What's The Best Place To Put A Hummingbird Swing To Get More Frequent Visitors?

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When you're working on creating a layout for your yard or pollinator garden, one feature you don't want to forget is a hummingbird swing or perch. Hummingbirds are a joy to watch, and providing the little birds with a spot, or even multiple spots, to sit and rest is a great way to encourage them to visit more often. If you only have space for one hummingbird swing, try locating it relatively close to your feeder and in an area with dappled sun. 

Hummingbirds can be fascinating to watch, so try locating a swing in a spot where you can easily observe and enjoy the birds' behavior. One thing you might quickly notice, though, is that hummingbirds can be quite territorial. That's part of why multiple swings or perches are best when possible. While a male's feeding territory can be around ¼ of an acre, this can vary based on how much food is available and how much competition there is. 

You can place some perches in more open areas, while a few others can be put in protected spots that are sheltered by trees and shrubs to appeal to as many hummingbirds as possible. Either way, make sure the perch is high enough off the ground that the birds are safe from predators like cats. Pop's Birding, a company that sells hummingbird swings and feeders, suggests also locating at least one of your swings about a foot from your feeder. Their rationale is that this will limit the amount of energy the birds have to use travelling between the two spots. 

While hummingbird swings are readily available to purchase, like this elegant little swing from Home-X, you can also easily DIY a charming swing for the birds to enjoy. If you have the time and space, you can buy or create multiple perches and swings to place throughout your garden. Keeping some of the perches and feeders out of direct view of each other should also help to limit conflict between the territorial little birds. You may notice that the female birds prefer the perches in more sheltered locations, while the swings that are out in the open tend to be favored by males.

Hummingbirds can be found throughout the Americas and have been seen in every U.S. state except Hawaii, so there's a good chance they visit your area. If you've put up a swing and feeder and still aren't getting any visitors, consider tying a red ribbon to your swing to help catch the attention of the little birds. Red is the best color for attracting hummingbirds and can be used on feeders, swings, and perches. You may also want to plant some of their favorite red blooms, like cardinal flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) and scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea), close by. Many hummingbirds are migratory, so they may only visit your hummingbird-friendly garden during certain months of the year. For example, gardeners in the Northeastern United States will likely only have hummingbirds in their area from May through September.