What Do Birds Eat? Top Foods to Attract Them!

Birds eat a variety of foods based on their species and needs. Some birds prefer seeds, while others need insects, fruits, or even small animals. Knowing what birds eat helps you attract them to your garden.

Imagine watching colorful birds enjoying a meal right in your backyard. Offering the right food can bring a variety of beautiful birds closer. Discovering this can make birdwatching more exciting and enjoyable.

From seeds and berries to insects and nuts, birds enjoy diverse foods. Each season changes their diet, with spring bringing fresh insects and winter requiring high-energy seeds. By understanding this, you can better support their needs year-round.

What Do Birds Eat?

Birds have a diverse diet that ranges from seeds and fruits to insects and small animals. Offering a variety of foods can attract everything from tiny hummingbirds to majestic falcons. Each species has its own bird food preferences and nutritional needs.

List of Diet

Bird Watching Daily highlights common foods that can bring nature right to your backyard. Here’s a list of favorite foods that many birds enjoy:

• Apples
• Bananas
• Eggshells
• Melon, Pumpkin, and Squash Seeds
• Peanut Butter
• Raisins
• Seeds
• Berries
• Fruit
• Insects
• Other birds
• Eggs
• Small mammals
• Fish
• Buds
• Larvae
• Aquatic invertebrates
• Acorns
• Other nuts
• Aquatic vegetation
• Grain
• Dead animals
• Garbage
• And much more

Natural Diet of Birds

In their natural habitats, birds consume a diet rich in nutrients that meet their dietary needs and support various activities, from hunting to scavenging. A bird’s diet may include seeds, fruits, nuts, and insects, depending on the species and the environment. 

For example, frugivorous birds like waxwings and starlings enjoy fruits such as berries, while insectivorous birds like swallows feast on a diet rich in insects as food. Birds in the wild know how to adapt, but backyard bird enthusiasts can help by offering foods that mimic their natural options.

Seasonal Variations in Bird Diets

Birds’ diets shift with the seasons. Winter birds rely on high-fat foods like suet for birds to survive colder months. When spring birds return, they shift to insects and plant buds to regain strength after migration. 

Feeding birds seasonally offers them the right nutrients at the right time, aiding their natural calorie intake and protein sources.

For example, backyard bird feeders stocked with seeds and nuts provide an energy boost in winter, while fruits and nectar cater to birds in warmer seasons.

What Migrating Birds Eat

Migrating birds face long journeys that require ample energy sources. They tend to consume high-fat foods that sustain them through flights that sometimes span thousands of miles. 

• High-fat seeds: Essential for sustained energy during long flights.
• Insects: Provide quick protein and are easy to find during spring migration.
• Nectar: Sugary nectar offers instant energy for hummingbirds and other nectar-eating species.
• Fruits and berries: Rich in natural sugars, fruits like berries are easily digested and provide fast fuel.
• Small caterpillars and larvae: These are packed with nutrients and often sought after by migrating songbirds.
• Peanuts and suet: Great for birds needing extra fat and calories to keep warm in colder region

What Nesting Birds Eat?

When birds are nesting, their nutritional needs change to support the demands of building nests and laying eggs. Nesting birds consume foods like :  

• Insects and grubs
• Crushed eggshells
• Small snails
• Soft fruits and berries
• Mealworms
• Seeds and nuts
• Small fish
• Aquatic insects

Nutritional Needs During Nesting

During the nesting season, protein and calcium are critical. Eggshells are rich in calcium, which is necessary for egg-laying birds to develop strong shells. Feeding birds crushed eggshells along with high-protein foods like mealworms helps meet these needs.

Backyard Birds’ Diets Change from Winter to Spring

The diet of backyard birds changes significantly as the seasons shift from winter to spring. During winter, birds require high-energy foods rich in fat to survive cold temperatures. Foods like 

• Sunflower seeds
• Peanuts
• Insects
• Caterpillars
• Suet
• Worms

Common Diet Shifts in Different Seasons

In winter, birds are primarily focused on calorie-dense foods. By spring, as insects become more abundant, birds shift to a diet rich in protein sources like worms and caterpillars. This shift is essential for breeding and helps provide the nutrients needed for raising healthy chicks. As recommended by The Spruce, offering a mix of foods during seasonal changes helps attract a wider variety of species.

What Do Baby Birds Eat?

Baby birds, also known as nestlings or chicks, have specific dietary needs that differ from adults. Parent birds typically feed their young a protein-rich diet that supports rapid growth and development. The primary foods for baby birds are:

1. Caterpillars
2. Grubs
3. Larvae
4. Soft seeds
5. Berries
6. Mealworms
7. Softened fruits

What Birds Eat Safflower Seeds?

Safflower seeds are a favorite among certain bird species and are known for attracting colorful birds like :
Northern cardinals

• House finches
• Mourning doves
• Black-capped chickadees
• White-breasted nuthatches
• Rose-breasted grosbeaks

These seeds are high in fat and provide valuable energy for birds. Safflower seeds are also disliked by some common feeder pests like grackles and European starlings, making them ideal for attracting specific bird species without drawing too many “bully birds” to your feeders.

What Birds Eat Mealworms?

Mealworms are a popular food choice, especially for birds like 

• Wrens
• Woodpeckers
• Robins
• Chickadees
• Nuthatches
• Thrushes
• Titmice
• Bluebirds

High in protein, mealworms provide the necessary nutrients for growth and energy. Offering live mealworms is particularly effective in the spring, as they closely mimic what many birds would naturally find in the wild. Birds and Bloom suggests using mealworms in a tray feeder to keep them accessible to ground-feeding birds.

Can Birds Eat Bread?

Bread is not safe for birds because it lacks essential nutrients and can harm their health, especially if it’s moldy. Healthier options like seeds, fruits, or mealworms are better choices for feeding birds.

Meat-Based Diets

Certain birds are primarily meat-eating birds. Known as carnivorous birds, these species consume meat from small mammals, reptiles, and even other birds. Raptors like hawks and eagles fall under this category. Other birds, such as cormorants and herons, specialize in diets that include fish, making them piscivorous.

Carnivorous

Birds of prey like falcons and owls are hunters. They rely on their strong talons and sharp beaks to capture and consume prey, from insects to small mammals. These birds are often seen patrolling open areas, and their diet reflects their role as predator birds.

Piscivorous

Piscivorous birds, or fish-eaters, include species such as osprey and penguins. Their diets are primarily aquatic and are often found near water sources. These birds are known for their specialized beaks and hunting tactics, enabling them to catch fish efficiently.

Insectivorous

Many birds are insect-eating birds. For instance, flycatchers and woodpeckers rely on an insectivorous diet to obtain essential proteins. These birds play an important role in natural pest control by reducing insect populations.

Ophiophagous

Some birds, like the secretary bird and snake eagles, are known for their snake-eating habits. These specialized diets require quick reflexes, as catching snakes can be dangerous. These birds help control snake populations in areas where other predators are scarce.

Plant-Based Diets

A variety of birds are primarily plant-eaters, relying on fruits, seeds, nectar, and sap for nutrition. Frugivorous birds like blackbirds and thrashers consume a diet rich in fruits and berries, which are full of sugars that provide quick energy.

Frugivorous

Fruits are the primary food for fruit-eating birds such as orioles and tanagers. These birds are equipped with specialized beaks that make it easy for them to eat berries and other fruits. Celebrate Urban Birds suggests adding fruit bird feeders to your garden to attract these colorful visitors.

Granivorous

Seed-eating birds, known as granivorous birds, include species like sparrows and finches. Their strong beaks allow them to crack open seeds, providing a steady food source year-round. Many bird enthusiasts stock bird feeders with a mix of seeds to attract these birds.

Nectivorous

Nectar-eating birds, including hummingbirds and some honeycreepers, feed on the nectar of flowering plants. These birds have long, slender beaks adapted for reaching deep into flowers. Adding a nectar feeder to your backyard can help attract these beautiful birds.

Mucivorous

Some birds consume sap, and they are known as mucivorous birds. Woodpeckers often drill holes in trees, creating an easy way for these birds to drink sap. Sap is a high-energy food that benefits birds during the colder months.

Specialized Diets

Some birds have evolved to consume very specific types of food that might seem unusual. These specialized diets cater to unique foods found in their habitats, allowing them to survive and thrive. Birds with these diets are often adapted to very specific environments or ecosystems and display fascinating behaviors and adaptations.

Avivorous

Certain birds of prey are avivorous, meaning they feed on smaller birds. Hawks and peregrine falcons are examples of avian predators that rely on swift flight and strong talons to catch their meals. These birds are found in areas with high bird populations and play a role in controlling bird populations. Their diet is part of a natural balance, where predator behavior maintains healthy ecosystems by preventing overpopulation of smaller species.

Molluscivorous

Birds that consume mollusks, such as oystercatchers and certain types of ducks, have a molluscivorous diet. These birds are typically found in coastal or wetland areas, where they forage for shellfish and other invertebrates. Their specialized beaks allow them to break open tough shells and access the nutritious insides. Observing mollusk-eating birds is common in beach areas and is a key part of birdwatching along coasts and riversides.

Mixed Diets

Many birds are not restricted to a single type of food; instead, they eat a diverse diet that includes both plants and animals. These mixed diet birds are adaptable, able to switch between food sources based on seasonal availability. This flexibility helps them survive in various environments and makes them frequent visitors to backyard feeders.

Omnivorous

Birds with an omnivorous diet include species like crows, seagulls, and some types of ducks. Omnivorous birds consume a variety of food sources, including insects, seeds, fruits, and even small animals. Their generalist feeding behavior makes them highly adaptable, often seen scavenging in both urban and rural areas. It points out that these birds can thrive in human environments, benefiting from food scraps and waste as part of their diet.

Tips for Feeding Birds in Spring

Spring is a busy time for birds as they prepare for nesting and raise their young. Here are some tips to help you attract and support birds in your garden:

1. Provide a mix of seeds and insects: Birds need both energy from seeds and protein from insects during the breeding season.
2. Keep feeders clean: Dirty feeders can spread disease, so wash them regularly with a mild bleach solution.
3. Offer fresh water: A fresh water source or a heated bird bath can attract more birds to your yard and help them stay hydrated.
4. Use different types of feeders: Setting up various feeders, like a nectar feeder for hummingbirds and a tray feeder for ground feeders, will attract a wider range of species.
5. Place feeders in safe locations: Keep feeders away from potential predators like cats, and place them near trees or shrubs for quick cover.

Conclusion:

Understanding what do birds eat helps you support them with the right food choices. Birds eat many things, like seeds, fruits, insects, and small animals, based on their species and season. By offering the best foods, you can attract many types of birds to your garden. Foods like suet, mealworms, and fruits are especially popular and can provide important energy and nutrients for birds.

Providing healthy food helps birds thrive through all seasons. In winter, high-energy foods like peanuts and suet help birds stay warm. In spring, protein-rich foods like insects support nesting birds and their young. Knowing birds diet can make your garden a welcoming space, filled with the sounds and colors of different bird species.