I don't think any feeder is superior over another. I have saucer types, perkey pets, and the little .99 ones from WalMart. I would say stay away from the novelty ones that are so pricey. Simple is better. Also homemade sugar water can not be beat. It has not been proven that red colored food hurts hummingbirds but it has not proven it doesn't. Why take chances. The nectar hummingbirds get from flowers is not red.

I have no idea about ruby-throated hummingbirds; we don't see them in the west. But our regular (rufous, Allen's and Anna's) do play favorites between feeder shapes. The Perky-pet Our Best is one of the favored; and not the easiest to clean. A tray style I have, can't recall the brand off hand, was a favorite with me for cleaning ease, but not as well liked by the birds. One of the decorative copper types ended up being very unpopular with the birds. I eventually just filled my garden with hummer-favorite flowers and stopped bothering with feeders (flowers were rated easiest to clean by me and always fresh!). For filling feeders, homemade sugar water is the best and least expensive way to go.

What always gets me about the best hummer plants list is that I have noticed that individual birds play favorites among the garden flowers, too! And it is not just a territory thing. Almost none favored the Clerodendrum bush, except a lone female Anna's. A constant battle royal broke out over the Leonotis last summer, yet it was in bloom this spring with scant use until recently. The Anna's like the Duranta and Lavender better than the Allen hummingbirds do. Yet they all like the Tecoma plants beside the Duranta. Hummers have tussled over emu bushes for a week, and ignored the flowers completely. What a fickle flying feathers favorite fiasco.

Maybe ruby-throated hummers are so hungry they don't care. ;)

Falcon

Your particularly pertinent post provides powerful points phor people!!

I think it was 1-2am . That is what happens when I post past prime perkiness periods. ;-)