These Unique Hummingbird Feeders Add Some Serious Whimsy To Any Yard

If you love attracting hummingbirds to your yard and garden as much as we do, odds are you have at least one hummingbird feeder hanging around your home, or you're at least considering purchasing one. The most common type of hummingbird feeder is the classic cylindrical one, with clear glass or plastic walls and a red base with flowers on it. There's nothing inherently wrong with this style of feeder, and the red coloring certainly works great to lure the tiny birds in. However, if you find yourself wanting to add a touch of whimsy to your yard with a more unique option, you're in luck, because there are some seriously stunning ornamental hummingbird feeders on the market made from blown glass or ceramics. Most ornamental feeders also have the classic cylindrical or saucer shape, but some come in more unique styles that resemble wind chimes.

While deciding which hummingbird feeder to add to your yard, keep in mind that red is the best color to add to your garden for attracting hummingbirds, but they don't care too much about the shape. What does matter though is how easy your hummingbird feeder is to clean. To keep hummingbirds from getting sick, feeders need to be cleaned and nectar needs to be replaced as often as every day in a hot climate, or two times per week in cooler places. Fragile ornamental feeders can be a little more difficult to clean than basic ones, so know your limits, and be sure to choose a feeder that won't be too much hassle for you to take care of.

The main shapes for ornamental hummingbird feeders are saucer, cylindrical, helix, and vertical individual hanging feeders. Most are made from glass rather than plastic, which is actually better for hummingbirds because mold sticks to plastic more than it does glass, making glass feeders easier to clean.

While all these ornamental hummingbird feeders are beautiful, each shape has its own unique benefits and drawbacks. The larger cylindrical styles can obviously hold more nectar than the smaller ones, which means you won't have to worry as much about hungry hummingbirds draining the feeder in between cleanings. A downside of the cylindrical feeder, though, is that in hot weather the nectar can seep out of the openings, attracting bees and other pests. Saucer-shaped feeders don't typically have this problem, as the nectar is under the openings, but they do hold less nectar. 

The vertical stackable hummingbird feeders are a great option for one that's unique and also very easy to clean. For most of them, you just have to slide out each individual feeder and clean it, which may be more convenient than cleaning one big container. Plus, having multiple separate individual feeders might be a good solution for feisty hummingbirds who don't like sharing. You'll likely just have to refill it more frequently as the feeders are very small. Another downside of these feeders is that it'll be easy for ants to get into the nectar if you can't find ant moats that fit the tiny pieces.

If you like the idea of stackable mini hummingbird feeders, then you might like the Triple Orb Glass Hummingbird Feeder from The Birdhouse Chick, which sells for just under $100. Made from recycled glass, it is both eco-friendly and easy to clean. You just need to pop out the individual feeder pieces and hand wash them. With its elegant look, this feeder can also serve as decorative yard decor even when it's not being swarmed by hummingbirds.

Another unique hummingbird feeder option is the Cut Glass Red Ruby Hummingbird Feeder also from The Birdhouse Chick, which retails for $78.50. This feeder is made from hand-blown glass, and is shaped into a striking spiral. It comes in a deep ruby red hue with a copper base, which must do a lot to attract hummers, as one reviewer wrote "I've never seen so many hummingbirds until I put out these lovely feeders." While the shape is very unique and certainly part of its allure, it also may make it difficult to clean the feeder, due to its narrow base. Overall, both of these ornamental hummingbird feeders are great options for adding a piece of art to your outdoor space, while simultaneously luring hummingbirds to your yard.