Want Hummingbirds in Your Yard? This Simple Trick Helps Them Build Nests
The Copperhead Den is dedicated to conserving copperheads and other South Texas wildlife, including tiny hummingbirds. If you love seeing hummingbirds in your yard, they shared a simple trick that can make your space even more inviting.
These tiny birds are always on the lookout for safe, cozy places to build their nests, and you can make it easy for them to choose your backyard. The Copperhead Den fills a suet feeder with soft nesting material (you can find them online for under $20), and once the hummingbirds discovered it, they got right to work helping themselves.
@copperhead_den Its that time of year....the hummingbirds are busy building their nests. There are so many of them we decided to help them out a little by offering some nesting material. They really like it! #hummingbird#nesting
original sound - The Copperhead Den
The Cooperhead Den shared a bit more in the caption, "It's that time of year....the hummingbirds are busy building their nests. There are so many of them that we decided to help them out a little by offering some nesting material. They really like it!"
Related: Woman Spots a Hummingbird Nest Right Outside Her Window and Gets the Sweetest Surprise
SIGN UP to get "pawsitivity" delivered right to your inbox with inspiring & entertaining stories about our furry & feathered friends
What Hummingbirds Use to Build Their Nests (and What Not to Give Them)
If you've ever seen a hummingbird nest up close, you know just how delicate they are. Hummingbirds, and all birds for that matter, use soft, flexible materials like plant fibers, moss, feathers, and even spider webs to build their nests, all of which help hold everything together.
You can gather things like cattail and dandelion fluff, down feathers, moss, twigs, pine needles, dried grass, bark, and even cotton, and place them in a bird feeder for easy access. One commenter, @trolling, even shared a photo of a bird collecting fur from her Golden Retriever to use.
That said, The Copperhead Den cautions, "Avoid dog hair if the dog is ever treated for fleas, ticks, or heartworms."
@Rexasauris shared, "Brilliant! I shed my horses in the pasture, and we will find nests packed with it. So cute!!"
Needless to say, hummingbirds will think they've hit the jackpot when they find all these natural materials waiting for them!
But there are also some materials you should avoid. According to All About Birds, things like plastic, tinsel, cellophane, and aluminum foil don't make safe nesting materials.
Sweet Seed also warns against dryer lint. "While it may seem soft and fluffy, dryer lint is packed with concentrated chemicals, dyes, and perfumes that can be toxic to birds, as well as longer strands that could tangle around tiny feet, necks, and wings."
When in doubt, stick to all-natural materials when offering nesting supplies to hummingbirds. It's the easiest way to make sure you're helping, not harming them.
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 9:00 PM.