Best Birdfeeders for Winter Backyard Birds

Feeding birds can bring life, color, and song to a backyard year-round. For bird enthusiasts in the temperate zone, the spring and summer may provide more excitement in the form of breeding neotropical migrants, but bird feeders are most important for resident birds that face food scarcity through the winter months. Birds need extra energy to maintain their body heat and survive harsh conditions. By offering a consistent supply of food, you can make a meaningful difference for your local bird population. Clean your feeders regularly to prevent the spread of disease and keep the feeding area tidy to avoid attracting unwanted pests.

Providing different types of bird food through specialized feeders not only attracts a variety of wintering species but also helps sustain birds during times when natural food is limited. Here’s a guide to the main types of bird feeders you can use to attract and feed winter backyard birds to your garden.

Tube Feeders: A Favorite Among Songbirds

Tube feeders are cylindrical feeders with small perches and openings designed for seeds. They are ideal for offering black-oil sunflower seeds, millet, or nyjer seeds. Hanging them from a tree branch or shepherd’s hook in a safe, open location helps deter predators while making them accessible to your feathered visitors.

Birds Attracted:

• Finches
• Chickadees
• Nuthatches
• Titmice

Benefits of Tube Feeders

• Discourages larger birds: The small ports prevent access by grackles and pigeons, ensuring food availability for smaller birds.

Hopper Feeders: The All-Purpose Solution

Hopper feeders are versatile and shaped like small houses or barns, with a central compartment that dispenses seeds as birds feed from a tray below. They can hold a mix of seeds, such as sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and safflower, making them attractive to a variety of birds. However, their open design makes them prone to attracting squirrels and larger birds, so consider installing a baffle to reduce competition.

Birds Attracted:

• Cardinals
• Blue jays
• Sparrows
• Woodpeckers

Benefits of Hopper Feeders

• Larger capacity: Ideal for colder months when birds need more energy, requiring fewer refills.

Suet Feeders: Energy Boosts for Cold Weather

Suet feeders are wire cages designed to hold blocks of suet, a high-energy blend of animal fat and seeds. You can hang these feeders from trees or poles, but it’s best to place them in shaded areas to keep the suet from melting during warmer months.

Birds Attracted:

• Woodpeckers
• Nuthatches
• Wrens
• Chickadees

Benefits of Suet Feeders

• Important nutrients: Suet is especially important in the winter, providing birds with the fat they need to survive frigid temperatures.
• Variety: You can purchase suet blocks with added mealworms or fruit to attract even more species.

Peanut Feeders: A Treat for Larger Birds

Peanut feeders are typically made of metal mesh or have larger openings to accommodate shelled or whole peanuts. Place these feeders in an open space to allow larger birds easy access while still keeping an eye out for predators.

Birds Attracted:

These feeders are popular with larger birds, including:

• Blue jays
• Crows
• Woodpeckers

Benefits of Peanut Feeders

• Enrichment: Intelligent larger birds like Corvids find extracting peanuts from the mesh both engaging and rewarding, making for fascinating backyard observations.
• Nutritional Value: Peanuts are an excellent source of protein and fat, providing essential nutrients during both breeding and winter seasons.