Here on the eastern side of the U.S., Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are the sole breeders while out west they have a much wider variety including Black-chinned, Allen's, Anna's, Rufous and more. But don't let that take away from your hummingbird gusto, the feisty Ruby-throateds are more than entertaining.
If you're a hummingbird novice who wants to explore the fascinating world of these tiny creatures, you can bring hummingbirds to your yard with the help of a simple feeder. The feeder itself is best when it's easily cleaned and, of course, red. It's also helpful when the feeder incorporates an ant moat, a cup-like space in the middle of the feeder that you fill with water and thus keeps ants from crawling down the hanging apparatus and into the feeding holes.
Another important tidbit is the need to keep the nectar fresh. A mix of four parts water to one part sugar can attract mold and deter hummers so its important to change every three days or so. If the feeder is in straight sun, you may have to change it more often. You can tell when the nectar is going bad if it starts to become cloudy.
Don't despair if you aren't getting hummers, it may just take some time for them to start noticing the feeder. What may help is to incorporate red flowers nearby to further attract the little buggers. But just be sure to change the nectar often, because there's no doubt: they won't feed from a feeder with bad nectar.
So with this, enjoy a view into the highly esteemed world of hummingbirds.