Birds need to eat a lot of food in order to stay warm and healthy, especially during the winter. In fact, they often consume more than twice their weight in food each day.
Nuts are a popular food source of protein for birds, but only if you provide them with enough foraging opportunities. Walnuts, peanuts, pecans, and almonds are natural, nutritious foods for many birds, including woodpeckers, blue jays, black-capped chickadees, and nuthatches.
The best way to provide these foods is by placing them in feeders specifically made for bird feeding.
What Birds Eat Nuts?
When you think of birds, what comes to mind? If it’s not that they love their nuts and berries, then you’re in for a treat. There are plenty of species that indulge in these natural foods. Among the birds that eat nuts are chickadees, finches, grackles, jays, mockingbirds, and nuthatches—just to name a few.
What Nuts Can You Feed Wild Birds in Your Feeders?
There are a variety of nuts that wild birds love to snack on. This includes shelled nuts, whole nuts, macadamia nuts, brazil nuts, unsalted nuts, shelled peanuts or whole peanuts, walnuts, and pecans.
Each type of nut provides different benefits for the birds. For example, shelled nuts are an easy source of energy and nutrition, while whole nuts are a more challenging food source that helps birds stay active and sharp.
No matter what type of nut you offer, birds are sure to appreciate it as a tasty treat!
How to Feed Birds With Nuts
There are a variety of ways to offer nuts to nut-eating birds. The simplest method is to place them in feeders with holes wide enough for the birds to easily access them. A few nuts can be offered at a time, or the whole feeder can be filled with nut pieces to satisfy the many nut-eating birds.
Another option is to scatter different nuts on the ground, which can attract a wide variety of birds. If the nuts end up uneaten, they can grow into plants for even more food. However, this method also attracts squirrels and other animals such as larger birds to visit feeders, so it is important to keep an eye on the feeding area.
When buying nuts, choose natural nuts. Peanuts, walnuts, and other nuts that have been not been exposed to insecticides or had their shells treated with toxic chemicals.
It is also recommended to not add salt to your nuts. Birds don’t need salt in their diet.
Additionally, it would be easier for birds to enjoy nuts if you crack a few shells or remove them completely so that smaller birds can sample the exposed meat.
How Do Wild Birds Benefit From Walnuts?
Walnuts are a good source of protein for backyard birds and are also a good source of essential fatty acids, which help keep the bird’s feathers healthy and strong.
Walnuts also contain vitamin E, which is important for the bird’s immune system. In addition, walnuts are a good source of antioxidants, which can help to protect wild birds from diseases.
Walnuts can be eaten whole or crushed, and they can also be used in recipes for bird food. However, it is important to make sure that the nuts are not treated with any chemicals before giving them to your bird. Moreover, open up the walnuts and discard the shells because they can be a choking hazard when eaten.
The Bottom Line On Birds Eating Walnuts
So, do wild birds eat walnuts? You bet they do! In fact, even the most popular birds love to feed on nuts. This is because nuts provide birds with protein and fat, which are important nutrients for birds.
However, if you notice a change in the behavior of your backyard friends after eating nuts from an open dish, make sure to contact your avian vet.
So if you have a garden or live near a park, consider putting out some walnuts to help the local bird population. Who knows, you may even get to see a blue jay up close.
FAQs on Birds Eating Nuts
Do Woodpeckers Eat Nuts?
Yes, they are among the birds that eat nuts. In addition to insects, woodpeckers also eat nuts, suet, suet blends, bark butter, mealworms, sunflower, sunflower chips, cracked corn, fruits, and nectar. These birds are able to get the energy and nutrition they need from a variety of sources.
Can Birds Eat Nut Butters?
Birds love to feed on nut butter the same way humans do. It is a high-protein treat, and you can feel good about feeding it to them since it’s natural food. Look for organic types of nut butter with the fewest additives to give to your feathered friends. A little bit goes a long way with birds, so offering a small smear on a bird perch or tree trunks once in a while will suffice.
Can You Mix Bird Seeds With Nuts in Your Bird Feeder?
While many people enjoy the simple act of dumping a bag of bird seed into their feeder and calling it a day, there are actually a number of benefits to taking the time to mix different types of seeds as food together.
Not only do different birds prefer different types of bird food, but mixing seeds together can also offer disease protection and deter pests. For example, striped sunflower seeds are a favorite among many birds, but they are also a favorite target for squirrels.
By mixing sunflower seeds with other types of seeds, you can make it more difficult for squirrels to access the food and make it more likely that the winter birds will get the food they need.
Similarly, adding some nuts to the mix can offer additional protein and fats that many different bird species need to stay healthy. In addition, mixing in some dried fruit can provide a much-needed source of water for most birds during dry periods.
Why Do Wild Birds Need Fat in Their Diets?
Fat is an important nutritional component for wild birds. Fat provides birds with a concentrated source of energy that can be used between meals, during cold winter nights, or during migration. In addition to being a source of energy, fat also helps birds to absorb and use other nutrients more effectively.
Fat also helps to insulate a bird’s body, keeping it warm in cold weather. For these reasons, it is important that wild birds have access to fat in their diet.
Birdseed mixes that contain sunflower seeds or other high-fat items are an excellent way to ensure that wild birds are getting the nutrition they need.
