Honestly, I'm not entirely sure — but my best guess is that we've been maintaining multiple feeders in our yard for many years now, and hummingbirds have excellent memories. The same birds return every spring and seem to bring others. At peak times in late summer we'll have well over 40 feeding from our six feeders at once.

The key is multiple feeders spaced well apart — ideally out of line-of-sight from each other, so it's harder for one territorial bird to guard them all. One dominant bird can chase all the others away from a single feeder, but they can't be everywhere at once.

See Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Yard for more on our setup.

Plain homemade nectar — 1 part white granulated sugar to 4 parts water. That's it. Don't buy store-bought nectar; commercial products often contain food coloring or preservatives that aren't good for the birds, and they cost far more than making your own.

Never use honey, artificial sweeteners, or any kind of food dye. The red on your feeder is enough to attract them — they don't need red liquid.

Full details and my exact method in How to Make Your Own Hummingbird Nectar.

I use First Nature hummingbird feeders almost exclusively. They're inexpensive, come apart completely for cleaning, and my birds seem to prefer them over everything else I've tried. I own six of them.

The full rundown — including why I prefer them, their downsides, and a few honorable mentions — is in The Best Hummingbird Feeders. Product links are also on the Gear Guide.

In the Pacific Northwest, Anna's hummingbirds are year-round residents, so you can keep feeders out all winter — and many people do. Rufous hummingbirds typically arrive in March and head south by late summer or early fall, so if you're trying to catch them, get your feeders out by late February or early March.

If you're in a colder climate where hummingbirds migrate away for winter, put feeders out a week or two before they're expected to return in spring. Don't take them down too early in fall — migrating birds passing through need the food source.

In hot weather, every two to three days. In cooler weather, at least once a week. Never just top off a feeder — empty it completely, scrub it with hot water and a brush, and let it dry before refilling.

This isn't optional. Dirty feeders can kill hummingbirds. Read Neglected Feeders Kill Hummingbirds if you want to understand why it matters.

Ant moats are the most effective solution — they hang above the feeder and hold water that ants can't cross. I use them on all my feeders. You can find them on the Gear Guide page, or check the accessories section of The Best Hummingbird Feeders.

The two you'll most commonly see in western Washington and Oregon:

Anna's Hummingbird — Year-round resident. The males have a striking iridescent magenta gorget. These are the birds you'll see at your feeder in January.

Rufous Hummingbird — Summer visitor, typically March through August. Males are a brilliant rufous-orange. They're extremely territorial and will aggressively defend feeders.

Calliope Hummingbird — Less common, passes through during migration. Smallest bird in North America.

You can see photos of both Anna's and Rufous in the Hummingbird Photos galleries.

Patience is the main thing — it can take days, weeks, or even a full season for hummingbirds to find a new feeder, especially if you're new to an area or starting fresh. Keep the nectar fresh, keep the feeder clean, and give it time.

If birds are in the area but ignoring the feeder, check the location. Partial shade is better than full sun, and having a perch or tree branch nearby helps. Make sure the nectar is the right ratio (1:4 sugar to water) and hasn't gone cloudy.

Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible — they're the only ones legally permitted to care for wild birds. Search for "wildlife rehabilitator" plus your city or county to find one nearby.

In the meantime, keep the bird warm and in a quiet, dark place (a small cardboard box works). Don't try to feed it or give it water. Get it to a rehabilitator as quickly as you can.