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Up close shot of hummingbird perched on blue bottle hummingbird feeder

Will Hummingbirds feed near other birds

Never has a hummingbird been seen to feed in the wild or in our yards alongside other common backyard birds, as hummers become much to timid with other bird species.

Hummingbirds will not feed near other birds in our yards as the hummer is scared of birds who stay all year round; as oppose to hummers who migrate to the States or Canada for the summer only. Designate a hummingbird feeder in its own area while keeping other birds well away from feeding hummingbirds.

Rare as it is to see a hummingbird share a branch or space with other birds, thus you must feed hummingbirds all by themselves.

You can of course feed many hummingbirds at the same time with a hummingbird feeder - featuring multiple port wells - yet the regular suet, peanut or seed bird feeder must all be hung up to at least 20 feet away.

Better still, if you can hide the hummingbird feeder out of view of the regular bird feeder then in turn, hummingbirds will be just as willing to use it.

Don't worry if one area doesn't work out for the hummers as you can move a hummingbird feeder around in the yard until the next location will see an uptake in use. Give each new location time to catch on, or hummers will avoid it.

As it happens hummingbird feeders don't have to hung either, as it can be placed on a table top or deck railing if hummingbirds are willing to feed in this location.

What you are looking for is to create space in your yard for the hummingbird feeders to go, while keeping regular birds at a distance.

Hummers won't share a space with other birds, thus to hide hummingbirds own feeders, or at least keep it out of sight of the regular bird feeder pole, can help you a ton.

Hummers will NOT feed near other birds

For the life of me I can't recall ever seeing a hummingbird near to other songbirds, I haven't seen them pictured nor have I seen advise about feeding both near each other.

Its safe to say then hummingbirds will not feed near other birds. Other birds being of course common backyard songbirds - such as Titmouse, House Finches, Bluebirds and American Robins - to name just a few.

With that in mind its advisable to never feed hummingbirds alongside other birds.

Hummers can be quite bold with other hummers yet with other species they are more timid; intimidated by their size, their behavior while never sharing feeding grounds with them in the wild.

Hummers are mostly migrating birds to and from the United States and Canada, thus they don't stay around long enough to become comfortable with native, permanent residence in the United States or Canada.

While you can put the suet, seed or peanut bird feeders within only a foot or less of each other, you cannot put a hummingbird feeder next to feeders that hold such food for other bird species.

Likelihood is these bird feeders will be used more, thus birds other than hummers will frequent the yard, whereas hummers will be left out as they ignore other birds.

Designate feeder in own area

Never hang up hummingbird feeders within only a few feet of each other, nor hang a hummingbird feeder alongside other bird feeders that share the same bird feeder pole.

What you might have to do is hang regular bird feeders off a tree branch as most common backyard birds likely forage up in trees in the wild - while at the same time the hummingbird feeder can be hung off the only bird feeder pole.

Why the hummingbird feeder shouldn't hang up in a tree is its less likely to be used by hummers, while possibly used more by other birds.

Designate hummingbird feeder on its own area even if its means moving your more popular bird feeders around to make space.

What you could think about doing is investing in two bird feeder poles - preferably a Shepherd's Hook for example if you already own it - plus a bird feeding station pole with multiple brackets featured.

Be sure to hang a hummingbird feeder well away from other bird feeders then or these timid birds will simply not use your hummingbird feeder.

Create space if yard allows it

What you can do to be sure all birds can come to your garden to feed is provide plenty of space not so much for songbirds, but for the much more timid hummingbirds.

What they would appreciate is if you can hang their hummingbird feeders at least 20 feet away from bird feeders belonging to suet or seeds, for example.

It doesn't matter how far apart hummingbird feeders should be, you must only focus on keeping them well away from other bird feeders.

I do recommend a minimum of 20 feet at most although what can be a better place than this is if to hide the hummingbird feeder out of sight of songbirds.

If you have a tree, an outbuilding or shrubs that can hide a hummingbird feeder safely behind it, then go ahead. What you are looking for is to prevent a clear line of sight too and from each type of bird feeders.

You must still follow strict rules for where to hang a hummingbird feeder, as it must prioritize an open area, preferably hanging up on a bird feeder pole.

Hopefully in direct sunshine yet you must still favor more shade as to preserve the nectar inside the hummingbird feeder.

Birds can intimidate Hummers

If you didn't know already hummingbirds can be isolated, lonely migrating birds while never seen to migrate or stay in flocks within the species.

In knowing that its not hard to believe hummingbirds don't get on with other birds.

In fact other birds who frequent our yards who can briefly come into range with hummingbirds simply intimidate hummingbirds in size or imitating noises they make.

Result of that is hummingbirds always keep their distance to avoid confrontation with larger, stronger backyard birds who could harm them in the process.

And this is true if you were to attempt to feed hummingbirds near other birds, the hummer - not the other songbird - will avoid the area all together.

What you must do then is basically baby hummingbirds in an attempt to attract them to your yard, and therefore your hummingbird feeder.

Hummingbirds won't feed near other birds even if other songbirds are happy to share a perch with hummers.

To conclude

Unfortunately history shows hummingbirds won't feed near other birds in the wild or at your hummingbird feeder in your yard.

If you think about it most States only receive temporary visitation by migrating hummers who come for the summer only; where native common backyard birds have evolved to get along with their feathered friends in your yard.

Hummers don't stay around long enough to get used to other backyard birds thus they end up being timid around these larger birds.

You'd have no choice then to designate the hummingbird feeder in its own isolated area within the yard if you want it to be used.

Never hang hummingbird feeders near to bird feeders intended for use by suet, peanuts or seeds - as hummer will not turn up - while other songbirds don't mind sharing the bird feeder space.

If you have to prioritize the bird feeder pole for one or more hummingbird feeders then do it - while hanging other songbird bird feeders off a tree branch - and that is if indeed you have a tree available in your yard.

No tree may force you to buy an additional bird feeder pole, with the one used as is - while the second pole can be used for hummingbird feeders only. And that is if you keep it well away from other birds so hummingbirds can feed on their own.

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