Patent ID: 8739733

Claim:
A top-fill hummingbird feeder comprising: a liquid container with a liquid flow opening at a lower end and a removable cap at an upper end; a feeding basin positioned below and connectable to the lower end of the liquid container, said feeding basin having a cover and a base connected to one another to define an enclosure for containing liquid nectar, an upper surface of said cover having a plurality of feeding ports sized to receive a hummingbird's beak while preventing access to birds with larger beaks, nectar in the base of said feeding basin being accessible only through said feeding ports in said cover; and a sealing mechanism associated with the liquid flow opening of the liquid container and the feeding basin, said sealing mechanism including a float valve which, when the float valve is in a first position, said liquid flow opening is open allowing fluid to flow from said container into said basin and, when the float valve is in a second position, said liquid flow opening is closed to prevent fluid flow from said container into said basin, said float valve including a float and a sealing member coupled to one another and movable upwardly and downwardly together in response to changing fluid level in said feeding basin.