and attach the nest to the branch (so leave the spiders!).
Water
Hummingbirds use water for both bathing and drinking and often prefer shallow sources. Birdbaths with stones or shallow dishes, as well as small misters, work well. As with any water feature, regular cleaning is important.
Hummingbird feeders
Hummingbird feeders can be helpful supplemental food sources, especially early in spring when few flowers are blooming or during fall migration when birds are fueling up for long journeys. However, feeders should supplement, not replace, natural food sources such as nectar‑producing plants and insects.
Fill feeders with a solution made from one part white granulated sugar to four parts water. Honey, brown sugar, raw sugars, corn syrup, and red dyes should not be used, as they can ferment quickly or cause health problems for hummingbirds.
Try to place feeders near shelter and perching areas, flowering plants, and in partial shade when possible. If putting up multiple feeders, place them at least 10-15 feet apart. Males are territorial and will fight over feeders; having adequate space between feeders will help prevent this.
According to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, feeders should be cleaned and sugar water replaced at least twice a week in hot weather (summer) and once a week in cooler weather (spring/fall) to prevent mold growth. Ideally, change sugar water and thoroughly clean feeders every other day.
Good Growing Fact of the Week: Once hummingbirds identify reliable habitat, they often return to the same locations year after year.
Bonus Fact of the Week: Researchers at Cornell University found that putting hummingbird feeders in raspberry fields attracted hummingbirds to them and helped reduce the number of spotted wing drosophila.
References and for more information
Carroll, Juliet E., Percival M. Marshall, Nicole E. Mattoon, Courtney A. Weber, and Gregory M. Loeb. “The Predation Impact of Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, on Spotted-Wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, in Raspberry, Rubus idaeus.” Crop Protection 163 (January 2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2022.106116.
Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute - Hummingbird Nectar Recipe
Weidensaul, S., T. R. Robinson, R. R. Sargent, M. B. Sargent, and T. J. Zenzal Jr. (2020). Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (P. G. Rodewald, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA.
https://doi-org.proxy2.library.illinois.edu/10.2173/bow.rthhum.01
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MEET THE AUTHOR
Ken Johnson is a Horticulture Educator with University of Illinois Extension, serving Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan, and Scott counties since 2013. Ken provides horticulture programming with an emphasis on fruit and vegetable production, pest management, and beneficial insects. Through his programming, he aims to increase backyard food production and foster a greater appreciation of insects.