Lifestyle

Want to attract more hummingbirds? Replace yellow feeders with $7 feeding ports that bring in birds, not bees

Better Homes and Gardens · Jul 15, 2026 09:00 · 3 min read

Solve your yellow jacket problem for less than the cost of a latte.

You’re making a big mistake with your hummingbird feeders—and no, it has nothing to do with which nectar you buy. But don’t worry, this common faux pas can easily be rectified by an $8 hack.

Now, that doesn’t mean you have to toss your hummingbird feeders. Amazon sells tiny plastic replacement flowers for as little as 27 cents apiece. Simply swap out the yellow ports that came with your feeder, then replace them with these all-red ones.

Why do these all-red feeding ports work? It’s not that hummingbirds aren’t attracted to yellow. In fact, the National Audubon Society reports that the retina of a hummingbird is wired to heighten the brightness of both red and yellow because the colors indicate a food source. Hence, historically, hummingbird feeders featured both hues.

But yellow jackets (and other bees) are attracted to yellow, too.

Watris Veiyi 30-Piece Hummingbird Feeder Replacements

Amazon Watris Veiyi 30 Sets Hummingbird Feeder Replacement Flower Pots — Credit: Amazon

$8 at Amazon

Most hummingbird feeders come with yellow (or at least, partially yellow) feeding ports. But because even the smallest sliver of yellow attracts yellow jackets. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep bees away from hummingbird feeders, here’s your answer. And you’ll never wonder how to keep bees away from hummingbird feeders again.

Now on sale, the 30 feeding ports come out to roughly 27 cents apiece. The universal replacement flowers measure 1.2 inches and fit most standard hummingbird feeders. They offer tool-free installation, too; just pop ’em in with your hand!

The ports themselves are easy to clean, and will last a long time with proper care. Use a cotton swab, straw cleaner, or mascara wand to glide over the surface to loosen any dirt or buildup. For a deeper clean, pop them out of the feeder and rinse with water.

These all-red ports prevent hummingbird feeders from being overrun by yellow jackets, but they also extend the shelf life of feeders, too. Instead of chucking them out when hummingbird feeders get too grimey, you can replace the ports for less than a latte.

Shoppers are also delighted by the ease of use, installation, and convenience of these plastic replacement flowers. “We’ve used two [of these] all summer and find that they do a good job of keeping insects out of the nectar, especially bees and ants,” one five-star reviewer wrote. “We’ve used many designs over the years and this is the best.”

Another shopper said, “These snapped right in with no problem and no leaks so far,” while someone else wrote, “They are perfect for replacing bee-proof flowers on my feeders.”

By eliminating yellow from your hummingbird feeders and turning the “brightness” up, on the feeder’s red features, so to speak, you increase your chances of deterring bees and only attracting these fast-flapping feathered friends.

Shop the Watris Veiyi 30-Piece Hummingbird Feeder Replacements for $8—that’s 27 cents apiece—at Amazon right now.