It is incredibly exciting to see a hummingbird swoop in to your feeder for a quick sip, but how many of these birds are really breezing by your buffet? You might have a bigger crowd of these little birds visiting than you realize.

How Many Hummingbirds Are You Seeing?

Hummingbirds may be small, but it is always fun to see one, two, or even three of these tiny, glittering birds at your feeders. In reality, however, there may be many more hummingbirds flying through your yard. Because hummingbirds look nearly identical, especially when you  may only get quick glimpses as these speedy fliers whiz by, it can be hard to count them accurately to know how many are visiting.

Hummingbirds first start visiting feeders in mid- to late spring as they arrive back in northern yards after migrating from their tropical wintering grounds. At first, just one or two early migrators may be visiting, but the flock will grow as more birds arrive. Migrating hummingbirds may stay in the same area to refuel for several days if the food source is reliable, and so the flock will continue to grow.

In early summer, visits to feeders slow down as hummingbird populations have spread out across their full breeding range. At the same time, nesting female hummers are much more wary as they tend to eggs and hatchlings, and may not be visiting feeders as frequently or for as long. During the summer months, there are also many more wildflowers blooming, giving hummingbirds more natural food sources to visit. This may mean they aren’t as likely to visit feeders.

Late summer, however, can be the busiest time at hummingbird feeders. The most northern hummingbirds are beginning to slowly move south again, visiting feeders to fuel their long-distance travels. At the same time, young fledglings are leaving the nest and beginning to investigate new food sources, including feeders.

In early fall, hummingbird numbers drop again as some young, inexperienced birds succumb to predators – as is common with all bird species – and migrating individuals move along on their journeys. As a special note, offering feeders to migrating hummingbirds will not delay their travels, but will only ensure they have food to fuel their way.

Ultimately, the exact number of hummingbirds visiting your feeders will not only fluctuate throughout the season, but also depending on where in the birds’ migration paths you may be and what other natural food sources are available. Still, it can be possible to estimate how many hummingbirds are really visiting your feeders.

Calculating Your Hummingbird Flock

There are several ways you can determine the numbers of hummers visiting your feeders. While elaborate calculations might take into account the birds’ weight versus the volume of nectar consumed over a certain period of time, such calculations can be tricky because there are so many variables at work. A bird’s appetite, how far it flies to reach the feeder, how many flowers it visits, the nectar volume of those flowers, any leaks from the feeder, or sips stolen by other birds or insects can all influence the accuracy of these calculations.

A simpler but still reasonably accurate way to estimate hummingbirds is with a simple count and multiplier. First, count all the hummingbirds you are able to see at one time – to ensure no double counting of the same individual bird – during the busiest part of their feeding schedule. You might even make this count several times throughout the day for comparison.

Then, multiply that count by six. Therefore, if you see just two hummingbirds at the same time, there are likely 12 visiting your feeders throughout the day. If you see five hummingbirds, you may be feeding 30.

The six-times multiplier has been determined by years’ of data from hummingbird banders, and while it may not be completely precise, it is a good rough estimate of the number of hummingbirds in an area. You can even further refine this estimate depending on the time of year. Early or late in the season when fewer hummingbirds are around, multiplying by four may be a better estimate of your feeder guests, while at the height of the season during peak migration, multiplying by eight or even ten could provide an idea of the size of the flock.

Estimating the size of your hummingbird flock can make it easier to plan how much nectar you need, how many feeders you should hang, or what flowers to add to your landscaping to help keep everyone’s appetite satiated. While a perfectly accurate number may not be possible to determine – these birds do keep flying, after all – knowing roughly how many birds you’re feeding can be helpful, and is also a fun way to keep track of how successful and popular your yard is for these charming birds.