What Can Birds Eat?
35+ foods birds love, foods to feed with caution, and what can actually kill them — the complete backyard bird feeding guide
Not all food is good for birds. Some common human foods can cause serious health problems or even kill wild birds, while others are surprisingly nutritious and help birds survive harsh winters, fuel migration, and raise healthier chicks. This guide covers 35+ specific foods so you'll know exactly what's safe, what's risky, and what to never feed wild birds.
Quick Reference — 35+ Foods Birds Eat or Should Avoid
Use this table for a quick answer. Scroll down for detailed explanations of each food — why it's safe, risky, or dangerous, and which bird species benefit most.
| Food | Safe for Birds? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sunflower Seeds | YES — #1 Bird Food | All feeder birds love them |
| Oats | YES | Raw or cooked, no sugar |
| Suet | YES | High energy, winter essential |
| Peanuts | YES | Unsalted, shelled or unshelled |
| Apples | YES | Remove seeds first |
| Grapes | YES | Cut in half for small birds |
| Bananas | YES | Ripe, peeled or unpeeled |
| Oranges | YES | Orioles especially love them |
| Berries | YES | Fresh, frozen, or dried |
| Mealworms | YES | Live or dried, bluebird favorite |
| Flax Seed | YES | Nutrient-rich, small birds |
| Nyjer/Thistle | YES | Finch favorite |
| Cooked Rice | YES | White or brown, plain |
| Corn | YES | Cracked corn for ground feeders |
| Eggs (Cooked) | YES | Scrambled, crushed shells too |
| Strawberries | YES | Cut up, fresh or slightly soft |
| Raisins | YES | Soaked in water is best |
| Peanut Butter | YES | Natural, unsalted, no xylitol |
| Cooked Meat | YES | Plain scraps for crows, jays |
| Bread | CAUTION | Low nutrition, fills them up |
| Cheese | CAUTION | Small amounts of mild cheese |
| Tomatoes | CAUTION | Ripe flesh only, leaves toxic |
| Crackers | CAUTION | Same issues as bread |
| Pasta | CAUTION | Cooked plain only, small pieces |
| Popcorn | CAUTION | Plain air-popped only |
| Kiwi | CAUTION | Flesh only, very acidic |
| Chocolate | NEVER | Toxic — theobromine kills birds |
| Avocado | NEVER | Contains persin — lethal |
| Onion/Garlic | NEVER | Destroys red blood cells |
| Salty Foods | NEVER | Causes dehydration and death |
| Raw Dried Beans | NEVER | Contains hemagglutinin toxin |
| Caffeine | NEVER | Cardiac failure in birds |
| Fruit Pits/Seeds | NEVER | Apple seeds, cherry pits — cyanide |
| Milk | NEVER | Birds can't digest lactose |
| Moldy Food | NEVER | Aspergillosis — fatal lung infection |
🐦 Important Note: This guide covers wild birds — backyard songbirds, ducks, geese, and other common species. Different bird species have different dietary needs. A food that's perfect for a chickadee may not be ideal for a duck. When in doubt, stick to the green-rated foods and commercially formulated bird seed. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is the gold standard for species-specific feeding information. Want to give birds a permanent home? See our complete bird houses guide.
Foods That Are SAFE for Birds — Feed With Confidence
These foods are nutritionally beneficial for wild birds and safe to offer in feeders, on platform trays, or scattered on the ground. These are the foods you should be putting out year-round.
Can Birds Eat Sunflower Seeds?
Yes — The #1 Bird FoodBlack oil sunflower seeds are the single best food you can offer wild birds. They have a high oil content that provides sustained energy, a thin shell that small birds can crack easily, and they attract the widest variety of species — cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, finches, jays, woodpeckers, and more. If you only put one food in your feeder, make it black oil sunflower seeds. Wondering which feeders work best? Check out our complete guide to bird houses and feeders for recommendations.
Can Birds Eat Oats?
Yes — Excellent Bird FoodBirds can eat oats — raw or cooked. Raw rolled oats, steel-cut oats, and even uncooked oatmeal are all safe and nutritious. Oats provide carbohydrates for energy and are eaten readily by sparrows, juncos, doves, blackbirds, and many other ground-feeding species. Scatter dry oats on a platform feeder or on the ground. If offering cooked oatmeal, make sure it's plain — no sugar, no milk, no butter. Cooked oatmeal can be sticky, so offer it in small portions on cold mornings when birds need quick energy.
Can Birds Eat Peanuts?
Yes — High Energy FavoriteUnsalted peanuts are an excellent bird food. Blue jays, woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, and titmice go crazy for them. Offer peanuts in the shell for jays and larger birds, or shelled peanut halves for smaller species. Use a mesh peanut feeder so birds have to work for them — it slows consumption and prevents one aggressive bird from taking everything. Never offer salted, flavored, or honey-roasted peanuts — the added salt and sugar are harmful to birds.
Do Birds Eat Apples?
Yes — Remove Seeds FirstBirds love apples. Robins, waxwings, mockingbirds, bluebirds, and orioles all eat apple flesh readily. Cut apples in half and place them on a platform feeder or spike them on a tree branch. Important: remove the seeds first. Apple seeds contain amygdalin, which releases small amounts of cyanide when digested. A few seeds won't kill a large bird, but it's best practice to remove them. Bruised or slightly overripe apples are actually preferred by many species because they're softer and sweeter.
Do Birds Eat Grapes?
Yes — Cut in Half for Small BirdsGrapes are safe and nutritious for wild birds. Robins, waxwings, bluebirds, mockingbirds, tanagers, and orioles eat them eagerly. Cut grapes in half for smaller birds so they can access the flesh easily. Larger birds like jays and crows can eat whole grapes. Both red and green grapes are fine. You can also freeze grapes and offer them on hot summer days — birds appreciate the cool moisture. Raisins (dried grapes) are also safe and popular with many species.
Do Birds Eat Bananas?
Yes — Ripe Is BestBananas are safe for birds and a good source of potassium and natural sugars. Orioles, tanagers, mockingbirds, and warblers eat banana flesh. Peel the banana and place chunks on a platform feeder, or simply peel one side back and hang it from a hook. Overripe bananas with brown spots are actually better — they're softer and sweeter, which birds prefer. The peel is edible too, though most birds ignore it.
Do Birds Eat Oranges?
Yes — Oriole MagnetIf you want to attract orioles to your yard, put out orange halves. Baltimore orioles, orchard orioles, tanagers, woodpeckers, and mockingbirds all love oranges. Cut them in half and place them on a platform feeder, nail them to a post, or use a specialty oriole feeder with a spike. Oranges are especially effective in spring when orioles are migrating north — they're one of the first fruits birds seek after a long journey.
Do Birds Eat Berries?
Yes — Natural FavoriteBerries are a natural staple of most songbird diets. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, mulberries, and elderberries are all safe and eagerly eaten by dozens of species. Offer fresh berries on a platform feeder or scatter them on the ground for ground-feeding birds. Frozen berries work perfectly in winter — just thaw them slightly. Planting native berry-producing shrubs on your property is the best long-term way to provide this food source naturally.
Do Birds Eat Mealworms?
Yes — Protein PowerhouseMealworms are one of the best foods you can offer wild birds, especially during nesting season when parent birds need protein-rich food for growing chicks. Bluebirds, wrens, robins, chickadees, and warblers all eat mealworms enthusiastically. Live mealworms get the strongest response, but dried mealworms are convenient and equally nutritious. Offer them in a smooth-sided dish so they can't crawl out. During nesting season, a mealworm feeder can attract species that normally wouldn't visit seed feeders.
Can Birds Eat Flax Seed?
Yes — Nutrient DenseFlax seeds are safe and packed with omega-3 fatty acids that benefit bird health. They're small enough for finches, sparrows, and other small-billed birds to eat easily. Mix flax seed into your regular bird seed blend or offer it separately on a platform feeder. Flax seed is especially beneficial during winter and migration when birds need concentrated calories. It's also a good alternative if you're looking for variety beyond the standard sunflower and millet mix.
What Birds Eat Suet?
Yes — Winter EssentialSuet is rendered beef fat — one of the highest-energy foods you can offer birds during cold weather. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, brown creepers, and wrens are the primary suet eaters. Hang suet cakes in a wire cage feeder on a tree trunk. In temperatures below 50°F, raw suet holds together well. In warmer weather, use rendered suet cakes or no-melt suet to prevent rancidity. Suet with embedded seeds, nuts, or dried fruit attracts an even wider variety of species.
Can Birds Eat Corn?
Yes — Ground Feeder StapleCracked corn is an affordable, effective food for ground-feeding birds like doves, juncos, sparrows, quail, and wild turkeys. Scatter it directly on the ground or on a low platform feeder. Whole corn on the cob attracts jays, crows, and larger birds. Avoid feeding large quantities at once — corn that sits on wet ground can develop mold (aspergillosis), which is deadly to birds. Put out only what birds will eat in a day. Turkeys are especially attracted to corn — read more about what wild turkeys eat and how to attract them to your property.
Can Birds Eat Eggs?
Yes — Plus Crushed ShellsScrambled or hard-boiled eggs are a safe, protein-rich food for birds. Crumble cooked eggs on a platform feeder — many species will eat them. Even more valuable: crushed eggshells. Female birds need extra calcium during egg-laying season, and crushed eggshells provide exactly that. Bake eggshells at 250°F for 10 minutes to sterilize them, crush them finely, and scatter them near your feeders in spring. Nesting females will seek them out.
Can Birds Eat Rice?
Yes — Despite the MythThe old myth that rice makes birds explode is completely false. Birds can safely eat both cooked and uncooked rice. Cooked plain rice (white or brown, no salt or seasoning) is a fine supplemental food. Uncooked rice is also safe — wild birds eat grain seeds all the time. Bobolinks, ducks, geese, and blackbirds eat rice routinely in agricultural areas. That said, rice isn't particularly nutritious compared to seeds, nuts, and insects, so it shouldn't be a primary food source.
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More "Can Birds Eat..." Answers
These are the foods people most often search but most pages skip. Quick verdicts on each — all safe, with the specifics you need to do it right.
Can Birds Eat Strawberries?
Yes — Cut Up & Soft Is BestStrawberries are perfectly safe for wild birds and many species love them. Robins, waxwings, mockingbirds, tanagers, catbirds, and grackles all eat strawberry flesh readily. Cut larger strawberries in half or quarters so small birds can access the flesh, and offer fresh or slightly overripe fruit on a platform feeder. Slightly soft strawberries are actually preferred — easier to bite into. The seeds on the outside are tiny and pass through harmlessly. Avoid moldy strawberries — like all moldy food, they can cause aspergillosis.
Can Birds Eat Raisins?
Yes — Soak Them FirstRaisins are safe and popular with wild birds. Bluebirds, mockingbirds, robins, waxwings, and orioles eat them readily. The best practice is to soak raisins in warm water for 10–15 minutes before offering them — this softens them and adds back moisture, which is important because dried raisins can swell in a bird's crop if eaten dry. Soaked raisins are easier to swallow and digest. Scatter them on a platform feeder. Other dried fruit (cranberries, currants, dried blueberries) can be offered the same way.
Can Birds Eat Peanut Butter?
Yes — Natural & Xylitol-FreePeanut butter is an excellent high-energy bird food, especially in winter. Woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice love it. Smear it on a pine cone, into the holes of a "log feeder," or directly onto tree bark. Critical safety note: only use natural, unsalted peanut butter with no xylitol. Xylitol — a common sugar substitute in some "low-sugar" peanut butters — is highly toxic to birds and many other animals. Check the label every time. The old myth that peanut butter chokes birds is false; birds eat it without difficulty. Mixing peanut butter with cornmeal makes it less sticky and easier to handle.
Can Birds Eat Cooked Meat?
Yes — Plain Scraps OnlyPlain cooked meat is safe for many wild birds and is actually a natural food source — crows, jays, magpies, and gulls are well-known scavengers. Small amounts of plain cooked chicken, turkey, or beef (no salt, no seasoning, no sauce, no bones) can be offered on a platform feeder, especially in winter when fat and protein are scarce. Cut meat into small pieces or strips. Never offer raw meat (bacteria risk), seasoned or salted meat (toxic levels of sodium), or processed meat like bacon, sausage, or deli meat (too much salt and preservatives). Bones can splinter and should be skipped.
Can Birds Eat Rice? — Myth-Busting Edition
Yes — The Wedding Myth Is FalseYou may have heard the warning that throwing rice at weddings will cause birds to eat it, swell, and explode. This is completely false. The myth has been thoroughly debunked by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the USDA, and the Audubon Society. Wild birds eat raw rice routinely in agricultural regions — bobolinks even migrate through southern rice fields and have been called "ricebirds" because of how much rice they consume in the wild. Cooked plain rice is also fine. The myth probably originated from a misunderstanding of how digestion works in birds; their muscular gizzards handle raw grain effortlessly. Wedding rice is a non-issue.
Foods to Feed With CAUTION — Sometimes Safe
These foods aren't toxic, but they have limitations. Feed them sparingly, prepared correctly, or not at all if better options are available.
Can Birds Eat Bread?
Caution — Junk Food for BirdsThis is the most searched bird feeding question, and the answer is complicated. Bread won't kill a bird, but it's essentially junk food — high in carbs with almost no nutritional value. Birds that fill up on bread get none of the protein, fat, and vitamins they need to stay healthy. For ducks and geese at ponds, bread is especially problematic: it causes a condition called "angel wing" in ducklings where their wings develop abnormally due to poor nutrition. If you must feed bread, make it whole grain, tear it into tiny pieces, and only offer small amounts alongside better foods. For waterfowl, our wood duck habitat guide explains what these beautiful birds actually need.
Can Birds Eat Cheese?
Caution — Small Amounts OnlySmall amounts of mild, hard cheese are tolerated by most birds. Grated cheddar, crumbled cheddar, or small bits of mild cheese can be placed on a platform feeder. Robins, wrens, and blackbirds sometimes eat it. However, birds have limited ability to digest dairy — they don't produce the enzyme lactase that breaks down lactose. Stick to hard, low-moisture cheeses in small quantities. Never feed soft cheese, cream cheese, or processed cheese products. Cheese should be an occasional treat, not a regular food source.
Do Birds Eat Tomatoes?
Caution — Ripe Flesh OnlyRipe tomato flesh is safe for birds in small amounts. Some species, including mockingbirds, thrashers, and robins, eat ripe tomatoes in the garden. However, tomato leaves, stems, and green unripe tomatoes contain solanine — a toxic compound in the nightshade family. Only offer ripe, red tomato flesh. Remove all green parts. Because of the acidity and the solanine risk from unripe fruit, tomatoes are best classified as a caution food. There are much better fruits to offer birds.
Can Birds Eat Kiwi?
Caution — Very AcidicKiwi flesh is not toxic to birds, but it's highly acidic and can cause digestive irritation if eaten in large amounts. If you offer kiwi, peel it and cut it into small pieces. Most backyard birds aren't naturally drawn to kiwi since it's not a food they encounter in the wild. Tropical species are more likely to eat it than temperate songbirds. There are much better fruit options — apples, grapes, oranges, and berries are all more nutritious and better tolerated.
Can Birds Eat Popcorn?
Caution — Plain Air-Popped OnlyPlain air-popped popcorn without salt, butter, or seasoning is safe for birds in small amounts. It's essentially just corn in a different form. However, microwave popcorn and buttered popcorn are not safe — the added salt, oils, and artificial flavoring are harmful to birds. If you offer popcorn, make sure it's completely plain and break larger pieces into smaller bits. Unpopped kernels are also fine — they're just regular corn. That said, actual cracked corn is a better choice since it's specifically meant for birds and is less processed.
Can Birds Eat Pasta?
Caution — Cooked Plain OnlyCooked plain pasta is safe for birds in small amounts. Cut it into small pieces so birds can eat it easily. No sauce, no salt, no seasoning. Uncooked dry pasta is too hard for most birds and could be a choking hazard for smaller species. Like bread, pasta is high in carbs and low in nutrition — it fills birds up without giving them what they need. Use it only as an occasional supplement, never as a primary food. Seeds, nuts, and fruit are always better choices.
Foods That Are DANGEROUS for Birds — Never Feed
These foods are toxic, harmful, or potentially fatal to wild birds. Never offer these at feeders, and keep them away from areas where birds forage.
Can Birds Eat Chocolate?
Never — ToxicChocolate contains theobromine and caffeine — both are toxic to birds even in small amounts. Theobromine causes vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, increased heart rate, and death in birds. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are the most dangerous because they have the highest theobromine concentration, but all chocolate is unsafe. Never leave chocolate where birds can access it. If you suspect a bird has eaten chocolate, contact a wildlife rehabilitator immediately.
Can Birds Eat Avocado?
Never — Contains Persin (Lethal)Avocado contains persin — a fungicidal toxin that causes heart failure in birds. The skin, pit, and flesh all contain persin, though the skin and pit have the highest concentrations. Even small amounts of avocado can be lethal to birds. This includes guacamole and any food containing avocado. Some bird species are more sensitive than others, but no bird should ever be offered avocado in any form. This is one of the most dangerous common foods for birds.
Can Birds Eat Onion or Garlic?
Never — Destroys Blood CellsOnions and garlic contain sulfur compounds that destroy red blood cells in birds, causing hemolytic anemia. This applies to raw, cooked, dehydrated, and powdered forms. Even small amounts can cause serious health problems. Symptoms include weakness, lethargy, and breathing difficulties. Keep all allium-family foods (onions, garlic, leeks, chives, shallots) away from bird feeding areas.
Can Birds Eat Salty Foods?
Never — Causes Dehydration and DeathBirds have tiny kidneys that can't process excess salt. Salty chips, pretzels, salted nuts, salted popcorn, and other salty snacks cause severe dehydration, kidney failure, and death in birds. This is why it's so important to use only unsalted peanuts, unsalted sunflower seeds, and plain foods at feeders. Even a small amount of salt that seems harmless to a human can be lethal to a bird that weighs a few ounces.
Can Birds Eat Raw Dried Beans?
Never — Contains HemagglutininRaw or dried uncooked beans contain hemagglutinin — a toxin that's extremely dangerous to birds. It causes red blood cells to clump together and can be fatal. This applies to all raw dried beans: kidney beans, lima beans, navy beans, and others. Cooked beans (thoroughly cooked with no salt or seasoning) are safe in small amounts, but the risk of accidentally feeding undercooked beans makes it safest to avoid beans entirely.
Fruit Pits and Apple Seeds
Never — Contain Cyanide CompoundsApple seeds, cherry pits, peach pits, plum pits, and apricot pits contain amygdalin, which releases hydrogen cyanide when broken down. While the flesh of these fruits is perfectly safe (and encouraged!), always remove seeds and pits before offering fruit to birds. A few apple seeds probably won't kill a large bird, but the risk isn't worth taking. Get in the habit of removing all seeds and pits from fruit before putting it in your feeder.
Can Birds Drink Milk?
Never — Lactose IntolerantBirds cannot digest lactose. Milk causes severe digestive distress, diarrhea, and dehydration. This applies to all liquid dairy: whole milk, skim milk, cream, and yogurt drinks. Birds should only drink clean, fresh water. If you want to provide calcium (which nesting females need), offer crushed baked eggshells instead of dairy products. Small amounts of hard cheese are tolerated by some species, but liquid dairy is always dangerous.
Moldy or Spoiled Food
Never — Fatal Lung InfectionMoldy bird seed, stale bread, and spoiled food harbor Aspergillus fungus, which causes aspergillosis — a fatal respiratory infection in birds. This is one of the most common mistakes well-meaning bird feeders make: leaving old seed in feeders until it gets damp and moldy. Clean your feeders every two weeks with a diluted bleach solution. Remove uneaten food from platform feeders daily. Only put out as much food as birds will eat in a day or two. A dirty feeder is worse than no feeder at all.
Winter Bird Feeding
Winter is the only time of year when your feeder might actually be the difference between a bird surviving the night and not. Get this season right.
Songbirds burn enormous calories simply staying warm in subfreezing temperatures. A chickadee can lose up to 10% of its body weight overnight just shivering through a cold snap. The food you put out in December and January isn't a treat — it's fuel that gets eaten the moment it lands. Done well, winter feeding is the most rewarding chapter of the whole feeding year.
The High-Fat Rule
Forget variety in winter. The goal is calories. Three foods do almost all the heavy lifting:
- Suet — the single highest-energy food you can offer. Keep it stocked constantly. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, and brown creepers depend on it.
- Black oil sunflower seeds — the same #1 seed you offer year-round, but in winter it's a survival food. The thin shell and high oil content matter even more when birds are burning through calories fast.
- Peanuts and peanut butter — pack more fat per gram than almost anything else. Smear peanut butter into pine cones or drilled log feeders. Just make sure it's natural and xylitol-free.
Why Water Matters as Much as Food
This is the part most people miss. In freezing weather, every puddle, birdbath, and pond is locked under ice. Birds can melt snow in their mouths, but doing so costs significant body heat — every mouthful of snow lowers their core temperature when they can least afford it. A heated bird bath solves this entirely. Birds will fly past your feeder to drink first; once you've added open water in winter, the variety of species visiting your yard goes up dramatically.
The Consistency Rule
Once birds start depending on your feeder in winter, they're depending on it. Going empty for several days during a cold snap can cause real harm. Either commit to keeping feeders full from November through March, or don't start in October. This is one of the few times of year that "feed when you can" isn't the right approach.
What to Stop Putting Out in Winter
Fresh fruit and mealworms have low return on investment in deep winter. Fruit freezes hard and birds can't access the flesh. Mealworms freeze and lose their appeal. Put your winter dollars into suet, sunflower, and peanuts — and put your time into keeping water available.
Backyard Birds of Michigan and the Great Lakes
If you live in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, or anywhere around the Great Lakes Basin, your feeder will look different than one in Texas or Arizona. Here's what to expect at a Great Lakes feeder year-round — and what we actually see on our 30-acre habitat in Gratiot County.
Year-Round Residents at a Great Lakes Feeder
These are the species that don't migrate out — they're at your feeder in January as readily as in June:
- Black-capped chickadee — the workhorse. Eats sunflower seeds and suet every visit, all year.
- White-breasted nuthatch — upside-down on the suet cake and the tree trunk. Year-round.
- Tufted titmouse — sunflower and peanut specialist.
- Northern cardinal — sunflower seeds, especially at dawn and dusk. The first and last bird at most feeders.
- Downy and hairy woodpecker — both year-round suet eaters. Hairy is the larger lookalike.
- Blue jay — peanuts, corn, sunflower. Loud, smart, and absolutely worth feeding.
- American goldfinch — switches to drab winter plumage but stays at thistle/nyjer feeders all year.
Summer Visitors Worth Setting Up For
From May through August, the Great Lakes region adds a layer of seasonal color that's worth investing in feeder-wise:
- Baltimore oriole — orange halves and grape jelly are the magnet. Arrives early May.
- Rose-breasted grosbeak — sunflower seeds. Spectacular black-white-red males.
- Indigo bunting — thistle and small seeds.
- Eastern bluebird — mealworms are the only reliable lure. Worth every cent.
- Ruby-throated hummingbird — sugar water at a clean nectar feeder. Our only hummingbird species this side of the Mississippi.
Why Great Lakes Winters Are Hardest on Birds
The Great Lakes generate enormous lake-effect snow and prolonged subfreezing temperatures from December through March. Birds that overwinter here face longer continuous cold than birds in most other regions of the lower 48. This is the part of the country where consistent winter feeding has the biggest measurable impact. Black-capped chickadees that visit reliable feeders during a Michigan cold snap have measurably higher overnight survival rates than those that don't.
On our property in Gratiot County, we keep suet, sunflower, and peanuts out continuously from late October through mid-April. We also run a heated bird bath through the worst of winter. The difference in feeder traffic between yards that do this and yards that don't is the kind of thing you only notice once you've watched it for a season.
Wood Ducks, Wild Turkeys, and the Bigger Birds
Michigan and the surrounding Great Lakes states have outstanding populations of two larger species worth seeking out beyond the songbird feeder: wood ducks in wetlands and swamps, and wild turkeys in mixed forest edges. Neither will visit a backyard seed feeder, but both benefit enormously from habitat-level food management — wood ducks from native wetland plants, turkeys from acorn-producing oaks and scattered cracked corn near forest edges.
What Do Wild Birds Actually Eat in Nature?
Understanding what birds eat in the wild helps you make better choices at your feeders. Different bird species have evolved to eat different things — and knowing their natural diet tells you which feeder foods they'll prefer.
Do Birds Eat Ants?
Yes — many bird species eat ants. Woodpeckers, especially flickers, are voracious ant eaters. A single Northern Flicker can eat over 5,000 ants in a day. Wrens, sparrows, and starlings also eat ants regularly. Some species practice "anting" — they rub crushed ants on their feathers, possibly to use the formic acid as an insect repellent or to soothe skin irritation. Ants are a protein-rich wild food source that birds have relied on for millions of years.
Do Birds Eat Spiders?
Absolutely. Wrens, chickadees, warblers, and hummingbirds all eat spiders. Hummingbirds use spider silk to build their nests and eat the spiders themselves for protein. Spiders are one of the most important food sources for nestling songbirds — parent birds seek them out specifically because they're rich in taurine, an amino acid essential for brain development in chicks. A yard with healthy spider populations is a yard that supports healthy bird populations.
Do Birds Eat Slugs?
Several bird species eat slugs, including thrushes, robins, blackbirds, and ducks. Song thrushes are famous slug hunters — they smash snail shells on rocks to get at the meat inside. If you have a slug problem in your garden, attracting birds is one of the most effective natural pest control strategies. A healthy bird population in your yard will significantly reduce slug and snail numbers without any chemicals.
Do Birds Eat Snakes?
Raptors and several larger bird species eat snakes. Red-tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks, great blue herons, secretary birds, and roadrunners are all known snake predators. Owls — especially great horned owls and barred owls — also take snakes. Even smaller birds like shrikes and kingfishers eat small snakes. If you're interested in attracting owls to your property for natural pest control (including snakes and rodents), our complete owl box guide covers everything you need to know.
Do Birds Eat Squirrels?
This surprises many people, but yes — some birds eat squirrels. Large raptors like great horned owls, red-tailed hawks, and barred owls regularly hunt squirrels. A great horned owl is powerful enough to take an adult fox squirrel. Cooper's hawks and goshawks also prey on squirrels. Crows and jays occasionally eat baby squirrels if they find an unguarded nest. This predator-prey relationship is a natural part of the ecosystem on any wooded property. Learn more about what squirrels eat in return in our squirrel diet guide.
What Birds Eat Mosquitoes and Ticks?
Purple martins, swallows, nighthawks, and chimney swifts are the most prolific mosquito-eating birds. A single purple martin colony can consume thousands of mosquitoes in an evening. For ticks, wild turkeys are your best natural pest control — a single turkey can eat up to 200 ticks per day. Guinea fowl are also legendary tick destroyers. Attracting these species to your property is one of the most effective natural strategies for reducing mosquito and tick populations without chemical sprays.
Do Birds Eat Maggots?
Yes. Maggots are fly larvae and are eaten by many bird species, including robins, starlings, crows, magpies, and chickens. In the wild, birds find maggots in decaying organic matter, compost piles, and carrion. Maggots are extremely high in protein and fat — they're essentially nature's version of mealworms. If you see birds picking through your compost pile, they're likely eating maggots and other insect larvae.
Do Birds Eat Grass?
Some birds eat grass seeds, but very few eat the grass blades themselves. Geese are the exception — they graze on grass much like cattle. Sparrows, finches, and juncos eat grass seeds in fields and lawns. Most songbirds don't eat grass because it's difficult to digest and low in nutrients compared to seeds, insects, and fruit. However, some birds pull grass for nesting material, which can look like eating.
Seasonal Bird Feeding Guide — What to Offer Each Season
Birds need different foods at different times of year. Matching your feeder offerings to the season keeps birds healthier and attracts the widest variety of species throughout the year.
Spring (March – May)
Migration is in full swing. Offer high-energy suet, mealworms for returning insectivores, and orange halves to attract orioles. Put out crushed eggshells for nesting females that need calcium. Fresh water in a bird bath is essential — migrants are often dehydrated. This is the best time to install bird houses for nesting season.
Summer (June – August)
Parent birds need protein to feed growing chicks. Mealworms are the #1 summer offering. Keep suet available but switch to no-melt cakes in hot weather. Offer fresh fruits — berries, grapes, melon slices. Keep feeders clean since warm temperatures accelerate mold growth. Fresh water with a dripper or mister attracts birds that won't visit seed feeders.
Fall (September – November)
Birds are fattening up for migration and winter. Offer high-fat foods: sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet. Scatter cracked corn for ground feeders preparing for cold weather. Leave seed heads on spent garden flowers — goldfinches, sparrows, and juncos eat them naturally. Fall is also the ideal time to mount owl boxes before winter nesting season.
Winter (December – February)
Survival season. Birds burn enormous calories staying warm. Suet is critical — keep it stocked constantly. Black oil sunflower seeds provide the fat and calories birds need. Peanuts and peanut butter smeared on pine cones are high-energy treats. Keep a heated bird bath so birds can drink without wasting energy melting snow. See the winter feeding section above for the full deep-dive.
How to Clean a Bird Feeder
A dirty feeder is worse than no feeder. Mold, salmonella, and trichomoniasis spread through contaminated feeders and kill more backyard birds every year than predators do. Twenty minutes every two weeks is all it takes to keep your feeder doing the job you set it up to do.
Bird Species Feeding Guides
This page is the home base for everything we cover on wild birds — but several species deserve their own dedicated guide. Use these to go deeper.
Teach Kids About Wildlife and Birds
One of the best ways to get kids interested in birds is through stories that bring the natural world to life. When children connect emotionally with wildlife through adventure and imagination, they're more likely to care about conservation as they grow up.
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Get the Book on Amazon →Frequently Asked Questions
Can birds eat bread?
Bread won't kill birds, but it's essentially junk food. It fills their stomach without providing the protein, fat, and vitamins they need. For ducks and geese, bread is especially harmful — it can cause a wing deformity called "angel wing" in ducklings. If you must feed bread, make it whole grain, in tiny pieces, and alongside nutritious foods like seeds or mealworms. Better options include oats, cracked corn, chopped grapes, or commercial bird seed.
What human food can birds eat?
The safest human foods for birds include: unsalted nuts (peanuts, almonds, walnuts), fresh fruit (apples without seeds, grapes, bananas, oranges, berries), plain oats, cooked plain rice, cooked plain pasta in small amounts, scrambled eggs, and crushed eggshells. Always avoid salt, sugar, chocolate, avocado, onion, garlic, and any processed or seasoned foods. When in doubt, stick to commercially formulated bird seed — it's balanced for bird nutrition.
What birds eat sunflower seeds?
Almost all feeder birds eat sunflower seeds, which is why they're the #1 recommended bird food. Cardinals, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, finches (house finches, goldfinches, purple finches), blue jays, woodpeckers, grosbeaks, sparrows, and juncos all eat them readily. Black oil sunflower seeds have thinner shells that smaller birds can crack easily. Striped sunflower seeds have thicker shells and tend to attract larger species like jays and cardinals.
What birds eat suet?
Woodpeckers are the primary suet eaters — downy, hairy, red-bellied, and pileated woodpeckers all visit suet feeders regularly. Nuthatches, chickadees, brown creepers, titmice, and wrens are also enthusiastic suet eaters. In winter, even species that normally eat seeds, like cardinals and jays, will eat suet for the extra calories. Hang suet in a cage-style feeder on a tree trunk for best results.
What do baby birds eat?
Most baby songbirds eat insects — even species that eat seeds as adults feed their chicks insects for the first weeks of life because growing chicks need high-protein food. Parent birds feed them caterpillars, spiders, flies, beetles, and other soft-bodied insects. If you find an abandoned baby bird, do not feed it bread, milk, or water. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately. For more guidance, see our baby wildlife care guide.
Do birds eat mosquitoes?
Yes — several bird species are excellent mosquito predators. Purple martins, barn swallows, tree swallows, chimney swifts, and nighthawks all eat large numbers of flying insects including mosquitoes. A single barn swallow can eat 60 insects per hour. Attracting these species to your property with nest boxes, bird baths, and suitable habitat is one of the best natural mosquito control strategies available — no chemicals needed.
Do birds eat ticks?
Wild turkeys are the most effective tick-eating birds — a single turkey can consume up to 200 ticks per day. Guinea fowl are also legendary tick destroyers and are often kept specifically for this purpose. Ground-feeding birds like quail, grouse, and chickens also eat ticks. Attracting wild turkeys to your property is one of the most effective natural tick management strategies. Read our complete guide to what wild turkeys eat for tips on attracting them.
Do birds eat apples?
Yes, many bird species eat apples. Robins, waxwings, mockingbirds, bluebirds, orioles, starlings, and woodpeckers all eat apple flesh. Cut apples in half and place them on a platform feeder or spike them on a branch. Always remove the seeds — apple seeds contain amygdalin, which releases trace amounts of cyanide. Bruised or slightly overripe apples work great because they're softer and sweeter.
What do blackbirds eat?
Blackbirds (including red-winged blackbirds, common grackles, and European starlings) eat a varied diet of insects, seeds, grain, and fruit. At feeders, they prefer cracked corn, sunflower seeds, and suet. In the wild, they eat beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, spiders, and snails during summer, then shift to seeds, grain, and berries in fall and winter. They're ground feeders, so scatter food on the ground or use low platform feeders.
How often should I clean my bird feeder?
Every two weeks minimum — more often in warm, wet weather. Dirty feeders harbor mold, bacteria, and disease that can sicken or kill birds. Scrub feeders with a diluted bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water), rinse thoroughly, and let them dry completely before refilling. Remove wet, clumped, or moldy seed immediately. See the step-by-step cleaning routine above for the full process.
Build a Habitat Birds Want to Live In
A feeder is the start. A real habitat with mature trees, native plants, water, and shelter is what brings birds back year after year.
Explore All Wildlife Guides →As an Amazon Associate, Private Lands Wildlife earns from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Bird dietary needs vary by species and season. When in doubt, consult the Cornell Lab of Ornithology or a local wildlife rehabilitator for species-specific feeding guidance.