Add A Hummingbird Swing To Your Yard With These Important Tips

Attracting hummingbirds to your yard could save you from itchy bites (the birds prey on insect pests as much as they sip on nectar) and give you hours of backyard bird-watching enjoyment on lazy Sunday mornings. If you're trying to create a welcoming garden for these gem-feathered visitors, you probably already have feeders up, but you likely don't have a hummingbird swing. If you want to add a hummingbird swing to your existing backyard birding setup, important tips to keep in mind include choosing a swing with a grippy perch and lots of room for landing and take off, and hanging it in a shady spot about a foot from your feeder.

Why add a hummingbird swing to your collection of bird-friendly backyard features in the first place? Avian experts like Audubon state perches are an essential part of creating a hummingbird-friendly garden — cute swings included. Though we most often see hummingbirds hovering around a feeder, they actually spend quite a lot of time sitting stationary, resting, sleeping, preening, predator spotting, and lying in wait for insect snacks. Male hummers also use preferred perches for guarding territory or as leks (perch-on-able display sites). In fact, research suggests hummingbirds may perch far more than they fly, especially during times of scarcity or difficult climatic conditions. They also don't hop like other birds, so clinging to a twig — or a hummingbird swing — is their only option when it's time to take a break.

Here's the real question you should be asking: Is a purpose-made swing better than sticking a dead branch into the ground near your hummingbird feeder? Practically speaking, not really. A bird can perch just as well on a twig or branch as it can on a swing. But if you care about garden aesthetics, a hummingbird swing is undeniably cute. Plus, they make a great frame for avid backyard wildlife photographers looking to get a coveted still-hummer shot.

With so many hummingbird swing options available, there are a few things you need to look for in the perfect perch. Carefully examine the hook mechanism on the swing. You want something sturdy, so it won't fall down in the wind; flexible, so it's easy to hang wherever you want it and take it down if you wish to move it; and not so tight that it damages the branch you hang it on or stops the swing from, well, swinging. Consider how grippy the horizontal perch is — some good options include real wood or plastic-coated wire. Avoid rope, since a hummer's tiny claws could get tangled in it, or anything with protruding metal pieces that could injure your visitor. Swings with red, orange, pink, and yellow decor — beads, faux flowers, red paint — might help attract hummingbirds, too. Size matters, too. Look for swings 2 or so inches high and across that provide enough room for easy flight.

Duncraft sells a copper hummingbird swing for under $18, which features a cherry-like bead hanging in the center. At 5.5 x 1/4 x 7 inches in size, it makes launches and landings easy. The copper beaded hummingbird swing at Perky Pet goes for about $8 and features attractive framing and rose-tinted beads. Get a swing with a life-like stick perch for $26 at Shop PBS. If you're handy and have some wire, dowel, and a few simple tools, you can bring the charm of hummingbirds to your garden with this easy DIY swing.

Once you've chosen the perfect hummingbird swing, the next thing to consider is placement. Most homeowners buy swings in an attempt to bolster visitor numbers to an ignored nectar feeder. In this case, hang the perch within a foot or so of said feeder and the pair about 30 to 50 feet away from your house. The area around a feeder swing should be free of clutter so birds can spot predators and survey their territory, and be shady. If you want to hang more than one swing, vary the heights. Hanging a swing near flowering shrubs will also encourage its use. If you want to provide a swing for hummingbirds to rest on, hang the perch in a discreet, sheltered spot that protects your wee feathered friends from icy winds, driving rain, and direct sunlight. Under the eaves of your home or patio roof is a good location.