What to Feed Birds in Winter
Winter is when feeders help birds most. Cold nights burn a lot of energy, and natural food gets scarce under snow and ice. The best winter foods are high in fat and easy to find.
Offer high-fat foods
Suet is pure energy, and woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees and titmice all rely on it in cold weather. Winter is the best season for suet, since it doesn't melt or spoil.
Black-oil sunflower is the best all-round winter seed. Its thin shell and high oil content make it ideal for small birds. Shelled peanuts are another excellent high-fat food.
High-fat suet cakes that fit standard suet cages. Woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees rely on fat like this to get through cold nights.
Check price on Amazon for C&S Hi-Energy Suet Cakes (opens Amazon)If you only buy one seed, make it black-oil sunflower. It's high in fat, has a thin shell small birds can open, and nearly every seed-eating bird loves it.
Check price on Amazon for Wagner's Black Oil Sunflower Seed (opens Amazon)Try no-mess sunflower hearts
Hulled sunflower hearts give birds the same energy without the shells, and they don't leave a pile of hulls on the snow. They're great for goldfinches, chickadees and finches.
Sunflower seeds with the shells already removed. No mess on your patio or deck, and no waste, because birds eat every piece.
Check price on Amazon for Lyric Sunflower Kernels (opens Amazon)Feed the ground birds too
Juncos, sparrows, doves and cardinals often feed on the ground in winter. Scatter a seed mix with millet under shrubs, or use a low platform feeder. Sweep snow off the feeding area after storms.
A premium mix of nuts, fruit and sunflower without cheap filler seeds birds throw on the ground. The easiest single bag to attract lots of different birds.
Check price on Amazon for Lyric Supreme Wild Bird Seed (opens Amazon)An open tray feeder that welcomes the widest range of birds, including cardinals, doves, jays and juncos that prefer to feed in the open.
Check price on Amazon for Woodlink Platform Feeder (opens Amazon)Keep feeders full
Birds use the most energy on the coldest nights and need to refuel first thing in the morning. Fill feeders in the evening before a cold snap or storm so food is waiting at dawn.
Store seed in a sealed container so it stays dry and mice can't get to it.
Keep big bags of seed dry, fresh and safe from mice in the garage or shed. A sealed container also stops pantry moths.
Check price on Amazon for IRIS Airtight Pet Food Storage Container (opens Amazon)Don't forget water
Birds need water in winter as much as food, and eating snow costs them precious energy. A heated bird bath keeps water open all winter and attracts birds that never visit feeders.
Open water in winter brings in birds that never visit seed feeders, like robins and bluebirds. This bath has a built-in thermostat, so it only heats when the water is close to freezing.
Check price on Amazon for API Heated Bird Bath with Stand (opens Amazon)Give them shelter
Evergreens, dense shrubs and brush piles give birds somewhere to roost on cold nights and hide from hawks. A pile of branches from fall cleanup makes an easy winter shelter.
Frequently asked questions
Should I feed bread to birds in winter?
No. Bread fills birds up without giving them the fat and nutrients they need. Stick to seed, suet and peanuts.
Will birds become dependent on my feeder?
No. Studies show feeder birds still get most of their food from natural sources. Feeders are a helpful supplement in hard weather.
When should I start winter feeding?
Anytime in fall. Having feeders up before the first hard freeze helps birds find them early.
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