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When temperatures plummet and a polar vortex settles in, wild birds burn through calories at an alarming rate just to stay warm. The good news? You don’t need specialty items to help them survive. These eight pantry staples can make the difference between life and death for winter birds in your backyard.

Black Oil Sunflower Seeds

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Old Potters Black Oil Sunflower Seeds 12 lbs

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Black oil sunflower seeds are the gold standard for winter bird feeding, and for good reason. Their high fat content provides the dense calories birds desperately need during extreme cold, while their thin shells make them easy to crack even when birds are energy-depleted. Cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, and finches will all flock to these seeds. Keep them in a hopper or tube feeder, and you’ll see immediate activity. During a polar vortex, refill feeders twice daily if possible—birds need constant access to fuel when temperatures drop below zero.

Peanuts

Unsalted, shelled peanuts deliver protein and fat that help birds generate body heat through the coldest nights. Woodpeckers, jays, and nuthatches are particularly drawn to peanuts and will cache extras for later—a survival strategy that pays off during extended cold snaps. You can offer them whole in platform feeders or chopped in mesh feeders. Raw or roasted works fine as long as they’re unsalted and unflavored. Just avoid anything with seasonings or additives. A handful of plain peanuts from your pantry can sustain a family of chickadees through brutal weather.

Suet or Beef Fat

Pure beef fat or suet is nature’s perfect cold-weather fuel. It’s packed with calories that convert directly to warmth, making it essential for woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees trying to survive subzero nights. If you have raw beef fat trimmings, simply place them in a suet cage or mesh bag. During a polar vortex, this high-energy food can literally mean survival. Many birds will visit suet feeders repeatedly throughout the day, building up reserves before nightfall. Even kitchen scraps of fat (unseasoned and unsalted) work beautifully when temperatures plunge and birds need every calorie they can find.

Nyjer Thistle Seeds

Tiny but mighty, nyjer seeds are loaded with oil and protein that help small finches weather extreme cold. Goldfinches, pine siskins, and redpolls depend on these nutrient-dense seeds when their natural food sources are buried under snow and ice. Use a specialized tube feeder with small ports to keep the seeds dry and accessible. During polar vortex conditions, finches will feed heavily from dawn to dusk, building fat reserves to survive frigid nights. Fresh nyjer makes all the difference—check that your pantry stash hasn’t gone stale, as finches will reject old or rancid seeds even in desperate times.

Cracked Corn

Cracked corn might seem humble, but it’s a lifesaver for ground-feeding birds during severe winter weather. Mourning doves, juncos, sparrows, and even larger birds like cardinals will eagerly consume corn for its carbohydrate energy. Scatter it on cleared ground or platform feeders where birds can access it easily despite snow cover. It’s affordable, stores well in your pantry, and provides the quick energy birds need to maintain body temperature. During a polar vortex, offer cracked corn in sheltered areas if possible—under evergreen branches or near windbreaks—so birds can feed without fighting brutal wind chill while they eat.

Millet

Small round millet seeds attract a wonderful variety of ground-feeding birds, including native sparrows, juncos, and towhees that desperately need help during polar vortex conditions. These seeds offer solid nutrition and energy, though they’re lower in fat than sunflower seeds. Mix millet with cracked corn on platform feeders or scatter it in protected areas where smaller birds feel safe. White proso millet is the preferred variety, but any millet from your pantry works in a pinch. During extreme cold, many birders overlook these humble seeds, but for sparrow species struggling through subzero temperatures, millet provides accessible, reliable fuel when they need it most.

Oats

Plain, uncooked oats from your breakfast pantry make excellent emergency bird food during brutal cold snaps. Both rolled oats and steel-cut oats work well, offering carbohydrates that help birds generate warmth. Scatter them on platform feeders or directly on cleared ground for juncos, sparrows, and other ground feeders. While oats aren’t as calorie-dense as seeds with higher fat content, they’re still valuable when birds need every available food source. During a polar vortex, diversity matters—offering multiple food types ensures different species can find what they need. Just use plain oats without added sugar, salt, or flavorings that could harm your feathered visitors.

Safflower Seeds

Safflower seeds have a secret advantage during winter emergencies: squirrels and blackbirds typically avoid them, meaning more food stays available for the birds that need it most. Cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice readily eat safflower seeds, which provide good fat and protein content for cold-weather survival. The white seeds have a slightly bitter taste that doesn’t deter desirable backyard birds but keeps aggressive feeders away. Use them in hopper or tube feeders, and you’ll notice cardinals especially appreciate them during extreme weather. If you have safflower in your pantry, it’s worth putting out during a polar vortex—every calorie counts when temperatures threaten bird survival.

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