Birds enjoy eating many different kinds of foods, but only some species require handfeeding. Offering the appropriate foods at the appropriate times will increase your success at handfeeding them.
Black oil sunflower seeds can be an essential wintertime food source. But instead of feeding these popular treats to House Sparrows and other undesirables, opt for striped sunflower seeds which are harder for these birds to crack open.
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Mealworms
Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) are larval beetles, providing an excellent protein-rich supplement for birdseed. You can purchase live mealworms as an attracting attractant or buy dry mealworms to add into a mix of bird seed and suet pellets.
Mealworms provide adult birds with nutritional and moisture needs during breeding and fledgling season, making them especially useful to young fledglings and nestlings still in the nest. Mealworms contain protein as well as moisture for nestlings to survive their journey into adulthood.
Mealworms can be an easy and enjoyable treat, but to minimize choking risks it’s advisable to soak them first in water or other solutions. Stale bread crusts or biscuits also work great as long as they do not contain anything too salty or sweet as this could be harmful.
Seed
Feeding birds seed, suet and fruit encourages a diverse species diversity. You can put table-like feeders on the ground for sparrows and juncos; place hopper or tray feeders in shrubs or trees for finches, chickadees and woodpeckers; or mount suet feeders high off the ground to draw woodpeckers and nuthatches to their feeders.
Avoid providing birds with foods they wouldn’t find naturally – this means nut mixes geared toward humans (high in salt), crackers, bread or any processed food products like peanut butter and crackers that contain added sugars. Stale oatmeal and cooked oats with no additional sweeteners such as peanut butter are excellent ways of attracting soft-billed birds such as blackbirds, thrashers, thrushes and wrens.
Shutt asserts that feeding wild birds not only benefits wildlife populations but can also help decrease disease transmission. A concentration of birds around one feeder brings them closer together than they would be in nature and thus makes it easier for diseases to pass from bird to bird.
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is an irresistibly tasty high-fat treat that birds find irresistible, providing energy for flight, preening, nesting and feeding activities.
Opt for unsalted, natural peanut butter that can be spread thinly to reduce stickiness and potential choking hazards for birds. Avoid adding other ingredients as this could result in nutritional deficiencies for the bird.
Large birds such as jays and crows prefer whole, in-shell peanuts while chickadees, bluebirds and titmice prefer shelled peanuts mixed with hearts or chips from shelled peanuts. You could also spread peanut butter onto bark or pinecones to attract woodpeckers and nuthatches.
Consider using feeders designed specifically to dispense peanut butter, which minimize contact between feathers and mess, as well as cleaning regularly to prevent spoilage or bacteria growth.
Sunflower
Sunflower seeds are an essential staple for winter feeding, providing songbirds with essential fat and nutrition during snowfall, ice storms, and bitter cold conditions. Safflower, milo and cracked corn can also help attract different species.
Striped sunflower seeds and heart chips (nutritious insides of sunflower seeds without their shells) are great food sources for smaller, younger birds that cannot open hard shells. It is important to remember, though, that plant proteins do not provide complete amino acid balance and birds should feed on various sources in order to meet all essential amino acid needs.
Nyjer seed, beloved of goldfinches and siskins, makes another delicious addition to your mix. Juncos, doves and woodpeckers alike enjoy this treat!
Millet
Millet is a beloved ground-feeding bird favorite among species like quails, native American sparrows, doves, towhees and juncos. As an alternative source of carbohydrate energy it encourages more varied diets among seed enthusiasts.
Birds love this treat as it’s easy for them to digest, providing many essential nutrients such as protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals – perfect for sick birds or baby weaners! It also makes an excellent treat.
Feeding wild birds foods they would not typically encounter in their natural environments such as milk (which can be fatal), bread, crackers, crisps, pet food, honey or bacon fat should be avoided to avoid overfeeding. Also make sure not to mix seeds and grains and limit how much feed is put out each day to prevent overfeeding.
