• Hummingbirds eat sugar water from hummingbird feeders as part of their diet.hummingbird image by Tony Fortunato from Fotolia.com
  
  Although hummingbirds rarely weigh more than 20 grams, or about two-thirds of an ounce, these tiny birds can fly at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. Hummingbird wings can beat anywhere from 60 to 200 times per second, and their energy requirements to sustain such high activity levels are higher than most animals. Hummingbirds eat nearly half their weight in nectar every day and their migratory patterns match the blooming times and locations of their favorite flowers.
  
  

Nectar

• The main component of a hummingbird's diet is the nectar found in a variety of flowers such as bee balms, honeysuckles and columbines. Hummingbirds seem to prefer red and orange flowers over other colors, probably because the flowers are brighter and easier to identify in the landscape. Many of the hummingbird's favorite types of flowers are long and tubular because fewer animals can access the nectar in these flowers, leaving more for the hummingbirds.
  
  

Insects

• Hummingbirds meet their protein, vitamin and mineral needs by catching and consuming small insects such as spiders and flies. The need for protein is especially demanding during the mating season, when mothers often catch insects and take them back to their nests to feed the young. Backyard hummingbird enthusiasts can leave out bits of ripe fruit such as banana peels to attract flies for hummingbirds to feed on.
  
  

Sugar Water

• Backyard hummingbird enthusiasts often substitute a mixture of sugar and water for the nectar hummingbirds obtain from plants. Although sugar water does not contain all of the nutrients in nectar, it does provide hummingbirds with the energy they need to sustain their metabolism and activity level. Sugar solution for hummingbird feeders should contain four parts room-temperature water to one part table sugar. Tap water or well water is better than distilled water because it provides the hummingbirds with more nutrients and salts such as potassium chloride.
  
  

Sap

• In some locations in the north or at higher elevations, hummingbirds benefit from the work of sapsucker woodpeckers. When a woodpecker is not around its sap well, hummingbirds may sneak in and eat some of the sap. The sap provides sugar and energy for hummingbirds.