Bird food
What to feed garden birds
Since 2026 the RSPB and BTO advise feeding with the seasons: the full menu from November to April, and a pause for seed and peanuts from May to October.
The essentials
What to know
- RSPB/BTO 2026: 'Feed seasonally. Feed safely.' Pause seeds and peanuts 1 May–31 Oct; continue small amounts of mealworms, fat balls, suet. Full range 1 Nov–30 Apr. (RSPB)
- Reason: finch trichomonosis spreads via contaminated food and water; greenfinch numbers fell over 65% in three decades; cold weather kills the parasite. (RSPB)
- Avoid flat-surface feeders – bird tables, window and tray feeders – where contaminated food collects. (RSPB)
- BTO FAQ (April 2026): pause seed/peanuts May–October; mealworms and fat/suet are rarely used by species affected by trichomonosis; avoid bird tables and ground stations; clean feeders weekly and move them periodically. (BTO)
- Clean feeders weekly with hot soapy water, disinfect (e.g. mild 5% bleach solution), move feeders weekly, change water daily. (RSPB)
- Put out only what is eaten: seeds/peanuts within 1–2 days, suet up to 7 days, mealworms cleared by dusk (hedgehogs). (RSPB)
- RSPB recommended foods: sunflower seeds/hearts, nyjer, peanuts, mealworms (live or dried), lard and beef suet, bruised fruit. (RSPB)
- BTO: black sunflower and sunflower hearts are staples; hearts cost more but leave no husks; pinhead oats for Dunnocks; soaked sultanas and windfall apples for ground feeders (grapes/raisins/sultanas are toxic to dogs). (BTO)
- BTO Goldfinch feeding study: sunflower hearts overwhelmingly preferred, nyjer second. (BTO)
Safety
Peanut safety
- Buy peanuts guaranteed aflatoxin-free from a reputable supplier; poor-quality peanuts may contain aflatoxin, lethal to birds. (RSPB)
- Never offer loose/whole peanuts in the breeding season (choking risk for chicks); never use mesh bags for peanuts or fat balls – they trap feet and beaks. (RSPB)
- BTO: supply peanuts behind wire mesh so birds cannot take whole nuts; store cool and dry; buy small quantities. (BTO)
- Lawson et al. (UCL/ZSL): 10% (10/98) of peanut samples at point of sale in Great Britain exceeded the 20 µg/kg limit for aflatoxin B1; no significant difference between branded and non-branded products. (discovery.ucl.ac.uk)
Avoid
Foods to avoid
- All salted foods (dehydrate birds); cooked food (attracts rats); loose peanuts; dry hard foods or bread in spring/summer. (RSPB)
- Mesh bags for peanuts/fat balls. (RSPB)
- Old cooking fat, desiccated coconut and milk are commonly listed as harmful. (vinehousefarm.co.uk)
What to buy
What to feed garden birds to buy
several sizesRSPB Peanuts for Wild Birds2.5 kgCJ Wildlife Sunflower Hearts2.5 kgCJ Wildlife Peanuts for Wild Birds12.75 kgJohnston & Jeff Sunflower Hearts£26.95 at Little Peckers · no-mess; 2 kg £5.192 kgPeckish Nyjer Seed£9.49 at Peckish60 g tubHaith's Live Mealworms£12.30 at Haith's · live; OK in summer per RSPB4.5 kg boxExtra Select No Net High Energy Fat Balls (50)£10.39 at Little Peckers · no nets (RSPB: never mesh bags)25 kgDawn Chorus Premium Peanuts for Wild Birds
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Questions
What to feed garden birds: questions
Should I stop feeding birds in summer?
The RSPB and BTO now advise pausing seed and peanuts from 1 May to 31 October to slow trichomonosis in finches. Small amounts of mealworms, fat balls or suet are fine.
What can I feed garden birds from May to October?
Small amounts of mealworms, fat balls or suet – foods finches rarely eat. Keep bird tables and trays away in that period.
Are peanuts safe for birds?
Only aflatoxin-tested peanuts from a reputable supplier, never salted, and never loose in the breeding season.
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