Hummingbirds are known for drinking sweet homemade sugar water from feeders and nectar from flowers.
While traditional hummingbird feeders and pollinator plants are a great way to attract hummingbirds to your yard, an overripe banana may be the secret to attracting more.
While nectar is a vital energy source and carbohydrate, protein is essential for their health. Hummingbirds need a significant amount of protein in addition to nectar and derive about 80% of their diet from insects.
Insects supply them with essential nutrients like amino acids, fat, and salt. So, how does an overripe banana tie into this? The aroma of decomposing bananas can attract fruit flies, an essential staple in the hummingbird diet.
Despite their size, hummingbirds consume a wide range of prey and are experts at aerial hunting.
Their protein-rich diet consists of gnats, ants, spiders, mites, insect larvae, eggs, and mosquitoes, among others.
Hummingbirds are known to grab insects directly from the air, directly from spiderwebs, and even underneath leaves. Overripe bananas may be the key to attracting some of these essential insects.