Hummingbirds are sweet flying jewels with a seemingly insatiable appetite for nectar, but do they ever drink plain water to alleviate thirst? Understanding hummingbirds’ liquid needs can help you be sure you are providing both nectar and water in the right way for these birds to thrive.

Hummingbird Drinking Habits

The short answer to the question “do hummingbirds drink?” is both yes and no. Nectar is fluid, so technically, yes, hummingbirds do “drink” this sweet food (it is mostly water, after all). But to a hummingbird, drinking nectar is actually eating dinner – and breakfast, lunch, brunch, brinner, and assorted snacks, as hummers might visit hundreds of flowers and feeders for sips throughout the day. In fact, in one hovering sip, a hummingbird “licks” at the nectar approximately 18 times each second.

Nectar provides a hummingbird with hydration and sustenance all in one, so no, hummingbirds do not strictly need to drink plain water when they are thirsty. In very hot climates, however, especially if flowers or feeders are scarce, hummingbirds might take a sip of water. It is unclear whether these birds are actually seeking to drink the water or simply sampling it in desperation to find a nectar source.

How Hummingbirds Use Water

Hummingbirds will use plain, non-nectar water for bathing and preening, including keeping cool on the hottest summer days. With their high metabolism, hummingbirds can quickly get overheated as they feed, and flying through misters or sprinklers provides an instant cooling effect these birds love. Some hummers will even perch inside a cloud of mist or underneath a small dripper for an impromptu shower.

Shallow bubblers or wet puddles on rocks or other surfaces are also favorite places for hummingbirds to cool off. The birds will land in a shallow puddle (and for their tiny size, it has to be VERY shallow), rubbing against the wetness and flicking droplets about with their wings to get their backs and flanks wet as well. “Weeping rock” style fountains are a favorite for hummingbirds to try.

Positioning a mister or dripper to collect on a broad leaf or a rock depression is a great way to ensure there is a water source suitable for hummingbirds. It is important to keep a hummingbird water station away from a larger bird bath, as bathing sparrows, thrushes, and other songbirds would possibly intimidate hummingbirds and discourage them from checking out the water source.

Provide Both!

While hummingbirds may not often drink water directly, providing both nectar as a liquid food source as well as water for bathing is a great way to meet all of hummingbirds’ liquid needs in your yard. Even if hummingbirds don’t take to the plain water source too frequently, the sounds and sparkles of the water will attract not only more hummingbirds, but more birds overall for you to enjoy. Just be sure to clean water sources and wet surfaces regularly to keep the space fresh for the birds, just as you ought to clean your nectar feeders regularly, and you’ll have happy, healthy, cool hummingbirds enjoying all the liquid refreshment you provide.