HOUSE DIGEST - Have you ever noticed that many hummingbird feeders are bright red? Have you ever wondered why? Well, science indicates that the vibrant color attracts hummingbirds, which is also likely why nectars have long been colored red. Although the little birds have a penchant for red, it has been less obvious whether or not their food needs to be dyed that way to get their attention. So, we consulted with Dr. Christopher J. Clark of the Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology department at the University of California Riverside.
It makes sense that the color is added to feeder nectar. After all, the birds are drawn to red as an indicator of food. "Many hummingbird-pollinated flowers, such as Salvia, Fuchsia, or Ipomopsis, are red," Clark said. "Hummingbirds learn to associate red with food. Since hummingbirds are always on the lookout for new food sources, they investigate red objects to see if they are flowers."