Who's at my feeder?

Bird food

What to feed birds in winter

In cold weather birds need fat and energy. Sunflower seed, suet and peanuts cover most feeder birds; water helps as much as food.

  • 47 of 98common feeder birds eat it (Project FeederWatch)
Black-capped Chickadee – one of the birds that eat what to feed birds in winter
Photo Blake Ross / iNaturalist, CC BY

Who eats it

Which birds eat what to feed birds in winter?

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. Baltimore Oriole at a feeder

    Baltimore Oriole

  3. Bewick's Wren at a feeder

    Bewick's Wren

  4. Black-capped Chickadee at a feeder

    Black-capped Chickadee

  5. Black-crested Titmouse at a feeder

    Black-crested Titmouse

  6. Blue Jay at a feeder

    Blue Jay

  7. Boreal Chickadee at a feeder

    Boreal Chickadee

  8. Brown Thrasher at a feeder

    Brown Thrasher

  9. Brown-headed Nuthatch at a feeder

    Brown-headed Nuthatch

  10. Bushtit at a feeder

    Bushtit

  11. Cactus Wren at a feeder

    Cactus Wren

  12. California Scrub-Jay at a feeder

    California Scrub-Jay

The essentials

What to know

  • Energy-rich foods – sunflower seed, suet, nyjer, peanuts (and sugar water where hummingbirds overwinter) – are invaluable in winter. (Project FeederWatch)
  • Feeders benefit birds most in winter when natural food supplies are scarce. (Audubon)
  • NWF winter mix: black oil sunflower, hulled peanuts, nyjer and white millet. (National Wildlife Federation)
  • Suet supplies about 9 calories per gram vs 4 for carbohydrates/protein; appeals to woodpeckers and insect-eaters. (National Wildlife Federation)
  • Penn State: black-oil sunflower is the top all-round winter seed; also white proso millet, nyjer, peanuts; suet for woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice. (Penn State Extension)
  • Suet attracts woodpeckers, wrens, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice; place at least 5 ft off the ground; 'no melt' cakes exist for warmer weather. (Audubon)
  • Snow-covered ground pushes sparrows and juncos to feeders; stamp down snow under feeders for ground feeders. (Audubon)
  • Birds need water in winter; change daily; stones/branches in the bath let birds drink without getting wet. (Project FeederWatch)
  • Penn State: shallow basin max 3 in deep; heating keeps it ice-free and especially attractive in cold months. (Penn State Extension)
  • Feeders only supplement natural food – most species won't suffer if feeders go empty for days or even weeks. (Audubon)
  • NWF: be consistent through winter; use larger-capacity or multiple feeders in severe weather; place feeders 10–12 ft from shrubs (cats). (National Wildlife Federation)
  • Window strikes: feeders under 3 ft or over 30 ft from windows (Audubon); Illinois Extension says within 3 ft or 10+ ft. (Audubon)

Storage

Storage and freshness

  • Don't keep seed from one winter to the next; store cool, dry, rodent-proof. (Audubon)

Mistakes

Common mistakes

UK

In the UK

  • UK: full range (seeds, peanuts, protein foods) 1 Nov–30 Apr; March–April 'hungry gap'. (RSPB)

What to buy

What to feed birds in winter to buy

10 lbWagner's 76025 Four Season Black Oil Sunflowerin-shell5 lbCole's Hot Meatshulled sunflower with hot pepper (squirrel deterrent)5 lbKaytee Nut & Fruit Blend10 lbWagner's Shelled Peanut Pieces10 cakesHeath All Season High Energy Suet Cakes5 lbWagner's 82072 Gourmet Nut & Fruitno-mess, filler-free (maker)

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Questions

What to feed birds in winter: questions

What is the best food for birds in winter?

Black oil sunflower seed and suet. Add peanuts, nyjer for finches and millet on a tray for juncos and sparrows.

Should I feed birds all winter?

Yes – once you start, keep feeding through cold snaps, when natural food is hardest to find.

Can I feed suet in winter?

Winter is the best time for suet. In warm spells use no-melt suet, because raw suet can go rancid.

More bird food

Other feeding guides