Winter Bird Feeding: Foods, Water and Shelter in Cold Weather

A winter feeding setup does not have to be expensive, but it is easy to spend money in the wrong places. A second bag of mixed seed rarely makes the difference in January. What does is open water, food that is high in fat, and somewhere for birds to get out of the wind. Here is what the bird organizations actually recommend, which purchases are worth it, and which ones you can skip.

What birds are up against in cold weather

Small backyard birds spend winter balancing fat in against heat out. Audubon's explainer on how birds cope with cold weather notes that fat can make up more than 10 percent of a chickadee's or finch's winter body weight, and that keeping feeders full helps birds avoid draining those reserves. The National Wildlife Federation puts the stakes in plain numbers: birds keep an average body temperature of about 105°F, and they need high-fat, high-calorie food to generate that heat (NWF, "Help Birds Weather Winter").

Feeders matter more now than in other seasons. A 2010 Audubon magazine guide by Steve Kress points out that more than 100 bird species eat feeder foods, mostly in winter when natural food is scarce (Audubon Guide to Winter Bird Feeding).

That gives you three jobs: calories, water and shelter. The rest of this guide takes them in order of how often people get them wrong.

Water: the item most backyards are missing

Do birds need water in winter? Yes. NWF says water matters as much in winter as in summer. Birds can eat snow, but melting it costs energy they would otherwise use to stay warm, and when there is no snow on the ground, finding water can be hard (NWF; NWF blog). Audubon Great Lakes tells readers directly to provide water during winter, especially when there is no snow (Winter Bird Feeding 101).

Heated birdbath or add-on heater?

In freezing climates, a birdbath heater keeps ice from forming (Project FeederWatch). You can buy a bath with a built-in heater or add a heater to a bath you already own. Either way, the water does not get warm. NWF explains that heaters just hold it above freezing so it stays liquid.

What to look for before you buy:

FeederWatch calls the branches-and-stones trick "particularly important in winter," because a wet bird loses heat fast.

Keeping it clean

Audubon Great Lakes suggests refreshing birdbath water about every other day when possible and scrubbing the basin with a solution of 9 parts water to 1 part vinegar. FeederWatch recommends changing the water every couple of days and scrubbing weekly.

Food: put your money into fat and calories

Is suet good in winter? It is one of the most useful foods you can put out. NWF recommends seeds, suet, nuts and other foods high in fat and calories in cold weather, and its blog names suet and peanut butter-based cakes as high-calorie options for cooler months. Audubon lists woodpeckers, titmice, nuthatches and chickadees as regular suet visitors, with occasional wrens, creepers and warblers.

Winter is also the easiest season for suet. FeederWatch's main caution is hot weather, when suet that has not been specially processed can turn rancid.

Here is where each food fits, based on the Audubon and Audubon Great Lakes guides:

• Suet in a cage or mesh feeder: woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, titmice.
• Black-oil sunflower, safflower or peanuts in a tube feeder: chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, goldfinches and finches.
• Safflower, sunflower or cracked corn in a hopper feeder: cardinals and jays, plus tube-feeder birds. Hoppers also keep seed drier.

For a full breakdown of seed types and the birds each one draws, see our feeder food guide.

Timing matters more than volume

Birds come out of a long, cold night needing to refuel, so NWF stresses keeping feeders stocked. The practical takeaway: fill feeders in the evening or first thing in the morning before a cold snap, and brush snow off feeding ports and trays.

One spending trap to avoid

Audubon Great Lakes advises against scattering seed on the ground or relying on platform feeders, because they gather large numbers of birds and attract deer and other unwanted animals. It also recommends fencing feeders where deer are a problem, particularly in states dealing with Chronic Wasting Disease.

Shelter: free or nearly free

Shelter is the cheapest of the three to provide, and often costs nothing.

• Evergreens. FeederWatch calls them ideal because their thick foliage hides birds from predators and buffers winter wind.
• Brush piles. A loosely stacked pile near your feeders gives ground birds such as Song Sparrows somewhere to rest and escape (FeederWatch).
• Standing seed heads and fallen leaves. NWF suggests leaving flower heads and stalks standing for their seeds and insects. Its blog adds that leaf litter shelters overwintering insects that birds forage for.
• Roost boxes. Unlike a nest box, a roost box has its entry hole near the bottom so rising heat stays inside, and interior perches let several birds share body heat (NWF blog). Audubon Great Lakes notes that nest boxes left up can also serve as winter roosting spots.

Where to put feeders in winter

Placement is a balance between cover and safety:

• Put feeders about 10 feet from natural cover. FeederWatch calls this a good compromise: close enough for birds to dive into shelter, and far enough to keep squirrels and cats from jumping in. (Squirrel problems? See our guide to keeping squirrels off your feeder.)
• Keep feeders within 3 feet of a window or more than 30 feet away, as the Audubon guide recommends for tube feeders.
• Hang tube feeders at least 5 feet off the ground (Audubon).
• Choose a spot you can reach safely after snow or ice, so refills and cleaning still happen.

Winter does not pause cleaning

Crowded winter feeders still need regular cleaning. Audubon Great Lakes recommends cleaning feeders every 1 to 2 weeks with 9 parts water to 1 part bleach, then drying them completely before refilling. FeederWatch suggests cleaning every week or two, more often in heavy use or wet weather, and raking or sweeping up seed under feeders. Our step-by-step guide on how to clean a bird feeder covers the process.

Frequently asked questions

Do birds need water in winter?

Yes. Birds can eat snow, but melting it burns energy they need for warmth, and dry cold spells leave little to drink. A birdbath heater keeps water liquid without making it warm.

Is suet good in winter?

Yes. Suet is a high-fat, high-calorie food that woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees and titmice readily eat. Cold weather also avoids the rancidity problem FeederWatch flags for suet in hot weather.

Should I stop feeding if I go away during winter?

The bird organizations cited here focus on keeping feeders stocked in cold weather. If you cannot keep up with filling and cleaning, FeederWatch suggests limiting feeding to times when you can do it safely.

Sources

• The Audubon Guide to Winter Bird Feeding — National Audubon Society
• How Do Birds Cope With Cold Winter Weather? — National Audubon Society
• Winter Bird Feeding 101 — Audubon Great Lakes
• Feeding Birds — Project FeederWatch (Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada)
• Help Birds Weather Winter — National Wildlife Federation
• Five Ways to Attract Birds This Fall — National Wildlife Federation Blog