Winter Bird Feeding Tips for Peak Birdwatching Season (2026)

For many areas, Winter seems like a time of stillness. Trees are bare, mammals are hibernating, and people are rotting in bed. While migratory birds fly south in the winter, many seed- and insect-eating birds do not, and with tree leaves, the winter months are often the best time to view them.

As a person testing Smart bird feeders all year round For WIRED, I’m always interested in ways I can ensure I attract the widest and most interesting variety of birds to my garden, no matter the season.

Furthermore, if you receive a Smart bird feeder for Christmas Your area’s flocks haven’t discovered it yet, so you may be looking for some ways to speed up the process. I spoke to some ornithologists to find out how to enhance the appeal of your average yard during these cold, windy, rainy and sometimes icy months.

Mix your menu

Although there may be less diversity in bird species around your area due to the relocation of some migratory birds (warblers and tanagers, for example), many seed and insect eaters find enough locally to feed. In the West Coast area where I live, that means chickadees, all kinds of sparrows, and even larger birds like flickers. The ornithologists I spoke to recommended diversifying winter forage species to suit 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 Berlot, an ornithologist and professor at UCLA’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs. University of New England. “Some species prefer to eat mealworms from platform feeders, others prefer suet, and still others feed from seed tubes.”

Tallow (rendered animal fat, basically)Grease often) is already an essential ingredient in winter bird feed preparation. It comes in a variety of styles, including balls or cakes. I like to use cakes mixed with chili peppers; Which squirrels don’t likeplaced in an inexpensive feeding cage. I have found that it attracts a range of insect-eating birds in my area, including woodpeckers, nuthatches, juncos, and chickadees.

I also like feeders that have dual feeding slots, especially if you are not able to place multiple feeders around your yard due to space or inability to meet requirements Rule 5-7-9 To deter squirrels. (This means 5 feet off the ground; 7 feet from any structures, such as fences, that you can jump from; and 9 feet from anything hanging, such as branches.)

Maria Kincaid, chief ornithologist at Feathersnap– Which marquee Scout feeder It happens to have dual feeding slots – he suggests supplementing the regular seeds with black oil sunflower seeds, unsalted peanuts and mealworms. (Some smart bird feeders come with Grease ball Their owners, while others own them Available as an add-on.)

Kincaid also specifically recommends using it Smart bird feeder In winter, so you can notice the most popular food types. This can help you calibrate your feeding ratios to prevent waste.

“Most songbirds that will visit our feeders in the winter have different nutritional requirements than they do in the spring,” Kincaid says. “Foods high in fat and protein are especially important during the winter, as more energy is required to keep warm in cold temperatures.”

Sharing shelter

Adequate cover — trees, shrubs, bushes or even brush pile — makes birds feel safe and happy all year long, but it’s especially important from December to March, when a lack of foliage makes them feel more exposed or threatened.

“Winter is often the busiest time of year for bird feeders,” Perlot says. “This increased activity does not necessarily reflect food scarcity – rather, it is the time of year when songbirds focus on self-care rather than breeding activities.”