Some are convinced that if they do not put the red food coloring in their feeders, they will lose their hummingbirds. The truth is, hummers don’t know the color of the nectar. They key in on the feeder. More specifically, they key in on the “flower” opennings, stick the tip of their bill in and lap the nectar like a dog. They don’t look into the holes to check the color. Clear nectar is fine.