Backyard birders often focus on seeds and suet during winter, but there’s a simple, overlooked food source that can make a huge difference for struggling birds: raisins. Before the last frost hits, tossing a handful of these dried fruits into your yard can provide critical nutrition when birds need it most.

Winter’s Hidden Food Crisis for Backyard Birds

Feed your birds twice a day if at all possible during severe weather: first thing in the morning and then again before bedtime. During the cold winter months, birds require high-energy (high-fat) food to maintain their fat reserves and survive bitterly cold nights.

Only high-quality ingredients and leftovers should be used. So, protein-rich seeds and nuts held together with natural fat will be better to provide garden birds with what they need.

Any sugar you wish to provide for birds to enhance their wild diet should come from natural food sources like berries. Dried berries or fruit can be an excellent addition to fat balls in winter.

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.

Raisins: The Underrated Superfood Your Birds Actually Crave

If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to treat your garden birds, raisins are a great option with plenty of health benefits. Simply place a small handful of raisins in your bird feeder, and watch as the birds come flocking!

Raisins are also particularly high in dietary fiber, which can benefit birds in a number of ways. Fiber helps keep birds’ digestive systems healthy and can help prevent problems like constipation.

In addition, fiber is important for birds’ overall health and can help boost their immune systems.

Which Backyard Birds Will Actually Eat Your Raisins

Some birds, including robins, orioles, and bluebirds, may like small dried fruits like raisins. You can also try fruits like apples and berries, which will draw in some birds, but feeding large amounts of fruit to a backyard full of birds with high metabolisms can get expensive in a hurry.

Mealworms are not the only thing that humans can use to interest bluebirds. They will also eat fruits such as raisins and blueberries and may also be tempted by scrambled eggs under severe conditions, according to the Michigan Bluebird Society.

These darling birds love to eat insects and seeds, often foraging in forests or shrubby fields. You can attract them to your backyard with hopper or house bird feeders with sunflower seeds or raisins.

How to Offer Raisins Safely (And What to Avoid)

Too many raisins can also cause health issues in birds as an excess of fiber may lead to bloating and gastric upset. So, if you do offer them raisins, be sure to do so in moderation.

The type of raisins you choose to feed your backyard birds is up to you, all are safe to feed. Each will offer slightly different nutritional benefits, so you may choose to mix up the varieties:

Simple Ways to Put Raisins Out Before Winter Ends

Create homemade suet by combining equal parts of suet, raisins, and other bird-friendly ingredients like nuts, seeds, or dried fruit. Mix everything together well, then shape it into balls or logs.

If you do have a birdfeeder, add some sunflower seeds, raisins, and a couple of apple slices. If not, American robins typically feed on earthworms, mealworms, and other insects.

Why February and March Matter Most

February is national bird feeding month in the United States. It was initially started because February is one of the most difficult months of the year for birds.

Beyond Winter: Raisins Work Year-Round

Wild birds need a varied diet of seeds, fruits, and insects to stay healthy. So, while raisins can be an occasional nice treat, they shouldn’t be the only thing you’re feeding your feathered friends.

Feeding birds can be beneficial throughout the whole year. Of course, there are many reasons to do so in every season.

But feeding backyard birds in summer can be beneficial for several reasons beyond avian welfare.

Raisins before the last frost

Spec	What our writers say
How much	A small handful in the feeder
How often	In moderation; too much fiber can cause bloating
Who eats them	Robins, orioles, and bluebirds, plus hopper-feeder visitors
Bluebird extra	Raisins and blueberries, or scrambled eggs in severe conditions
Mix-in	Equal parts suet, raisins, nuts, seeds, or dried fruit
With other food	Sunflower seeds, raisins, and apple slices together
February	National bird feeding month, one of the hardest months for birds
Year-round	Raisins are an occasional treat, not the whole diet

Keep reading

• Why Birds Disappear From Your Yard Every February (And How to Bring Them Back)
• Why Some Birds Sing in Winter — Even When It’s Below Freezing
• What Birds Eat in the Wild During Winter (And Why They Still Visit Your Yard)