{"id":15532,"date":"2009-04-01T14:57:16","date_gmt":"2009-04-01T18:57:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/?p=15532"},"modified":"2023-08-09T18:16:27","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T22:16:27","slug":"should-i-use-red-food-coloring-in-hummingbird-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/should-i-use-red-food-coloring-in-hummingbird-food\/","title":{"rendered":"Should I use red food coloring in hummingbird food?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-group sidebar-alignright sidebar-space order-bottom\"><!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\" id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\"><span class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\" id=\"hs-cta-a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\"><!--[if lte IE 8]><div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div><![endif]--><a href=\"http:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/95627\/a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\" ><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" id=\"hs-cta-img-a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\" style=\"border-width:0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/95627\/a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3.png\"  alt=\"New self-paced course: Learn How to Identify Bird Songs, Click to Learn More\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a><\/span><script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> hbspt.cta.load(95627, 'a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3', {}); <\/script><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code -->\r\n<!--<span class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\" id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\">\r\n    <span class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\" id=\"hs-cta-394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\">-->\r\n        <!--[if lte IE 8]><div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div><![endif]-->\r\n        <!--<a href=\"http:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/95627\/394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\"  target=\"_blank\" ><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" id=\"hs-cta-img-394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\" style=\"border-width:0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/95627\/394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd.png\"  alt=\"Join the Cornell Lab\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\r\n    <\/span>\r\n    <script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script>\r\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n        hbspt.cta.load(95627, '394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd', {});\r\n    <\/script>\r\n<\/span>-->\r\n<!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code -->\r\n\r\n<\/div>\n<p>There is absolutely no reason to add any red dyes to hummingbird sugar water. After all, natural flower nectar is clear, and hummingbird feeders have colorful parts that attract hummingbird regardless of the color of the sugar water.<\/p>\n<p>Sheri Williamson of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sabo.org\/index.htm\">Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory (SABO)<\/a>, and author of <a href=\"https:\/\/peterson-field-guides.harpercollins.com\/product?isbn=9780618024964\">A Field Guide to Hummingbirds<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Attracting-Feeding-Hummingbirds-T-F-H-Birds\/dp\/0793835801\">Attracting and Feeding Hummingbirds<\/a>, writes, &#8220;The bottom line is that \u2018instant nectar\u2019 products containing artificial coloring are at best a waste of your hard-earned money and at worst a source of disease, suffering, and premature death in hummingbirds.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3>More About Hummingbirds:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/whats-the-best-recipe-for-hummingbird-nectar\/\">What\u2019s The Best Recipe For Hummingbird Nectar?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/feeding-hummingbirds\/\">More on feeding hummingbirds<\/a>, including the best feeders, feeder placement, and the \u201creal\u201d diet of hummingbirds.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/summertime-in-the-united-states-of-hummingbirds\/\">Summertime In The United States Of Hummingbirds<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/should-i-stop-feeding-birds-in-fall-so-they-can-start-their-migration\/\">Should I Stop Feeding Birds In Fall So They Can Start Their Migration?<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Explore the hummingbirds of the U.S. and Canada in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/browse\/taxonomy\/Trochilidae\">All About Birds species guide<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Learn about the hundreds of hummingbird species south of the border in <a href=\"https:\/\/birdsoftheworld.org\/bow\/species\/trochi1\/cur\/introduction\">Birds of the World<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There is absolutely no reason to add any red dyes to hummingbird sugar water. After all, natural flower nectar is clear, and hummingbird feeders have colorful parts that attract hummingbird<a class=\"excerpt-read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/should-i-use-red-food-coloring-in-hummingbird-food\/\" title=\"ReadShould I use red food coloring in hummingbird food?\">&#8230; Read more 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