In many states, winter feels like a time to sleep. Trees are empty, mammals sleep, people rot in beds. Although migratory birds fly south in the winter, many seed and insectivorous birds do not, and since there are leaves on the trees, the winter months are often the best time to view them.
As someone who reviews smart bird feeders year-round for WIRED, I’m always interested in ways to make sure I’m attracting a variety of the biggest and most interesting birds to my yard, no matter the season.
Plus, if you got a smart bird feeder for Christmas and your local flocks still haven’t, you may be looking for ways to speed up the process. I talked to some ornithologists to learn how to improve the appeal of the common yard during these cold, windy, rainy, and sometimes snowy months.
Put Your Menu Together
Although there may be less diversity of bird species in your area due to migratory birds that have continued (for example, warblers and tanagers), many seed and insect eaters find enough in the area to support themselves. In my West Coast region, this means chickadees, all kinds of sparrows, and large wading birds. Both of the ornithologists I spoke with recommended different types of feeders in the winter to attract the widest variety of birds.
“To attract the greatest variety of feeders, offer different types of seeds in different feeding methods,” said Noah Perlut, an ornithologist and professor in the School of Marine and Environmental Studies at the University of New England. “Some species like to eat worms found in feeders, while others like suet, and some feed on seed tubes.”
Suet (translated from animal fat, basically—usually tallow) is the staple of my winter bird preparations. It comes in different styles, including balls or cakes. I like to use cookies mixed with hot peppers, which the squirrels don’t like, placed in an inexpensive cage feeder. I have found that it attracts many of the insectivorous birds in our area, including woodpeckers, nuthatches, juncos, and chickadees.
I also love feeders that sport dual feed bays, especially if you can’t fit multiple feeders in your yard because of space or can’t meet the 5-7-9 rule to keep squirrels away. (That’s 5 feet from the ground; 7 feet from any structures such as wire that can be pulled from; and 9 feet from anything hanging, such as branches.)
Maria Kincaid, chief ornithologist at FeatherSnap—the marquee Scout feeder available in two feeder bays—suggests regular seeding with dark oil sunflower seeds, unsalted peanuts and mealworms. (Some smart bird feeders come with suet ball holders, and others have them as an add-on.)
Kincaid also specifically recommends using a smart bird feeder in the winter, so you can keep track of which types of food are most popular. This can help you measure your food intake to prevent waste.
Birdfy
Rookie Smart Bird Feeder
“Many of the songbirds that will visit our feeders in the winter have different nutritional needs than they do in the spring,” Kincaid said. “A diet high in fat and protein is especially important in the winter, as it takes more energy to keep warm in cold temperatures.”
Sharing Accommodation
Adequate cover—trees, shrubs, bushes, or lots of brush—keeps birds safe and happy year-round, but it’s especially important from December to March, when little foliage can cause them to feel too exposed or threatened.
“Winter is the busiest time of year for bird feeding,” says Perlut. “This increased activity doesn’t necessarily reflect a lack of food—rather, it’s a time of year when songbirds focus on self-care rather than breeding.”
