Hummingbirds bring vibrant energy and life to your garden, but when bees, wasps, or ants take over your hummingbird feeder, it can deter these tiny birds from visiting. While it’s important to protect pollinators, you can still keep bees at bay without harming them—or the hummingbirds.
Here’s a detailed guide on how to keep bees off your hummingbird feeder while maintaining a healthy backyard ecosystem.
1. Choose a Bee-Resistant Feeder Design
Invest in a feeder specifically designed to deter bees and wasps. Look for:
- Built-in bee guards: These are mesh or plastic barriers that block bees from reaching the nectar.
- Slotted ports: Hummingbirds have long beaks and tongues, allowing them to access nectar that bees can’t reach.
- Top-fill feeders: These reduce leaks and sticky residue, which attract insects.
Learn more about how to choose the best hummingbird feeder for your yard.
2. Use a Slightly Diluted Nectar Solution
Hummingbirds thrive on a standard nectar mix of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. However, you can slightly reduce the sugar content (try a 5:1 water-to-sugar ratio) to make it less attractive to bees—without harming hummingbirds.
Note: Never use honey, artificial sweeteners, or red dye in nectar. These can be harmful to hummingbirds.
See our guide on how to make safe hummingbird nectar at home.
3. Place Your Feeder in a Shady Area
Bees prefer warmth and sunlight, so positioning your feeder in a shady location can help reduce bee activity. Hummingbirds will still find the feeder by sight and memory.
Bonus tip: Rotate feeder locations every week to confuse bee and wasp traffic patterns.
Read more on strategic feeder placement for attracting hummingbirds.
4. Keep the Feeder Clean and Leak-Free
Leaky feeders and spilled nectar are major attractants for bees, ants, and wasps. To avoid this:
- Wipe down the feeder daily if needed.
- Clean it thoroughly every 2–3 days (more often in hot weather).
- Tighten all seals and replace any cracked or leaking parts.
Explore our maintenance checklist for hummingbird feeders.
5. Use Yellow Bee Guards or Covers
Some feeders come with yellow bee guards, which confuse or deter bees while still allowing hummingbirds to feed easily. Ensure:
- All ports are covered with guards.
- Guards are replaced if cracked or damaged.
Avoid feeders with yellow flowers—bees are attracted to yellow.
Check out our list of bee-proof hummingbird feeders.
6. Offer a Decoy Feeder for Pollinators
To protect both species, consider setting up a separate bee feeder:
- Use a shallow dish with a stronger 3:1 sugar solution.
- Place it at a distance from your hummingbird feeder.
- Gradually move it further away as bees become accustomed to it.
Learn how to set up a pollinator-friendly garden station.
7. Avoid Insecticides or Petroleum-Based Barriers
Never use chemical insecticides, petroleum jelly, or grease near feeders. These can be toxic to birds and pollinators, and even cause damage to feathers or respiratory systems.
If you have an ant problem, use moat-style feeders or an ant guard instead.
Read more on safe pest control for bird feeders.
8. Stay Consistent with Monitoring
Finally, observe your feeder daily during peak bee seasons (spring and summer). If bee activity increases, act quickly by cleaning, moving, or adjusting sugar ratios.
Check out our guide to seasonal hummingbird feeding tips.
Conclusion
With the right combination of feeder design, placement, and maintenance, you can reduce bee interference and keep your hummingbirds coming back happily. And the best part? These methods are safe for both pollinators and birds, supporting a healthier environment overall.