How to attract hummingbirds to your yard

What’s Happening

Alright so Start with habitat, not just a feeder.

The post How to attract hummingbirds to your yard appeared first on Popular Science. Environment Animals Wildlife Birds How to attract hummingbirds to your yard Start with habitat, not just a feeder. (yes, really)

By Debbie Wolfe Published Mar 7, 2026 1:00 PM EST A Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) hovers delicately at a feeder in a backyard.

The Details

Image: Beata Whitehead / Get the Popular Science daily 💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Hummingbirds mesmerize us with their lightning-fast zips across the yard and their impossibly tiny stature.

It’s tempting to think attracting them is as simple as hanging a bright red feeder and calling it a day. But there’s more to drawing these tiny visitors than most people realize.

Why This Matters

What brings them in and keeps them coming back comes down to the bigger picture happening in your yard. Build the habitat first Hummingbirds often return to the same area where they hatched to feed, nest, and raise the next generation. A yard designed with structure, shelter, and seasonal blooms will not only attract the tiny birds but also keep them coming back year after year.

Scientists and researchers are watching this development closely.

Key Takeaways

• Creating a hummingbird habitat is easier than it sounds, and you may already have what you need in your yard or neighborhood.
• Start trees and flowering shrubs.
• Small trees provide hummingbirds with lookout perches and safe nesting sites.
• Flowering shrubs provide mid-level cover that protects them from predators and harsh weather.

The Bottom Line

Reliable favorites include Bee Balm, Salvia, Cardinal Flower, Columbine, and Coral Honeysuckle. For the most success, stagger bloom times so something is flowering from early spring through fall.

Thoughts? Drop them below.