What You Need
You can make a simple swing for hummingbirds with basic materials you probably already have around the house, or you can opt for special craft items to make a more elaborate or detailed swing. The basic components you need are:
The Perch
A small piece of balsa wood or similar craft wood, a twig, or any other fairly straight item will work, even an unsharpened pencil. Avoid plastic materials that won’t provide suitable traction for hummingbird feet, and be sure the perch is roughly the same diameter as a pencil for the most comfort for perching hummers.
Thick Wire
Strong floral or copper wire will form the arch of the swing. The wire’s exact gauge does not matter, but it should be strong enough to hold its shape well but thin enough that it can be easily molded into the appropriate form.
Thin Wire
Thinner, more pliable wire is great for weaving decorative accents onto your swing and will help provide more stability to the swing’s structure. Avoid the very thinnest wires that will break easily, but choose a wire that is easy to twist and coil into fun shapes.
Decorative Accents
Beads, ribbons, small silk flowers, dangling crystals, and other colorful accents are great options for decorating a hummingbird swing. Red and pink hues will be most attractive to hummingbirds, but any colorful or sparkly accent will help catch these birds’ notice and attract them to the yard. In addition to these items, you will also need wire snips or cutters, pliers, and a file or sandpaper to build your swing.
Making a Hummingbird Swing
Once you have gathered all your tools and materials, it’s easy to build a swing for hummingbirds.
Hummingbird Swing Tips
Once you’ve built your hummingbird swing, it’s time to make the most of it and enjoy the hummingbirds that discover this creative and practical perch.
If the swing is crooked, do not worry. Hummingbirds will still use a quirky, off-center swing as long as the perch is reasonably level, and you can try reshaping the wire to help balance the structure and even out the shape. Adding an extra bead or another accent can also help balance the swing’s weight for more even hanging. Hang the swing in a sunny, eye-catching spot near a popular feeding area with nectar-rich flowers or suitable hummingbird feeders. It may take hummingbirds a few days to discover the swing, but they will quickly begin using it as a favorite perch. Consider making several hummingbird swings for very popular feeding areas, positioning the swings in different locations for different birds to use. This will give many hummingbirds the opportunity to enjoy the swings and will reduce competition between more aggressive hummingbirds. Clean the swing often by wiping it down with a damp rag to remove any feces, pollen, nectar, dirt, or other debris. Hummingbirds will wipe their bills on the perch, which can pass bacteria between different birds that use the swing. Keeping it clean will minimize the risk of contaminating multiple birds.
A hummingbird swing is a quick, easy project to make, and as soon as you hang one for hummingbirds to use, they’ll quickly take advantage of such a perfect perch.
