Your kitchen trash might be hiding some of the best winter bird food you’re not using. When temperatures drop and natural food sources become scarce, birds need high-energy options to survive the cold—and some everyday scraps you’re tossing can be exactly what they need. Here are five surprising kitchen leftovers that can help your backyard birds thrive all winter long.
Stale Bread Crusts
Save this article for later so you don't lose it. Enter your email and I'll send it to you now—plus you'll get my favorite backyard birding tips delivered to your inbox.
Birdfy Solar Powered Bird House with Camera
Check PriceThose hard bread ends and stale crusts sitting in your pantry can be a welcomed energy source for many winter birds, especially jays, sparrows, and starlings. While bread isn’t nutritionally dense like seeds or suet, it provides quick carbohydrates that help birds maintain body heat during freezing nights. The key is moderation and preparation—crumble or tear the bread into small, manageable pieces that won’t swell dangerously if eaten. Avoid anything moldy, heavily seasoned, or containing chocolate, garlic, or onion. Plain whole grain varieties are best. Scatter the crumbles on a platform feeder or directly on the ground in a sheltered spot. Don’t overdo it—bread should be an occasional supplement, not a daily staple. Pair it with high-protein foods like suet or peanuts for a more balanced offering. In wet weather, remove any uneaten bread quickly to prevent spoilage and discourage unwanted visitors like rodents.
Unsalted Bacon Rinds
Get our free Hummingbird Attraction Guide! Plus, we'll send you our best tips for attracting more birds to your yard.
If you cook bacon and trim off the fatty edges or have leftover rinds, don’t toss them—they’re packed with the fat and calories winter birds desperately need. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, and jays are particularly drawn to these high-energy treats. The critical rule here is unsalted and unprocessed. Salt is dangerous for birds and can cause serious health issues, so only offer plain, unseasoned bacon fat or rinds. Let them cool completely, then chop into small pieces or hang larger strips from a suet feeder or tree branch. The fat helps birds build essential reserves to stay warm overnight when temperatures plummet. You can also render bacon grease and mix it with birdseed to create homemade suet cakes. Always monitor what you put out and remove any pieces that become rancid or develop mold. This simple scrap transforms from trash into a survival resource during the toughest winter days.
Mild Grated Cheese
That half-block of cheddar or mozzarella getting hard in your fridge is a protein-rich treat many birds will appreciate. Robins, wrens, and even some finches enjoy small amounts of mild, grated cheese during winter when insects are scarce and protein is harder to find. Grate hard cheese into fine pieces—this makes it easier for small birds to eat and digest. Stick with mild varieties like cheddar, mozzarella, or Swiss, and avoid anything heavily spiced, salted, or moldy. Strong cheeses and those with added ingredients can upset birds’ digestive systems. Offer just a small amount on a platform feeder or scattered on the ground, and watch to see who shows interest. Cheese shouldn’t replace primary food sources like seeds and suet, but it adds beneficial variety to a winter feeding station. Remove any leftovers after a few hours, especially in wet or warm conditions, to prevent spoilage and bacterial growth.
Plain Mashed Potatoes
Leftover plain mashed potatoes might seem like an odd bird food, but they’re actually a decent cold-weather option for many species. The soft texture makes them easy to eat, and the carbohydrates provide quick energy—important for birds burning calories to stay warm. Sparrows, starlings, and blackbirds are among the species that will sample this offering. The key word here is plain. Skip the butter, salt, garlic, cream, or any seasonings—just the basic cooked potato. Mashed sweet potatoes work too and offer additional nutrients. Place small amounts on a platform feeder or flat surface where birds can easily access it. This works best on cold, dry days since moisture and warmth cause potatoes to spoil quickly. Think of this as an occasional supplement rather than a regular menu item. Always remove uneaten portions within a few hours to keep your feeding area clean and safe for visiting birds.
Chopped Leftover Fruit
Overripe bananas, bruised apples, or berries past their prime don’t have to hit the compost bin—they’re valuable food for fruit-loving winter birds. Robins, waxwings, mockingbirds, and bluebirds eagerly seek fruit when berries are buried under snow or long gone from branches. Chop larger fruits into small, bite-sized pieces that are easy for birds to handle and eat. Apples, pears, grapes, oranges, and berries all work well. Remove pits, seeds from apples and pears, and avoid anything fermented or moldy. The natural sugars provide quick energy, while the moisture helps with hydration when water sources freeze. Place chopped fruit on platform feeders, impale apple halves on branches, or scatter pieces on the ground near shrubs where ground-feeders feel safe. Fruit attracts different species than seed feeders, adding wonderful diversity to your backyard bird community throughout the coldest months.