Besides seed, wild birds eat fruit, suet, mealworms, nectar and unsalted nuts. Offering a few of these year-round attracts more species than seed alone: orioles love orange halves, woodpeckers and chickadees love suet, and bluebirds go for mealworms. Always offer food in clean feeders and avoid anything salted, moldy or processed.
Fruit
Orioles, tanagers, robins and mockingbirds like fresh fruit. Cut an orange in half and put it on a spike or platform feeder, or offer sliced apples, grapes and berries. Remove fruit that has spoiled. Grape jelly is also eaten by orioles, but fresh fruit is the healthier choice.
Suet
Suet is rendered animal fat, often mixed with seeds or fruit, and it is a high-energy food in cold weather. Use a suet cage and buy cakes made for birds. In hot weather, switch to no-melt suet products so the fat does not spoil or smear on feathers. See Golden Oaks wild bird suet for one option.
Mealworms
Dried or live mealworms are a protein-rich treat for bluebirds, wrens and robins, especially in nesting season. Offer them in a shallow dish. See Pennington mealworms for a product review.
Nectar for Hummingbirds
Make nectar by dissolving one part white table sugar in four parts water. Do not add red dye, honey or artificial sweeteners. Change the nectar every few days, more often in hot weather, and clean the feeder with hot water and mild soap.
Other Safe Extras
- Unsalted peanuts, walnuts and other nuts. Read about walnuts for wild birds.
- Crushed, baked eggshells for calcium in spring.
- Plain cooked rice or oats in small amounts.
- Plain cheese in small pieces; see feeding cheese to wild birds.
What Not to Feed
- Bread and baked goods, which fill birds up without nutrition.
- Salted or seasoned foods, chocolate, avocado and raw dried beans.
- Moldy or spoiled foods.
- Milk, which birds cannot digest.
Keep Feeders Clean
Wash feeders every couple of weeks with a mild bleach solution (about one part bleach to nine parts water), rinse well and let them dry. Dirty feeders can spread disease among birds.
Bottom Line
Add fruit, suet, mealworms or nectar to your seed feeders to attract a wider range of birds, and keep everything fresh and clean. If you find sick or injured birds, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator. For a budget-friendly approach, see the cheapest way to feed wild birds.
