Here we explore the different types of bluebird food, both naturally in the wild and feeder food, and what you should put out to attract these cheerful birds to your yard. Who doesn’t love bluebirds? People have long considered bluebirds symbols of happiness, joy, and the first signs of spring. If you want to attract bluebirds to your yard, you’ll need to figure out the right bluebird food to get their attention. In North America, there are three types of bluebirds: Western, Mountain, and Eastern bluebirds (which are the most common). The three bluebirds are slightly different in appearance, but all three types have a similar diet. Eastern bluebirds have the classic blue body and peach-colored chest. Western bluebirds are somewhat brighter blue but very similar. Mountain bluebirds are blue all over, with no light orange feathers. These are small birds, about the size of your hand. All three types are distinctive and easy to spot. Male eastern bluebird. Photo by Mike Carmo. Mountain Bluebird. Photo by Arnold Joe. So, what do bluebirds eat? Here are all the foods that these lovely little birds enjoy in nature and your very own backyard. When bluebirds are in nature, they enjoy many different bugs, earthworms, and mollusks. Bluebirds aren’t as interested in seeds as some bird species, but they do enjoy certain berries from time to time. Bluebirds are great birds to draw to your backyard because many of the bugs they enjoy are the ones we’d rather avoid, like mosquitoes and termites. In the wild, bluebirds love to snack on snails, slugs, earthworms, and grubs. They are drawn to insect larvae and enjoy crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, termites, and ants. Bluebirds also eat spiders and the previously mentioned mosquito. The birds are drawn to flying insects, including moths, and enjoy eating caterpillars as well.

See this article to learn what bluebirds eat and how you can see more of these fantastic birds right from your window! What Do Bluebirds Eat In The Wild? In the wild, bluebirds (Eastern Bluebirds, Western Bluebirds, Mountain Bluebirds) shift their diet depending on the season. In general, they eat lots of insects and other arthropods in spring and summer, and small fruits in fall and winter. Overall, their diet is pretty similar to that of American Robins and other members of the thrush family. Like other thrushes, bluebirds eat worms, but they might not feed on them as much as the larger thrushes. Instead, they feed more on insects, such as earthworms, grasshoppers, beetles, larvae, crickets, snails, ants, and other small creatures (they can even eat smaller lizards!) living in open grassy areas. Related: What do birds eat? They catch them by waiting on a perch that gives them a good meadow view. When they see a bug, they fly out to catch it on the ground. These small, pretty thrushes can also catch lots of other small creatures, even occasionally catching and eating tiny snakes! Their insectivorous diet means that they don’t do as well in places sprayed with lots of pesticides. Bluebirds need big, open, grassy habitats with an abundance of insects. When it gets cold, they switch to flocking together and feeding on fruit. Small groups of bluebirds fly to fruiting trees and bushes and pick berries with their beaks. The best food for bluebirds are plenty of insects and wild berries. However, they can also be fed mealworms, suet, and chopped fruit. Do bluebirds like bread? No, bluebirds do not like bread. They eat mealworms, other insects, and small fruit. Do bluebirds like oats? No, bluebirds do not like oats. They only eat insects (including mealworms), suet, and small fruits. Read next – Why is bluebirding important Patrick O'Donnell has been focused on all things avian since the age of 7. Since then, he has helped with ornithological field work in the USA and Peru, and has guided many birding tours, especially in Costa Rica. He develops birding apps for BirdingFieldGuides and loves to write about birds, especially in his adopted country of Costa Rica. Have you ever wondered what do bluebirds eat? They mainly like insects, but do they go for other delicacies as well?

Besides, bluebirds eat mealworms, nutmeats, sunflower hearts or chips, suet dough, and eggshell bits (mostly female bluebirds) offered by birders. In this article, we’re going to talk about what bluebirds eat in the wild, in the yard, in different seasons, and at feeders. We will also share with you what bluebird feeder you should choose and where to place the feeder perfectly. So, let’s get started! How To Stop Birds From Flying Into Windows? [Read more] How To Get Rid Of Woodpeckers Pecking Your House? [Read more] How To Attract Bluebirds? [Read more] How To Attract Woodpeckers? [Read more] Like American robins, solitaires, and hermit thrushes, bluebirds are thrushes, small to medium-sized ground-living, insect-eating birds. When it comes to a bluebird’s diet, it depends on the season, habitat, and food availability. “Typically, around 68% of a bluebird’s stomach is made for eating insects, while the other 32% is made for eating fruits and other foods,” said Foster Ellenborough Lascelles Beal in his book ‘ Food Habits of the Thrushes of the United States ‘ in 1915. So, what bluebirds eat in the wild includes caterpillars, grasshoppers, crickets, wasps, beetles, spiders, snails, grubs, insect larvae, ants, bees, flies, angleworms, myriapods, tiny lizards, tree frogs, salamanders, sowbugs, black olive scales, weevils, pillbugs, etc. These birds catch various insects, such as termites, moths, and mosquitoes in flight, especially when many flying insects are out there. Among wild fruits, bluebirds eat sumac, wild holly, dogwood, pokeweed, currants, red cedar, mistletoe, tupelo, honeysuckle, bay, and more. Read Also: How To Stop Birds From Flying Into Windows? Click here Many edible things are out there in your yard for bluebirds. You may be wondering what is out there edible for bluebirds in your yard. Among insects, bluebirds can eat ants, spiders, termites, and mosquitoes in your yard. In terms of fruits, bluebirds can eat hackberries, cherries, grapes, raisins, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, juniper berries, serviceberries, chokecherries, elderberries, and more, if you plant these fruit trees and berry bushes in your yard. If bluebirds are likely to eat foods in your yard, make sure you don’t apply insecticide and pesticide to your yard so that bluebirds can find plenty of insects to eat. You shouldn’t remove cobwebs from your yard because they can help increase spider populations.

Learn about the different types of bluebird food, such as mealworms, crickets, waxworms, berries, and insects. Discover the best foods for feeding bluebirds in different seasons and find homemade bluebird food recipes. Bluebirds have a diverse diet, and providing them with a variety of food options can attract them to your yard and keep them well-nourished. In this section, we will explore different types of bluebird food, including mealworms, crickets, waxworms, berries, and insects. Mealworms are a favorite food of bluebirds and can be easily purchased or even bred at home. These small, worm-like creatures are the larvae of darkling beetles. They are rich in protein and fat, which are essential for bluebirds, especially during breeding season when they need to provide for their young. To attract bluebirds with mealworms, you can offer them in a shallow dish or a specialized mealworm feeder. Bluebirds are visual hunters, so placing the feeder in an open and visible area can increase their chances of finding it. It’s important to ensure that the mealworms are fresh and not stale, as bluebirds are less likely to eat them if they are not moving. Crickets are another protein-rich food option for bluebirds. These hopping insects are not only a tasty treat but also provide entertainment for bluebirds as they chase and catch them. You can purchase live crickets from pet stores or online retailers. It’s important to ensure that the crickets are gut-loaded before offering them to the bluebirds. Gut-loading involves feeding the crickets with nutritious food to enhance their nutritional value for the bluebirds. When providing crickets to bluebirds, it’s best to offer them in a shallow dish or a specialized cricket feeder.

So, since bluebirds have such a unique diet, if you’re trying to attract them to your backyard feeder, you’ll need to know a few things about what to feed bluebirds in the winter. The best foods to feed bluebirds in the winter are fruit, mealworms, hulled sunflower seeds, peanut butter, and suet. Bluebirds will readily accept these five foods in the winter when insects are harder to find. The high calorie density of these foods will also help bluebirds survive during harsh winter conditions. The above photo by scrapkat1 is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 Best Nest Box: My all-time favorite nest box for bluebirds is the Nature’s Way model CWH4. It has so many features that I love. Get one of these bird houses on Amazon here. Let’s look at each of these foods one-by-one and consider the best ways to offer each type of food at a feeder in order to attract bluebirds. 1. Fruit: Bluebirds’ Favorite Winter Food Bluebirds eat A LOT of fruit in the winter. As the ground freezes and insects become harder to find, bluebirds naturally switch from an insect-centered diet to a fruit-centered diet. They go from catching caterpillars, spiders, and crickets in June to munching on mistletoe, sumac, and wild holly in December. It’s safe to say that fruit is a bluebird’s favorite winter food. Since bluebirds naturally eat so much fruit in the winter, they will gladly accept fruit at your feeder too, if you offer it. You can easily serve your fruit on a platform feeder or in a hanging bluebird feeder. (See my recommended feeders on my tools page.) For fresh fruit, try offering sections of apples or pears that have been finely diced, or whole berries, like blueberries, blackberries or raspberries. If you want to offer bluebirds dried fruit, raisins and dried currants are both great options. Chop them up and soak them in hot water for at least a half hour before serving. The soaking process will soften the dried fruit so that it is more easily digestible for bluebirds.

Bluebirds play a big role in keeping garden pests in check by eating lots of insects each day. This helps the ecosystem stay healthy. They’re not just pretty to look at in your yard. Their diet shows how they can eat many different things. They eat mealworms, suet, berries, and even eggs. Let’s dive into what blue birds eat and how to help them. What do blue birds eat? What are the preferred food sources for blue birds? How can I feed meal worms to blue birds? Can blue birds eat suet? What can I feed blue birds during harsh weather conditions? What types of bird seed and berries do blue birds like? What specialized feeders are best for attracting blue birds? Bluebirds are adored for their vibrant plumage. They eat a variety of foods throughout the year, fitting to their changing environment. Learning about what bluebirds eat can teach us a lot, which is great for bird watchers and nature lovers. Bluebirds mainly eat insects and small invertebrates. This is especially true during the time they’re caring for their young. In warmer months, they feed their babies insects to help them grow fast. When it gets colder and bugs are harder to find, bluebirds switch to foods like suet and mealworms. This keeps them strong and active. They also enjoy wild fruits and berries, mostly in the autumn and winter. These foods are full of carbs and vitamins, helping bluebirds stay healthy in the cold. So, knowing what to feed bluebirds can make your backyard a welcoming place for them. It’s a great way to connect with these beautiful creatures. Bluebirds love meal worms because they are nutritious. You can buy them at most pet stores, bait shops, or online. Always put meal worms in a dish with smooth sides to keep them from getting away. Feeding meal worms to bluebirds in the same spot every day teaches them where to find food. Do this in the morning, when they’re hungry and there’s less competition. Storing meal worms in the fridge keeps them fresh longer. You can get a large amount of mealworms online for about $40.

Do you want to feed bluebirds, but have no idea what foods they can safely eat other than seeds? Three different species of bluebirds live in North America. The Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, lives mostly on the eastern half of the United States and southeastern Canada. The Western Bluebird, Sialia mexicana, lives through most of the western United States, southwestern Canada, and Mexico. And the Mountain Bluebird, Sialia currucoides, ranges mostly through the western United States and Canada, all the way to Alaska, wintering in Mexico. Though their ranges vary, their diets are quite similar. All bluebirds eat mainly insects, including grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and others. They supplement their diet with seeds, berries and other fruits, particularly in the winter. Many people enjoy feeding bluebirds at feeders. Here is a list of common foods you can safely feed bluebirds other than seeds. Bluebirds love mealworms perhaps best of any foods you might offer. Bluebirds love insects, and mealworms are no exception. You can purchase these darkling beetle larvae both live and dried at most pet stores. If offering live mealworms, make sure the container has smooth sides so the larvae cannot crawl out. If you choose to offer dried mealworms, consider soaking them in warm water for about 10 to 15 minutes before placing them in the feeder. The mealworms will plump up considerably and be more attractive to the birds. Bluebirds eat a lot of different types of berries, especially in the winter. Bluebirds naturally eat a lot of different types of berries, including dogwood berries, juniper berries, hackberries, and even mistletoe berries. You can safely feed bluebirds just about any type of berry that you would eat. Consider offering blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and cranberries. You might also think of planting bushes, shrubs, or trees that produce berries, especially in the winter. If offering suet, consider feeders that do not require bluebirds to feed while hanging. You can purchase many different types of suet, with a variety of different ingredients. Bluebirds can benefit from suet thanks to its abundant fat and protein. Bluebirds enjoy lots of different types of food besides seeds. Here is a list of foods you can safely feed bluebirds in your own backyard.

Bluebirds have a diverse natural diet consisting of insects, worms, and other invertebrates during the warmer months and rely on fruits and berries when insects are scarce. Supplemental feeding with live or dried mealworms, softened fruits, suet, and seed mixes is crucial to supporting bluebirds’ nutritional needs throughout the year. To attract bluebirds to your backyard, offer foods like blackberries, bayberries, honeysuckle berries and plant berry bushes such as elderberry or serviceberry. Also provide suitable nesting boxes and natural food sources like live insects by planting flowers that attract bees and butterflies. It’s important to avoid certain foods like onions/garlics or commercially available birdseed mixtures that may be harmful for bluebirds; instead stick to their natural diet of insects/berries supplemented with certain preferred feeder styles including tray feeders for larger meals or mealworm dishes. Learn about the natural diets of bluebirds and discover which types of food are best to offer them in this comprehensive guide. 1. Natural Diet af Bluebirds Bluebirds have a diverse natural diet that mainly consists of insects, snails, worms, and other invertebrates during the warmer months. They are skilled hunters, swooping down from perches to capture their prey on the ground or foraging among foliage for hidden treats. Examples of common food sources include grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, and crickets. Seasonal changes impact bluebirds’ diets significantly as they adapt to shifting food availability throughout the year. During colder months when insects are scarce, bluebirds rely more heavily on fruits and berries from various plants like dogwood trees and sumac shrubs to meet their nutritional needs. Nestlings eat the same adult diet; thus parents ensure they provide both protein-rich invertebrates and energy-dense fruits during breeding season to support rapid growth. 2. The Three Types Of Bluebirds and Their Dietary Needs There are three types of bluebirds found in North America, each with their distinct dietary needs: the Eastern Bluebird, Western Bluebird, and Mountain Bluebird. The Eastern Bluebird is commonly found east of the Rockies, while the Western thrives in open woodlands and meadows on the west coast. All three bluebirds share a protein-rich diet consisting mainly of insects like beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, and larva as well as berries such as elderberries, raspberries, currants or blueberries which provide essential sugars. While they predominantly forage for their food on the ground to catch small worms or insects hiding beneath leaves or logs; occasionally you might also spot them hunting lizards or snails from low perches during spring and summer months when insects are plentiful. Supplemental feeding is an excellent way to help support bluebirds’ nutritional needs, especially during times when their natural food sources may be scarce. Mealworms are a popular choice for supplemental feeding and can be offered to the birds in various forms such as live, dried, canned, or roasted. In addition to mealworms, you can offer other preferred foods like softened fruits and berries to supplement their diets. Bluebirds enjoy consuming blackberries, bayberries, honeysuckle, Virginia creeper berries, red cedar berries and pokeberries as they provide essential nutrients needed for sustaining energy levels and maintaining good health. Offering these foods in clean birdbaths or tray feeders with smooth sides will encourage visits from hungry bluebirds and help them thrive within your outdoor space.

Bluebirds are among the most beloved backyard birds, known for their striking blue plumage and melodious songs. Understanding their diet is crucial for bird enthusiasts who want to attract and support these beautiful birds. This guide explores what bluebirds eat in the wild and in backyards, their seasonal dietary changes, and essential feeding tips to keep them healthy. What Do Bluebirds Eat in the Wild? In the wild, bluebirds have a varied diet that consists primarily of insects, berries, and other small food sources. Their diet changes based on the season and availability of food, allowing them to adapt to different environmental conditions. Bluebirds are primarily insectivorous during the warmer months. They rely on a protein-rich diet to fuel their energy needs, particularly during the breeding season when they must care for their young. Their diet includes a wide variety of invertebrates, such as: Beetles – A staple in their diet, beetles provide a good source of protein and fat. Caterpillars – These soft-bodied larvae are easy for bluebirds to digest and are highly nutritious. Grasshoppers & Crickets – Bluebirds eagerly hunt these jumping insects, which are abundant in meadows and open fields. Spiders – While not insects, spiders offer a valuable protein source and are often plucked from webs or found crawling on vegetation. Ants – Bluebirds consume ants opportunistically, though they prefer larger insects when available. Mealworms – These larvae of darkling beetles are a favorite food source for bluebirds, both in the wild and when provided by bird enthusiasts. Bluebirds are skilled hunters and often use a “sit-and-wait” strategy, perching on a branch and scanning the ground for movement before swooping down to capture their prey.

Do bluebirds eat birdseed? Bluebirds are both insectivores and frugivores, meaning they eat insects, and fruit and fruit seeds. What is interesting about the insectivorous nature of bluebirds is that the classification is a little narrow compared to what bluebirds really eat. Weather permitting and when available, bluebirds feast on arthropods and even other animals. In the animal kingdom, arthropod s make up the largest phylum, and it includes classes such as insects, crustaceans, arachnids, and millipedes and centipedes. Though, of the arthropod phylum, researchers found that larva and insects make up the largest portion of the bluebird diet during spring and summer. Table 1 lists examples of different arthropods that would make fairly common prey for bluebirds. Table 1. Families within the arthropod phylum and examples In case it’s been a while since you’ve seen the terms phylum and class and order – these terms relate to the hierarchy of how scientists classify organisms. Figure 1 shows the taxonomic hierarchy starting with domain (bacteria, archaea and eukarya) and ending with genus and species. Figure 1. Taxonomic rank starting with domain and ending with species. Ultimately, in the wild, bluebirds are going to forage for arthropods, fruits and seeds from fruits. When talking about fruit, we’re really talking more about berries or very small fruits. Examples of fruits and the seeds from fruits that bluebirds will eat include (Beal, 1915; Weinkam, Janos, & Brown, 2017): Rather than eating berries in the summer when some of the cultivated types (blueberries, raspberries, etc.) are eaten, berries and berry seeds become the primary food source during winter months when insects are harder to find. During the spring and summer months, arthropods of all sorts and other small animals are plentiful. While many of us who host bluebirds still like to supplement feeding with mealworms, lawns with even moderate plant diversity give way to a fantastic buffet of cutworms, moths, beetles, crickets and other insects. In fact, hosting bluebirds is a great benefit since they can help control insect populations, and eat garden pests. In figure 2 are two examples of bluebirds having caught an insect and caterpillar. Both food items were fed to their young, and if you consider the demands of 4-6 nestlings in addition to the dietary needs of parent bluebirds in the spring and summer, there is considerable insect foraging happening that can benefit your gardens. Figure 2. Young and adult bluebirds eat mostly insect arthropods during the spring and summer months. A bluebird diet of insects and larva can help with garden pest control. Pictured: (Left) A male eastern bluebird holds a moth in his beak while perching on a fence.