Hummingbirds are specialized avian nectar feeders with an incredibly high metabolism, requiring constant energy from sweet sources. These tiny birds must consume roughly half their body weight in sugar daily, making them highly selective about the flowers they visit. Their survival depends on maximizing energy intake while minimizing foraging effort. Therefore, a flower’s physical structure and nutritional content are the primary factors dictating their feeding choices.
The Daisy Verdict
Hummingbirds generally do not seek out or feed from daisies. The daisy’s structure, a composite flower head, is unsuitable for a hummingbird’s unique feeding style. Its flat, open form does not provide the deep, tubular reservoir needed to protect nectar from insects and the elements. This open structure means the small amount of nectar produced is easily accessible to generalist insects, which quickly deplete the supply.
The energy return from a daisy is too low to sustain the hummingbird’s intense metabolic rate. They expend significant energy hovering, and a quick, shallow sip from a flat flower does not justify the effort. The daisy’s morphology does not meet the physical requirement of a flower that forces the bird to hover while extracting a substantial amount of nectar.
Features Hummingbirds Seek in Flowers
Hummingbird foraging behavior is driven by three main biological requirements, starting with flower shape. They overwhelmingly prefer a deep, tubular structure that perfectly accommodates their long bills and tongues. This specialized shape prevents larger insects, such as bees, from easily accessing the nectar, reserving the sugary reward for the bird pollinator. The elongated corolla also forces the bird to hover, which is necessary for pollination.
The second feature is color, with a strong preference for red and orange flowers. While hummingbirds have acute color vision and visit various hues, red is often favored because many insects, particularly bees, do not see red prominently. This “bee-avoidance” strategy means red flowers are more likely to have a higher, unpilfered nectar concentration. Hummingbirds are ultimately driven by learned association and will choose any color that consistently provides a rich reward.
Finally, nectar composition is a major factor in their selection. Hummingbirds prefer nectar with a high sucrose concentration, ideally between 13% and 28% sugar content by weight. This concentrated sugar provides the immediate fuel needed for their rapid wing beats and constant activity. Flowers adapted for hummingbird pollination have evolved to produce this specific, high-quality fuel source.
Ideal Garden Alternatives
To successfully attract these specialized feeders, gardeners should replace daisies with flowers that exhibit the preferred tubular shape and high nectar content. Planting these alternatives in large, dense groupings makes the food source more visible and appealing. Avoiding the use of systemic pesticides also ensures the tiny insects they consume for protein remain safe.
- Salvia: Offers long-blooming, tubular flowers in colors like red and purple.
- Bee Balm (Monarda didyma): Produces globe-shaped clusters of bright red or pink tubular flowers packed with nectar.
- Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans): Often called a “hummingbird magnet” due to its large, fiery orange-red tubular blossoms and rich nectar supply.
- Fuchsia species: Provides a consistent and favored food source, particularly those with dangling, tubular flowers.