If your backyard’s been so quiet you could hear a tomato ripen, it might be time to invite some tiny, winged drama. If you could choose any bird to visit, I hope that it’s a hummingbird. These little tweeters flap their wings up to 80 times per second, refuel every 10–15 minutes, and can fly backward or hover like tiny helicopters. Having one in your yard is the kind of magic you’ve been chasing since you were seven.
Thanks to a clever idea from All is DIY on YouTube, you can turn an old jar and a hanger no one’s missed since 2012 into a feeder they’ll keep coming back to. If you’d like to welcome the little tweeters, here’s how to get it done.
1. Clean Out a Jar
Any glass jar will do—jam, jelly, salsa, whatever’s sitting in your recycling bin or fridge door. Hummingbirds don’t care what it used to hold, but they may care how clean it is. If it still smells like taco night or has a sticky ring of hot sauce around the lid, they may stay away.
Soak off the label, scrub it inside and out, and make sure there’s no lingering smell or residue. A jar that smells like nothing at all is exactly what you want.
2. Add Some Color
Birds are visual creatures, and hummingbirds in particular are absolute suckers for bright colors—especially red. That’s your cue to paint the outside of the jar like you’re decorating for a tiny bird carnival.
Use whatever paints you have, just steer clear of painting the inside where the water goes. Keep it food-safe. It doesn’t have to be all straight lines and boxes, paint a big, bold flower or polka dots. Give them something to spot mid-flight and get curious about.
3. Fill It with Water and Cap It
Fill the clean jar with fresh water and screw the lid on loosely so water drips out slowly. Hummingbirds are attracted to the steady movement of water, which signals a fresh source to drink from. If the lid is too tight and no water drips, gently poke a small hole in it with a needle or pin to allow water to escape gradually. Don’t open it too much or you’ll end up watering your lawn instead.
4. Add a Hanging Hook
To hang the jar, wrap a wire around it in a spiral—an old wire hanger works perfectly. Twist a sturdy loop at the top and leave enough wire length to hang it from a tree branch or hook. Just make sure it’s secure; a feeder crashing to the ground mid-sip isn’t a five-star experience for anyone. The goal is a casual look with solid strength, like it was built by someone who measures twice and cuts once.
Keep the Birds Coming
Now that your feeder’s up, change the water every two or three days to keep it fresh, especially when it’s hot out. Stagnant water isn’t just uninviting—it can make the birds sick. If you spot mold or buildup, clean the jar with warm water and a splash of vinegar.
Don’t use soap, as leftover residue can keep birds away. And if you want to turn your feeder into a hotspot, plant some nectar-rich flowers nearby or add other things they love to eat. The more options you give them, the more likely they are to turn your yard into a regular stop. You can also feed them some sugar water if you like.