It’s Peak Season for Bird-Watchers to Spot Migratory Hummingbirds, and Our Favorite Feeder Is on Sale

Although most people Combine the start of March with the hope of spring and the indignities of daylight saving time, there’s another important event taking place in yards across the country: hummingbird season.

While many hummingbird species can be seen in the regions year-round, others are migratory and this period usually marks their return from the wintering grounds of Central and South America. These small birds can lose up to 40% of their weight after traveling thousands of miles, and because many flowers have not yet bloomed, nectar feeders can be an essential fuel source.

Although I test smart bird feeders year-round, I don’t use hummingbird feeders as often as I should, because it’s imperative that they be cleaned and refilled with new nectar every few days to avoid deadly bacteria and mold (a 1:4 ratio of granulated sugar to water is best, and avoid any dyes or additives), and I don’t always have time.

But if you’re considering investing the energy into maintaining a hummingbird feeder, now is the best time, because you have the chance to see migratory species you might not otherwise encounter, like black-chinned hummingbirds. A smart feeder helps you identify them, whether they stop at your feeder on their way north or arrive at their final destination.

Birdbuddy’s Pro is the smart hummingbird feeder that I recommend and use myself when I’m not actively testing. The app is easy to navigate and sends cleaning reminders, the built-in solar roof keeps the battery charged, and unlike other feeders, only the shallow bottom unscrews for filling. No need to pour sticky nectar through a narrow opening or turn a giant cylinder upside down and risk spilling it.

Note that this isn’t perfect; The sensor is inconsistent and doesn’t capture every hummingbird that visits, but for the quality of the camera (5 MP photos, 2K slow-motion video, 122-degree field of view) and ease of use, it’s a weakness I’m willing to put up with. If you already have another Birdbuddy feeder, the hummingbird feeder images and videos will fit seamlessly into your app feed.

Right now, the feeder is 37% off on the Birdbuddy website, a deal I don’t usually see outside of sales events like Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day. Note that the feeder only works on 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and while it’s fully functional without a subscription, a Birdbuddy Premium subscription will allow you to add friends and family members to your account so they can see the birds, too. That’s $99 per year through the app.

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