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Bird food

Mealworms for birds

A protein treat for bluebirds, wrens, robins and chickadees – best in small amounts, especially in nesting season and cold snaps.

  • 37 of 98common feeder birds eat it (Project FeederWatch)
Eastern Bluebird – one of the birds that eat mealworms for birds
Photo Dan Vickers / iNaturalist, CC BY

Who eats it

Which birds eat mealworms for birds?

Feeder birds that Project FeederWatch lists for this food – shown here with a species guide where we have one.

  1. American Robin at a feeder

    American Robin

  2. Bewick's Wren at a feeder

    Bewick's Wren

  3. Black-capped Chickadee at a feeder

    Black-capped Chickadee

  4. Black-crested Titmouse at a feeder

    Black-crested Titmouse

  5. Blue Jay at a feeder

    Blue Jay

  6. Boreal Chickadee at a feeder

    Boreal Chickadee

  7. Brown-headed Nuthatch at a feeder

    Brown-headed Nuthatch

  8. Bushtit at a feeder

    Bushtit

  9. Cactus Wren at a feeder

    Cactus Wren

  10. California Scrub-Jay at a feeder

    California Scrub-Jay

  11. Canada Jay at a feeder

    Canada Jay

  12. Carolina Chickadee at a feeder

    Carolina Chickadee

The essentials

What to know

  • Mealworms are larvae of the darkling beetle (Tenebrio molitor), available live or dried; a high-protein treat for chickadees, titmice, wrens, nuthatches and bluebirds; offer in flat trays or special feeders. (Project FeederWatch)
  • FeederWatch: one of the only foods that reliably attract bluebirds. (Project FeederWatch)
  • NABS: mealworms are not complete nutrition and deplete calcium (weak bones in young, egg binding) – dust with calcium carbonate/citrate powder; offer limited amounts once or twice a day; ~100 worms morning and evening is more than adequate for a pair with nestlings. (NABS)
  • NABS: bluebirds usually won't eat dead, black mealworms; some take dried ones, others only when food is scarce; rehydrating with a little water or vegetable oil may help. (NABS)
  • NABS: mealworms alone rarely attract bluebirds to a yard that has none – other birds will eat them. (NABS)
  • NABS: best feeder is a hopper with 1½ in or 1 9/16 in entry holes at each end to exclude larger birds; use smooth-sided dishes to stop escape. (NABS)
  • Birds & Blooms: live mealworms are most appealing but cost more and need care; dried are cheap and convenient; soaking dried worms in lukewarm water makes them more appealing. (Birds & Blooms)

Choice

Live or dried?

  • Keep dormant in the refrigerator in small containers with air holes; keep dark; wheat bran/oatmeal as food; add potato/apple/carrot for moisture about weekly (remove before refrigerating long-term). (NABS)
  • Refrigeration slows metabolism for a few weeks up to several months. (NABS)
  • Maintenance-free and longer lasting; bluebirds may ignore them unless food is scarce. (NABS)

Season

When to feed it

  • US: especially useful in nesting season and severe weather (NABS lists nest-box enticement, incubating females, nestlings in bad weather, winter cold spells). (NABS)
  • UK: mealworms remain OK May–Oct when seeds/peanuts are paused; clear uneaten mealworms by dusk (hedgehogs); soak for nestlings. (RSPB)

Mistakes

Common mistakes

  • Overfeeding / mealworms as main diet (calcium depletion). (NABS)
  • Scattering on the ground – worms burrow, robins take them all. (NABS)
  • Buying mealworms hoping to attract bluebirds where none are present. (NABS)

What to buy

Mealworms for birds to buy

500 countPredator Foods Live Mealworms, large1,250 countPredator Foods Live Mealworms, large12 ozDuncraft Dried Mealwormsdried; retailer states 53% protein30 ozFluker's Dried Mealworms10 ozFluker's Dried Mealworms2 lbKaytee Dried Mealworms for wild birdsdried5 lbHatortempt Bulk Dried Mealwormsdried, bulk; marketed for chickens and wild birds

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Questions

Mealworms for birds: questions

Are dried or live mealworms better?

Live mealworms are taken far more readily, especially by bluebirds. Dried ones keep easily; soaking them in water makes them more attractive.

How many mealworms should I feed?

A small daily portion. Mealworms are low in calcium, so they should never become the main diet.

Which birds eat mealworms?

Bluebirds, wrens, robins, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and catbirds among others; Project FeederWatch lists 37 of 98 common feeder birds.

More bird food

Other feeding guides