Editing Hummingbird (section)

=== Feeders and artificial nectar ===
[[File:Hummingbirds at feeder.jpg|thumb|Hummingbirds hovering at an artificial nectar feeder]]

In the wild, hummingbirds visit flowers for food, extracting nectar, which is 55% sucrose, 24% glucose, and 21% fructose on a dry-matter basis.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Stahl |first1=J.M. |last2=Nepi |first2=M. |last3=Galetto |first3=L. |last4=Guimarães |first4=E. |last5=Machado |first5=S.R. |year=2012 |title=Functional aspects of floral nectar secretion of Ananas ananassoides, an ornithophilous bromeliad from the Brazilian savanna |journal=Annals of Botany |volume=109 |issue=7 |pages=1243–252 |doi=10.1093/aob/mcs053 |pmc=3359915 |pmid=22455992}}</ref> Hummingbirds also take sugar-water from [[bird feeder]]s, which allow people to observe and enjoy hummingbirds up close while providing the birds with a reliable source of energy, especially when flower blossoms are less abundant. A negative aspect of artificial feeders, however, is that the birds may seek less flower nectar for food, and so may reduce the amount of pollination their feeding naturally provides.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Avalos |first1=G. |last2=Soto |first2=A. |last3=Alfaro |first3=W. |year=2012 |title=Effect of artificial feeders on pollen loads of the hummingbirds of Cerro de la Muerte, Costa Rica |journal=Revista de Biología Tropical |volume=60 |issue=1 |pages=65–73 |doi=10.15517/rbt.v60i1.2362 |pmid=22458209 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

White granulated sugar is used in hummingbird feeders in a 20% concentration as a common recipe,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hummingbird Nectar Recipe |date=22 February 2017 |url=https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/hummingbird-nectar-recipe|access-date=2022-09-07 |publisher=Nationalzoo.si.edu}}</ref> although hummingbirds will defend feeders more aggressively when sugar content is at 35%, indicating preference for nectar with higher sugar content.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rousseu |first1=F. |last2=Charette |first2=Y. |last3=Bélisle |first3=M. |year=2014 |title=Resource defense and monopolization in a marked population of ruby-throated hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) |journal=Ecology and Evolution |volume=4 |issue=6 |pages=776–793 |doi=10.1002/ece3.972 |pmc=3967903 |pmid=24683460|bibcode=2014EcoEv...4..776R }}</ref> Organic and "raw" sugars contain [[iron]], which can be harmful,<ref name="audubon--nectar">{{Cite web |date=14 April 2016 |title=How to Make Hummingbird Nectar |url=http://www.audubon.org/news/how-make-hummingbird-nectar |website=Audubon.com |publisher=Audubon Society |language=en}}</ref> and brown sugar, [[agave syrup]], [[molasses]], and [[Sugar substitute|artificial sweeteners]] also should not be used.<ref name="kern--feeding">{{Cite web |title=Feeding Hummingbirds |url=http://www.kern.audubon.org/hummer_feeding.htm |website=www.kern.audubon.org |publisher=Audubon California Kern River Preserve |access-date=6 April 2017 |archive-date=8 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408140247/http://www.kern.audubon.org/hummer_feeding.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Honey]] is made by bees from the nectar of flowers, but it is not good to use in feeders because when it is diluted with water, [[microorganism]]s easily grow in it, causing it to spoil rapidly.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-01-09 |title=Feeders and Feeding Hummingbirds |url=http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/hummingbird/2003021845028716.html |access-date=2009-01-25 |publisher=Faq.gardenweb.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-11-25 |title=Hummingbird F.A.Q.s from the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory |url=http://www.sabo.org/hbfaqs.htm#honey |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102002928/http://sabo.org/hbfaqs.htm#honey |archive-date=2014-11-02 |access-date=2009-01-25 |publisher=Sabo.org}}</ref><ref>[http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/outdoor-recreation/nature-viewing/birding/ruby-throated-hummingbirds Attracting Hummingbirds |Missouri Department of Conservation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419094054/http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/outdoor-recreation/nature-viewing/birding/ruby-throated-hummingbirds |date=19 April 2012 }} Retrieved on 2013-04-01</ref>

[[Allura Red AC|Red food dye]] was once thought to be a favorable ingredient for the nectar in home feeders, but it is unnecessary.<ref name="dye">{{Cite web |last=Chambers |first=Lanny |date=2016 |title=Please Don't Use Red Dye |url=http://www.hummingbirds.net/dye.html |access-date=25 June 2016 |publisher=Hummingbirds.net}}</ref> Commercial products sold as "instant nectar" or "hummingbird food" may also contain [[preservative]]s or artificial flavors, as well as dyes, which are unnecessary and potentially harmful.<ref name="dye"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Should I Add Red Dye to My Hummingbird Food? |url=http://www.trochilids.com/dye.html |access-date= 20 March 2010 |publisher=Trochilids.com}}</ref> Although some commercial products contain small amounts of nutritional additives, hummingbirds obtain all necessary nutrients from the insects they eat, rendering added nutrients unnecessary.<ref name="hummingbirds2002">{{cite book |last=Williamson |first=S. L. |title=A Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America |series=Peterson Field Guide Series |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |location=Boston |year=2002 |isbn=0-618-02496-4}}</ref>