The nectar dish holds 8 ounces of nectar (sugar water) and it sits on top of a ledge inside of the insulated container. The hummingbirds will be able to reach and drink from the top of the nectar dish. There might be a small amount of extra nectar at the bottom of the dish that they cannot reach. This was designed so that there is a larger volume of nectar in order to help maintain its temperature inside the feeder.