Winter Bird Feeding Tips for Peak Birding Season (2026)

For many regions, winter feels like a period of dormancy. The trees are bare, the mammals are hibernating, the people are rotting. While migratory birds fly south for the winter, many seed-eating and insect-eating birds do not, and because the trees do not leave leaves, the winter months are often the best time to observe them.

As a person who tests smart bird feeders all year round for WIRED, I’m always interested in ways to ensure I attract the largest and most interesting variety of birds to my garden, whatever the season.

Additionally, if you received a smart bird feeder for Christmas and your neighborhood herds haven’t discovered it yet, you may be looking for ways to speed up the process. I spoke to birders to learn how to boost the attractiveness of an average yard during these cold, windy, rainy and sometimes freezing months.

Mix up your menu

Although there may be less diversity of bird species around your area due to the movement of some migratory birds (warblers and tanagers, for example), many seed and insect eaters find enough locally to sustain their needs. In my area of ​​the West Coast, that means chickadees, all kinds of sparrows, and even bigger birds like flickers. Both birders I spoke to recommended diversifying food types in winter to attract the widest variety of birds.

“To attract the greatest diversity of species to your feeders, offer different types of seeds in different styles of feeders,” says Noah Perlut, an ornithologist and professor in the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs at the University of Sydney. University of New England. “Some species prefer to eat mealworms from platform feeders, while others prefer suet and still others feed on seed tubes.”

Tallow (molten animal fat, essentially…often tallow) is indeed an essential part of my own winter feeding setup for birds. It comes in a variety of styles including balls or cakes. I like to use cakes mixed with chili, what squirrels don’t likeplaced in an inexpensive cage feeder. I have found that it attracts a range of insectivorous birds to my area, including woodpeckers, nuthatches, juncos and titmice.

I also like feeders that have two feed bays, especially if you are unable to fit multiple feeders in your yard due to space or inability to meet the requirements. rule 5-7-9 to deter squirrels. (That’s 5 feet off the ground; 7 feet from any structures like fences that one could jump from; and 9 feet from anything overhanging, like branches.)

Maria Kincaid, chief ornithologist at FeatherSnap— including the marquee Scout manger It happens to feature double feed berries – he suggests supplementing the regular seeds with black oil sunflower seeds, unsalted peanuts and mealworms. (Some smart bird feeders come with ball of suet holders, while others have them available in addition.)

Kincaid also recommends specifically using a smart bird feeder in winter, so you can note which types of foods are most popular. This can help you calibrate your feeding ratios to avoid waste.

“Most songbirds that visit our feeders in the winter have different dietary needs than in the spring,” Kincaid says. “Foods high in fat and protein are especially important in winter, because it takes more energy to stay warm in cold weather.”

Share shelter

Ample cover (trees, bushes, shrubs, or even a brush pile) keeps birds feeling safe and happy all year round, but it is especially important from December to March, when less foliage could cause them to feel more exposed or threatened.

“Winter is often the busiest time of year at bird feeders,” Perlut says. “This increased activity does not necessarily reflect a shortage of food. Rather, it is a time of year when songbirds are focused on self-care rather than breeding activities.”