The Best Spot To Hang A Hummingbird Feeder If You're Leaving It Out This Winter

For many birders, putting out and taking down hummingbird feeders is a seasonal task on par with decorating the Christmas tree: There's a time to have them out and a time to store them away. However, some choose to leave their feeders out all winter, either to help out late migrating birds or for the hummingbirds that don't migrate. So while seeing a summer icon like the hummingbird in winter months can be thrilling, you may need to move your feeder when the weather cools down to avoid doing more harm than good. 

Putting your hummingbird feeder in the wrong spot can leave these tiny birds vulnerable to predators and the ill effects of freezing temperatures in the winter. Instead, hang your feeder in a spot that's out of the wind and hard for predators to access — about 10 feet away from large trees such as pines, which can still offer a wind buffer at that distance but won't provide a direct route from branch to feeder for hungry house cats. 

Your feeder should also be in an area where you can provide heat if needed, to keep the nectar warm. Look for spots that are fairly close to your house should you need an electrical source. Feeders that are close to a window provide a better view of your visitors and protect them from crashing into windows, since they don't fly as fast during take offs or landings as they do mid-flight. If you're worried about collisions, apply window strike decals.

Conventional wisdom has long held that you should bring in feeders in the late fall so you don't tempt migratory hummingbirds to overstay. But migratory hummingbirds have evolved to head south in the winter, and your feeders aren't stronger than their genetics. So there's no harm in leaving your feeders out all winter, as long as you maintain them. Instead, you might be delighted to receive visits from late-migrating species you've never seen before.

In areas with relatively mild winters, you can simply bring your feeders in at night and hang them out in the morning to keep the nectar from freezing. For more severe weather, you might need to add a heat source to your feeding setup. This can be a heat lamp aimed at the feeder or a specially designed heating pad that attaches to the feeder. You can also insulate feeders with socks or plumber's tape. Or get into the holiday spirit by wrapping your feeder with lights to help keep it warm. Just as you do in the summer, clean your hummingbird feeder thoroughly and change the nectar every day to prevent sticky messes that can trap birds in winter. Homemade hummingbird nectar is surprisingly easy to make and good for the birds in summer and winter.