Patent ID: 8720374

Claim:
A top-fill liquid hummingbird feeder for providing liquid nectar to hummingbirds, comprising: a liquid container configured to contain a volume of liquid nectar and having a top opening and a bottom portion with a downwardly oriented extension having an extension flow opening; a cap adapted to close said top opening and to be removed to allow filling through said top opening; a liquid tray configured to receive liquid nectar via said extension flow opening from said container, said liquid tray including at least one feeding port through which hummingbirds can access the liquid nectar in said tray; an attaching element positioned centrally in said tray and extending upwardly therefrom, said attaching element being engaged with said extension to secure the container to the tray; and a valve mechanism associated with said attaching element and including a movable member, said movable member being a separate element from said attaching element and movable with respect thereto, at least part of said movable member fitting over and encircling said attaching element, said movable member configured, through movement thereof, to selectively open and close said extension flow opening through which liquid in said container flows into said liquid tray, closure of said flow opening by said valve mechanism enabling said liquid container to be filled by removing said cap and adding liquid nectar through said top opening while, at the same time, preventing overflow of nectar through said feeding port.