Last Updated on November 27, 2022 by Cristina
Do hummingbirds eat apples? Take a look at this article and find out.
We are all well aware of the fact that these birds are crazy about sugar, and let’s be honest, who isn’t?
These amazing birds have somewhat insane energy requirements and refuel in any way they can. Are you aware that although so small, as heavy as a coin, hummingbirds regularly travel across not only countries but entire continents in search of their next sugar rush? They are really fascinating creatures.
All backyard birders know that hummers enjoy drinking tree sap and sugar water, but what about some certain types of fruit like apples, do hummingbirds eat apples? Let’s find out below.
Do Hummingbirds Eat Anything Other Than Nectar?
Hands down, these birds love nectar, but it’s not the only food they prefer. It is very important to understand which food sources these delicate birds like because that way you can more easily plan an attractive buffet table in the yard that will tempt and satisfy all their nutritional needs.
Did you know that these birds literally have to consume half their body weight every day due to their super-high metabolism to survive? They are undoubtedly voracious eaters. Nectar is still in first place for two reasons, it provides them with both the energy and the liquid they need. You might be surprised, but these birds actually rarely drink from other water sources.
To get the necessary amount of protein, fats, and minerals, hummers daily consume a considerable amount of soft-bodied insects such as larvae, insect eggs, and spiders. On average, they consume a few dozen insects every single day.
Although not as sweet as nectar, tree sap comes as an excellent alternative that these birds will consume if there’s no other type of nectar available.
Speaking of which, we can’t help but mention some hummingbird food facts. Did you know that even though these avians don’t naturally consume pollen, they do ingest it when they take nectar from flowers? Accordingly, pollen is also high on the list because it serves these birds as extra protein in their diet.
It was certainly interesting to us when we first saw these jewel-like birds eating ash and sand. However, given that they consume them in small quantities, although they are a good source of vital minerals and salts, ash and sand cannot satisfy their nutritional needs.
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Do Hummingbirds Like Fruit?
When you take into account the fact that these birds have crazy fast metabolisms that quickly deplete their energy reserves, they must be ready to consume anything and everything in order to survive.
The bulk of their diet is nectar and insects, but in situations where food literally appears in front of them by itself, they will rarely ignore it. One of such foods is, as you can guess, fruit. However, it should be emphasized that eating fruit will mostly be the last resort because their diet is primarily made up of insects and nectar.
Since fruit juice contains their beloved sugar, it can be considered as hummingbird natural food. In any case, it is better to serve them with a slice of fruit than with a DIY red-dyed mixture in the wrong ratio. In addition, fruit contains a lot of liquid, so in crisis situations serving fruit can actually be seen as killing two birds with one stone.
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After all, as we have already emphasized, these birds enjoy insects, and considering that fruit tends to attract creatures such as fruit flies (another prominent part of the hummingbird diet), it is not a bad idea to leave a few finely cut pieces of fruit in your yard.
Now, let’s move on to the main part of this article where you will find out the answer to the question “do hummingbirds eat apples”.
Do Hummingbirds Eat Apples?
Based on human reports, hummingbirds have been observed to enjoy eating ripe berries, oranges, persimmons, watermelons, and pears. Rarely will they decide on the whole, unripe fruit. This is primarily due to their delicate beak, which prevents them from opening the fruit.
So, do hummingbirds eat apples? The answer is affirmative. These birds are not only happy to eat, but they are simply crazy about apples.
When choosing the perfect apple to serve this bird, always make sure to choose pieces of fruit that are particularly juicy and ripe. Why is it so important? If you serve them unripe fruit, it won’t offer them enough sweet liquid and is therefore not a quality food source. Also, as we mentioned before, keep an eye on their beaks, chopped apples work best for hummers to get at the fruit juice more easily.
Can You Put An Apple In The Feeder?
Now that you know the answer to the question “do hummingbirds eat apples”, it is only logical that you think about the way to offer it to these birds. We will point out right away that putting anything but nectar in a hummingbird feeder is not exactly the smartest idea.
No expert and/or experienced birdwatcher recommends putting pieces of apple or apple juice in a hummingbird feeder. There are two fundamental reasons for this. The first is that the apple is not the primary food source for these birds. The second is that apples tend to spoil and ferment.
It is important to emphasize that this doesn’t only apply to the fruit we are talking about today, but to any fruit in general. The only thing suitable for a feeder is nectar, either bought or made at home. It would be best to offer the apples in the fruit feeder that you will use exclusively for this purpose or simply lay it on the ground.
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To Conclude: Do Hummingbirds Eat Apples?
There are plenty of options if you want to attract hummers to fly and enjoy your yard, and serving fruit such as ripe apples is one of the best. With such rapid metabolisms, believe us that they will not skip a single served meal.
We hope you found this article useful.
What are your experiences with these unique creatures? Let us know in the section below.
