Window Watch Feeder

The Bottom Line

A small but attractive feeder, the Window Watch Feeder available from Duncraft is a delightful way to get a close, intimate view of feeding hummingbirds. The simple but elegant floral motif features a generous reservoir for its small size and can be a beautiful addition to any window near flowers or other hummingbird feeding stations.

• Attractive design features abundant red color on the flower and reservoir to attract hummingbirds.
• Large suction cup attaches firmly to any clean window for a sturdy connection and up close views of visiting hummingbirds.

• Flower feeding port does not attach to the base, but the long tube helps keep it in place and a small dab of putty can easily secure it if desired.
• Metal flower feeding port and decorative accents can heat up quickly in the sun, but placing the feeder in a shaded location can mitigate this concern and help preserve the nectar for a longer period.
• The feeder's small capacity requires frequent refilling but also ensures that the nectar is fresher than in a large, untended feeder.

• Name: Window Watch Feeder (Item #5356)
• Manufacturer: Duncraft
• Feeder Type: Hummingbird / Nectar
• Height: 2.75" (7.0 cm)
• Diameter: 3.0" (7.6 cm)
• Capacity: 3 ounces
• Construction: Glass reservoir with metal feeding port and brass decorative accents
• Price: $21.95 (via Duncraft; prices from other retailers may vary)

The attractive Window Watch Feeder may seem delicate, but the glass reservoir is sturdy and thick, the metal flower is stiff and durable and the high quality suction cup is a proportionally large 2.5" (6.35 cm) to provide a sturdy, solid connection when this feeder is mounted to a window. Unlike traditional hummingbird feeders, there are no apparent perches on this small feeder, but hummingbirds can easily perch on the lip of the flower or the two small metal leaves and brass coil accent can be gently bent to provide perching space for feeding birds.

The round glass reservoir is coated with rich red color that matches the bold red of the flower, and so much red will easily attract hummingbirds, though the coating on the glass reservoir can be scratched off if not treated carefully. The yellow bee guard at the flower's center, however, may be more attractive to bees and wasps, and it unfortunately cannot be removed. Carefully coating the guard with red nail polish or paint can hide the yellow, however, but should be done very carefully so as not to clog the single feeding port.

The floral feeding port does not attach to the glass reservoir, and the thin metal is light enough that it may be susceptible to blowing away in high winds, though the long tube that descends into the pool of nectar can help keep it stable. A small dab of putty can also provide better stability to the flower without attaching it permanently so the feeder can still be easily cleaned and refilled. The long tubular design of the flower not only mimics the shape of flowers hummingbirds feed on best, but also helps serve as a deterrent against ants, bees and other insects that may covet the sweet nectar.

The angle of the flower as it rests in the reservoir base can be slightly adjusted by sliding the suction cup along the brass ring that holds the feeder upright. Ideally, the Window Watch Feeder would be best placed on a good viewing window in a shaded area, as extended exposure to sunlight can heat up the metal flower rapidly and cause the nectar to spoil more quickly. While the feeder is brilliantly colorful, its small size is still unobtrusive and it may be best to position the feeder near nectar-rich hummingbird flowers that will also attract these tiny birds to the area.

While this feeder comfortably holds three ounces of nectar, its small size will require frequent refilling, particularly if several hummingbirds visit regularly. The bowl's wide mouth makes both refilling and cleaning easy, but the red coating on the bowl can make it more difficult to discern the nectar level.

Small, attractive and colorful, the Window Watch Feeder can be a delightful addition to a hummingbird feeding station or on any window that also features a window box filled with flowers that attract hummingbirds. While the feeder's size may not be useful for a backyard that requires many large feeders to sate the appetites of dozens of hummingbirds, it can be a great supplemental feeder that will draw hummingbirds right to a window for intimate, extraordinary views or hummingbird photography.