Winter Bird Feeding Tips
Choosing the Most Nutritious Foods for Winter Survival
During the winter, you can be a hero to your backyard birds by keeping your bird feeder filled with food. Whether you fill your feeder with an affordable economy blend or a super-premium blend, your backyard birds will thank you. However, filling your feeder with foods that are packed with healthy fat and protein can help your backyard birds go from surviving to thriving during the harsh winter season.
Here are some energy-rich options wild birds love to eat!
Sunflower Seeds: Black oil sunflower seeds are loved by nearly all seed-eating birds. Black oil sunflower seeds have a tender shell that is easy to crack, making it a great option for songbirds of all sizes. Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of protein and healthy fat, which helps birds stay warm.
Recommendations: Audubon Park Extreme Variety, Audubon Park Black Oil Sunflower Seed, and COOL BIRDS All Birds.
Shell-free Sunflower Hearts: Shell-free sunflower is the ultimate wild bird treat. It boasts all the nutrition of black oil sunflower seeds ─ just without the shells! No shells mean less mess under your feeder and a ready-to-eat feast for wild birds. Plus, wild birds don’t have to waste much-needed energy cracking shells. They can just perch, dine, and enjoy all the healthy fat and protein.
Recommendations: Audubon Park Sunflower Hearts & Chips and COOL BIRDS Hearts on Fire.
Safflower Seeds: Safflower Seeds are an excellent source of energy, providing healthy fat and protein. It’s also great for attracting preferred birds like cardinals, chickadees, and nuthatches. Squirrels, starlings, and grackles tend to avoid it.
Recommendations: COOL BIRDS Cardinal & Crew, COOL BIRDS Safflower, Nuts & Hearts, Audubon Park Safflower Seed, and Audubon Park Cardinal Blend.
Peanuts & Mixed Nuts: Peanuts and other mixed nuts are a great source of protein and healthy fat for wild birds. Select a wild bird food blend with shell-free nuts for less mess. A wide variety of birds enjoy nuts, from smaller birds like chickadees and nuthatches to larger birds like woodpeckers and jays. Peanut hearts are also a great option but in smaller, easier-to-eat pieces.
Recommendations: Audubon Park Premium Trail Mix, Audubon Park High Energy Blend, COOL BIRDS Safflower, Nuts & Hearts, and COOL BIRDS Nut & Fruit.
Suet: Suet is a great source of energy, making it an excellent option for winter bird feeding and even all year. It attracts a wide range of wild bird species that enjoy an omnivorous diet. It can be mixed with a wide variety of seeds and nuts to provide birds with even more delicious nutrition. Suet attracts birds of all sizes, from chickadees, wrens, and kinglets, to flickers, bluebirds, and woodpeckers.
Recommendations: Audubon Park Woodpecker Suet, Peanut Suet, Sunflower Suet, and High Energy Suet.
