How do hummingbirds find a new feeder so fast?

Question

I hung up a hummingbird feeder and within 15 minutes hummingbirds were already coming to feed. Do they go by sight or smell to find food?

Answer 1

Both, but mainly sight.  They are always on the alert for bright colors, which in nature, usually indicates a flower.

You also probably already had Hummingbirds in your area and you didn't know it.

Did you know that they are the only bird that can fly backwards?

Answer 2

Sight...they see the bright color of the feeder and think it is a flower and will go try it out.  I often see hummingbirds trying to feed from colorful wind chimes and flagging.  They basically check out anything that might be a flower and they get lucky if it is a feeder someone has put out.

Answer 3

Sight.  Birds are known to have a very poor sense of smell.  This is why flowers that are pollinated only by birds are generally not aromatic.