What Do Bluebirds Eat? Feeding Tips For Bluebirds!

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Attract Bluebirds With Their Favorite Foods

Bluebirds are among the most sought-after backyard birds, but getting these brightly colored birds to visit bird feeders without correctly answering the question: What do bluebirds eat? Since bluebirds remain in parts of their range throughout the year, the response will vary from season to season depending on the time of year and the birds' different nutritional needs.

Natural food for bluebirds

Bluebirds are thrushes, the same type of bird as blackbirds, hermit thrushes, solitary animals, and wild birds, and they share the same type of diet. Depending on the season, habitat, activity level, and general food availability, bluebirds eat:

• Snails, larvae, caterpillars and other mollusks, and insect larvae
• Grasshoppers, crickets, cockroaches, ants, spiders, and other insects
• Flying insects such as moths, termites, and mosquitoes.
• Berries such as sumac, holly, dogwood, pokeweed, and bagoloni
• Small grape and fruit trees, including grapes and cherries
• In general, bluebirds are insectivorous, feeding primarily on insects in the spring, summer, and early fall.
• Because low temperatures kill insect populations in late fall and winter, birds will consume more fruit if they cannot find enough insects. Southern bird populations will eat more insects throughout the year but will continue to switch to a fruit-based diet during cold periods.

Feed the bluebirds in the yard

Bluebirds eat the same types of food in the garden as in any other habitat. A bird-friendly landscape with berry bushes and bird fruit trees is best for feeding bluebirds. At the same time, any insecticide and pesticide use should be minimized or eliminated so that bluebirds can find plenty of insects to eat, and cobwebs should be kept intact to stimulate spider populations. Bird watchers eat spiders while other birds use woven materials to build nests.

There are a variety of foods that can be added to bird feeders to tempt hungry birds. To supplement the diet of bluebirds in eaters, consider the following:

• Mealworms live, dried, canned, or roasted
• Small pieces of fruit such as apples or pears.
• Whole or diced berries, including raspberries and blackberries
• Softened nuts, especially raisins, cranberries, cranberries, and gooseberries
• Tallow, preferably cut into small pieces, pips, or chunks
• Peanut hearts, chopped (peeled)
• Peanut butter or poultry paste
• Sunflower hearts or small fragments
• Eggshells, broken into little chips, as an extra touch during the breeding season.

These foods should be presented in large open containers to keep them comfortable and safe. Trays and plates are better, as bluebirds do not usually perch on narrow ledges or short perches. However, if you cover the dining room area, you can protect your food from rain or snow. Live mealworms, in particular, should be presented in a small glass or plastic containers with smooth sides to prevent the worms from exiting the feeder before consumption. Winter thrushes may also visit a bird feeder wreath that contains blueberries or other fruits, but they are not interested in popcorn or wheat threads.

Since many of the bluebird's favorite foods are very tasty, it is best to offer them only in small amounts that the birds can consume in a day or two. This prevents aggressive birds from grabbing all the food and chasing thrushes, as these brightly colored thrushes are generally not aggressive to cages and often succumb to larger or more active birds.

What bluebirds don't eat
It is important to note that bluebirds do not normally eat the most common foods available to backyard birds, such as whole sunflower seeds, millet, and mixed bird seeds. Although bluebirds are tasty with sunflower flakes when they are available and there is no other food in abundance, these birds do not normally eat the seeds. They also don't drink hummingbird nectar, avoid whole peanuts, and aren't big fans of chopped corn. Avoiding these less desirable foods at a buffet or separating feeding stations to provide a reserved area for bluebirds can help attract bluebirds to feeders.

Attracting Bluebirds Beyond Foods and Feeding

Feeding thrushes can be difficult, and understanding what thrushes eat is the first step to successfully attracting these birds to the backyard. Along with food, adding a clean birdbath and a suitable blue birdhouse can encourage bluebirds to visit. Heated bird baths are especially important for winter thrushes, and nest boxes are also useful in colder months. While it's important to be patient while you wait for bluebirds to discover various foods in the garden, adding these additional attractions can make any garden-friendly.

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