These are products I actually use in my own yard and for my photography. Amazon links on this page are affiliate links — if you buy through them I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Support My Work
Before buying anything, consider supporting my work directly:
Stephen Sherrard Photography
Buy prints and digital downloads of my hummingbird photos directly.
@backyard_hummingbirds_pnw
Hummingbird videos from the Pacific Northwest as well as our trips to Central and South America
@backyard_hummingbirds_pnw
New photos and reels posted regularly.
Feeders & Supplies
Feeders
First Nature Hummingbird Feeders
My favorite. Gravity-fed with a shallow reservoir, easy to completely disassemble and clean, and inexpensive enough to replace every year or two without much thought. I run several of these in my yard. One downside: bees can reach the ports, so pair them with an ant moat above.
View on Amazon →Handheld Hummingbird Feeder
A small window-mounted feeder that lets birds come right to you. Great for close-up photography or working toward hand-feeding.
View on Amazon →Nectar & Accessories
C&H Pure Cane Sugar
For making homemade nectar. Mix 1 part white granulated sugar to 4 parts water. No food coloring, no honey, no artificial sweeteners — that's all you need.
View on Amazon →Ant/Insect Moats
Water-filled barriers that hang above the feeder and stop ants from reaching the nectar. Essential if you have ant problems.
View on Amazon →12" Hanging Brackets
For mounting feeders off window frames or walls. Useful for positioning feeders close to windows for photography.
View on Amazon →Shepherd Hooks
Various heights for placing feeders in garden beds or away from structures. I use several throughout my yard.
View on Amazon →Anti-Collision Window Decals
Static cling stickers that make glass visible to birds. Worth having if you have large windows near active feeders.
View on Amazon →Photo & Video Gear
I shoot with Canon mirrorless gear. Here's what I currently use and recommend:
Cameras
Canon EOS R5 Mark II
My main camera. Exceptional autofocus, 45MP sensor, excellent high-ISO performance. Overkill for most people, but if you're serious about hummingbird photography it's hard to beat.
View on Amazon →Canon EOS R7
A crop-sensor mirrorless that gives you extra reach on telephoto lenses. A great option if you want the R-mount system at a lower price than the R5.
View on Amazon →Canon EOS R10
The most affordable entry into the Canon RF mount system. Good autofocus and image quality for the price.
View on Amazon →Lenses
Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS
After using the below EF version for several years, I upgraded to the native RF mount version with extra reach. If you're buying new for an R-series body, this is the way to go — no adapter needed.
View on Amazon →Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II
My previous go-to lens for hummingbird photography. Excellent autofocus, great image stabilization, very sharp at 400mm. Requires an EF-to-RF adapter on R-series bodies, but works extremely well.
View on Amazon →Software
DxO PhotoLab
I've switched from Lightroom to PhotoLab as my main editing software. The PureRAW noise reduction engine is built directly into the RAW processing pipeline, so every file gets it automatically — no extra step, and the results are even better than the standalone PureRAW workflow. If you're serious about high-ISO wildlife photography, this is where I'd start. DxO provides me with complimentary software to test and review; I use it because it genuinely produces better results. See my high ISO photography post for more detail.
Visit DxO.com →DxO PureRAW
If you're already invested in Lightroom and don't want to switch, PureRAW slots right into your existing workflow — process your RAW files first, then open the results in Lightroom as you normally would. The noise reduction is unlike anything built into Lightroom or Photoshop. A great entry point into DxO's technology.
Visit DxO.com →Educational Resources
Hummingbirds (Amazon Prime Documentary)
A well-produced nature documentary on hummingbirds. Great background watching if you're new to the hobby.
PBS Nature: Hummingbirds
Look for hummingbird episodes on PBS Nature. Excellent production quality and accurate information.
Audubon Society
Great identification resources and conservation information for North American birds.
Affiliate disclosure: Amazon links on this page are part of the Amazon Associates program. I earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use.