Hummingbird FAQ's
Contrary to popular belief, a significant portion of a hummingbird's diet consists of protein-rich insects and spiders (up to 80% in some studies). While nectar is not as essential as originally believed, early migrants will find it challenging to find food when flowers aren’t yet blooming and insects and spiders are still in their winter dormancy.
☠️ DANGER!!! BEWARE OF PRAYING MANTISES ON OR NEAR HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ☠️
Praying mantises often capture hummingbirds at feeders in home gardens
Native flowering plants, such as the Spotted Jewel-weed (Impatiens capensis) are the best source of nectar for hummingbirds. But supplementing with well-tended sugar/water feeders can provide additional sustenance during nesting season and migration.
In Muskoka, the best time to set up hummingbird feeders is at the end of April or beginning of May. Ruby-throated hummingbirds usually start arriving by mid-May. Keep hummingbird feeders up until mid-to-late October, or for at least two weeks after the last sighting. While most of our hummingbirds leave by mid-September, keeping feeders out longer provides essential, high-energy fuel for migrating stragglers and ensures they do not starve. Adult male Ruby-throated hummingbirds are both the first to arrive in the spring and the first to leave in the fall.
As most of us know, hummingbirds are VERY territorial and a single dominant bird often bullies others by guarding feeders to protect a perceived, scarce food source. Most bullying involves chasing, chirping, and aerial displays, but it can on rare occasions result in serious injury or even death. To avoid this behaviour, follow these guidelines:
Preventing Aggression - To stop one bird from chasing others away, either spread feeders far apart (opposite sides of the house) or cluster 3+ feeders tightly together so the bully cannot guard all ports at once.
Start Small - Begin with 1-2 feeders to avoid excess waste if you do not have many visitors initially.
Manageable Maintenance - Only put out as many feeders as you can clean every 2-3 days to prevent mold and bacteria growth. If you cannot do this, do not put feeders out at all - just stick with native flowers.
Space Limitations - If you see 4-5 birds screaming back and forth, it is time to add more feeders, perhaps 3 or more, and space them across your yard. A good rule of thumb is to add another feeder when you observe 1 more bird than you have feeder ports.
☠️ DANGER!!! BEWARE OF PRAYING MANTISES ON OR NEAR HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ☠️
Praying mantises often capture hummingbirds at feeders in home gardens
Feeding
The best nectar solution to offer hummingbirds at any time of year is a 4:1 water to sugar ratio. Never Use honey, brown sugar, organic sugar, or red dye!!!
Bring the sugar-water solution to a boil, then let it cool before filling the feeder. You can make a larger batch and refrigerate the extra solution in a clean jar, just remember to bring it up to room temperature before you re-fill the feeder. By the way, glass feeders are recommended over plastic.
While a 4:1 (water-to-sugar) ratio is the universally recommended standard for hummingbird nectar, you can safely use a 3:1 solution during specific times, such as cold weather or migration, as it has a lower freezing point and provides extra calories. But be warned, it may attract more bees and wasps than the standard 4:1 mix.
Never go higher than 3:1 (e.g. 2:1) - it is too concentrated. Hummingbirds have very basic kidneys and excess sugar can lead to kidney failure or dehydration in the birds.
In hot weather, some experts recommend a 5:1 ratio to help with hydration.
Glass feeders are recommended because soft plastic can break down in heat and sunlight, potentially adding chemical residue to the nectar. Choose a feeder that is easy to take apart for cleaning. Clean the feeders with warm, soapy water and rinse well every 3-4 days in cool weather and more often during the hot summer months.
Maintenance
Change mixtures every 3–5 days to prevent mold. Sooner in high heat. Avoid dishwashers or harsh disinfectants like bleach, which can leave behind harmful residue. Instead, use warm water, dish soap and a brush to scrub all parts of the feeder, including the tiny feeding ports.
References:
EGGSHELLS FOR BIRDS
Many of us have experienced woodpeckers and blue jays pecking on houses painted with light colours. That's because paint, particularly light-colored trim, often contains limestone (calcium carbonate). This behaviour is most common in winter or early spring when natural calcium sources are scarce. Calcium is needed for eggshell development, grit and to replace lost calcium during egg production.
To help these birds and others, including robins, blackbirds, cardinals and owls, offer egg shells. Not only will that help stop them eating paint, it will also help prevent nest raiding (where birds will consume other birds' eggs).
To prepare the eggs, sanitize the shells by baking at 250 degrees F (120 degrees C) for 10–20 minutes or boiling for 10 minutes to kill bacteria. Once cooled, crush the shells into small, manageable pieces (about the size of sunflower seeds) and offer them on a platform feeder or the ground.
MICE FOR RAVENS
If you have a mouse in your house and you are unable to live trap it for release outside, use a snap trap (NOT poison) and put the mouse in a location where ravens will spot it. It doesn't take long for them to patrol your property for more!
If you have a mouse in your house and you are unable to live trap it for release outside, use a snap trap (NOT poison) and put the mouse in a location where ravens will spot it. It doesn't take long for them to patrol your property for more!
ANTS IN YOUR HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS?
Hang the feeder with fishing line, which is extremely difficult for ants to climb.
Hang the feeder with fishing line, which is extremely difficult for ants to climb.
Muskoka Land Bird Sightings ... so far!
Songbirds & Allies
Acadian Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Black-capped Chickadee
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Blue-headed Vireo
Boreal Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Canada Jay
Eastern Kingbird
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Great Crested Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Philadelphia Vireo
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-eyed Vireo
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Warbling Vireo
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-eyed Vireo
Willow Flycatcher
Yellow-throated Vireo
Raptors & Owls
American Goshawk
American Kestrel
Bald Eagle (also water-associated)
Barred Owl
Black Vulture
Boreal Owl
Broad-winged Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Eastern Screech-Owl
Golden Eagle
Great Gray Owl
Great Horned Owl
Gyrfalcon
Long-eared Owl
Merlin Mississippi Kite
Northern Harrier
Northern Hawk Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Peregrine Falcon
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Short-eared Owl
Turkey Vulture
Warblers
American Redstart
Bay-breasted Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Canada Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Orange-crowned Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Sparrows, Finches & Blackbirds
American GoldfinchAmerican Tree Sparrow
Bobolink
Brewer’s Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Common Grackle
Dark-eyed Junco
Field Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Harris’s Sparrow
Henslow’s Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
LeConte’s Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Nelson’s Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Savannah Sparrow
Snow Bunting
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Bobolink
Brewer’s Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Common Grackle
Dark-eyed Junco
Field Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Harris’s Sparrow
Henslow’s Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
LeConte’s Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Nelson’s Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Savannah Sparrow
Snow Bunting
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Woodpeckers
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Black-backed Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Other Land Birds
American Robin
Baltimore Oriole
Blue Jay
Bohemian Waxwing
Brown Thrasher
Canada Jay
Cedar Waxwing
Chimney Swift
Common Nighthawk
Baltimore Oriole
Blue Jay
Bohemian Waxwing
Brown Thrasher
Canada Jay
Cedar Waxwing
Chimney Swift
Common Nighthawk
Common Raven
Eastern Bluebird
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Evening Grosbeak
Gray Catbird
Hermit Thrush
House Finch
House Sparrow
Indigo Bunting
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Northern Mockingbird
Orchard Oriole
Painted Bunting
Passenger Pigeon (extinct)
Pine Grosbeak
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
Rock Pigeon
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Scarlet Tanager
Swainson’s Thrush
Varied Thrush
Veery
Western Tanager
White-winged Crossbill
Wood Thrush
Eastern Bluebird
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Evening Grosbeak
Gray Catbird
Hermit Thrush
House Finch
House Sparrow
Indigo Bunting
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Northern Mockingbird
Orchard Oriole
Painted Bunting
Passenger Pigeon (extinct)
Pine Grosbeak
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
Rock Pigeon
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Scarlet Tanager
Swainson’s Thrush
Varied Thrush
Veery
Western Tanager
White-winged Crossbill
Wood Thrush
This list of land birds spotted in Muskoka and reported to eBird, is as of January, 2026.
The free eBird app can be downloaded for both IOS and Android devices. Be sure to select eBird Canada as your default portal so that you have access to any Canadian specific survey protocols.
The free eBird app can be downloaded for both IOS and Android devices. Be sure to select eBird Canada as your default portal so that you have access to any Canadian specific survey protocols.