Birds have to adapt to brutal winter conditions. Summer offerings for birds like buzzing insects, berries, and grass seeds go away.

Knowing how harsh winters are makes feeders and plants spark to life in the winter. The food is critical to the birds survival and the habitat is a sanctuary during the winter.

What Winter Does to Natural Food Sources

When water is frozen, and many of their food sources have burrowed underground, birds have a difficult time finding food. Thankfully, snow can provide both water and minerals, helping to keep them nourished and hydrated.

The right planting scheme will typically help you to provide food for birds year-round. Of course, in colder winter climates, natural food sources can be in short supply over the coldest months.

How Birds Change Their Food Habits When Wild Food Runs Short

You can continue to feed Blue Jays during the summer and winter months. However, you may need to adjust the type of food you’re offering.

Blue Jays prefer fruits and insects during the summer months and seeds and nuts in the winter. The foods that birds in winter eat will often be similar to what they consume during the summer months.

However, high-energy foods are even more important during the winter.

Food Sources for Wild Birds During Winter

The bulk of a wild bird or backyard bird’s diet should always consist of natural food sources. Depending on the bird, this might be a combination of fruits and berries, nectar, seeds, and insects.

Remember to plant plenty of food sources in your garden, choosing native plants to feed native bird species. And in winter, consider food sources that grow as close to home as possible, or seeds or other foods you have put up earlier in the year.

Reasons Your Backyard Turns Into an Important Winter Habitat

Something that is often overlooked when people seek to provide birds with winter shelter and food is that they require reliable water sources for drinking – even during the coldest part of the year. Yes, birds will use birdbaths in the winter if the water is not frozen.

A birdbath heater can help keep the water from freezing, making it more likely that birds will visit your yard even in cold weather! As new birds are born, and conditions change in other areas, birds may take up residence in new locations.

It may not happen overnight, but birds will eventually find your yard if you provide suitable habitat, abundant food, and available water sources.

Ways to Assist Winter Birds in Your Yard

Now that we are in the middle of winter, are your feeders and bird baths conveniently placed in your yard so you can easily get to them when they need cleaning, refilling or require snow and ice removal? One consideration when feeding these seeds during the winter is how much energy they will provide for the birds.

Keeping this in mind, black oil sunflower seeds are often an ideal winter bird seed choice.

Winter food and why birds still visit

Spec	What our writers say
Snow's upside	Snow can provide both water and minerals
Lean months	In colder climates, natural food is short over the coldest months
Blue Jay shift	Fruits and insects in summer; seeds and nuts in winter
Energy	Winter foods are often similar, but high-energy food matters more
Wild diet	Fruits and berries, nectar, seeds, and insects
Winter plants	Choose native plants, and winter foods grown close to home or stored earlier
Open water	Birds use baths in winter if the water is not frozen
Heated bath	A heater keeps water open and makes winter visits more likely
Winter seed	Black oil sunflower seeds are often an ideal high-energy choice
Access	Place feeders and baths where you can reach them for snow and ice removal

Keep reading

• Why You’re Seeing New Birds in Your Yard This Month (Winter Visitors Explained)
• Why Some Birds Sing in Winter — Even When It’s Below Freezing
• Why Birds Visit Your Neighbor’s Yard But Skip Yours