Bird Feeding

Media
Photograph of a red-headed woodpecker at a bird feeder
Body

Watching birds at feeders can increase your bird-ID skills and brighten your day. You can feed birds year-round or just in winter when natural foods are tougher to find. Birds flock to backyard feeders especially when snow or ice covers their natural foods and temperatures fall to extreme lows.

Learn what seeds, feeders, and landscaping choices will attract which birds to your Missouri backyard.

Body

Food Preferences

Some birds, such as tufted titmice and chickadees, are finicky eaters, whereas mourning doves and white-throated sparrows will eat about any type of seed. Many people start with black-oil sunflower seeds and add other seeds to draw in more species.

Body

Sunflower Seed and Millet

Black, oil-type sunflower seed and white millet rate best for attracting birds. You can buy these separately or find them in wild bird seed mixes. If buying seed mixes, note that many mixes contain milo and corn, which many backyard birds do not eat.

Safflower Seeds

Not all birds love safflower seed, but tufted titmice and cardinals are among the species that do.

If starlings are a problem at your feeders, you can try putting out safflower seeds since starlings generally do not eat them.

Peanuts

You can feed peanuts either shelled or in the shell. Shelled peanuts will attract woodpeckers, Carolina wrens, titmice, chickadees, and blue jays. There are specialized feeders designed for shelled peanuts.

Peanuts in the shell can be placed in a feeder or on the ground. Blue jays are especially fond of unshelled peanuts and will often stash them or bury them to eat later. Squirrels are also fond of peanuts, so keep that in mind when choosing where to place peanuts.

Learn more about bird seed from Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Body

Suet

Suet for birds is generally sold as a block of hardened beef fat with seeds, nuts, or dried fruits mixed in. The blocks fit into specially designed wire cages that can hang from a limb or post. Suet is a high-energy food that attracts many insect-eating birds. It can provide calories to help keep birds warm in winter or meet the high-energy demands of egg-laying during the breeding season.

Woodpeckers, chickadees, tufted titmice, and nuthatches are especially fond of suet. Other species that may visit suet feeders include Carolina wrens, ruby-crowned kinglets, and bluebirds.

You can buy blocks of suet at the store or make it yourself. Recipes for suet can be found on many birdwatching websites.

Suet often becomes rancid in warm weather and it can sometimes get melty and rub off on birds’ feathers, so offering suet in the summer is not recommended. Peanut butter is a good substitute for suet in the summer. Mix one part peanut butter with five parts corn meal and stuff the mixture into holes drilled in a hanging log or into the crevices of a large pinecone. This all-season mixture — as well as suet — attracts woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, and, occasionally, warblers.

Mealworms

Mealworms can be a great way to attract insect-eating birds that might not otherwise visit your feeders. These include bluebirds and some warbler species.

Body

Fruit

Orioles and catbirds, and sometimes red-bellied woodpeckers, will come to feeders for oranges and berries. Especially during migration, fruits can provide extra energy to the birds’ regular diet, but serve them cautiously. Oranges can become fermented in warm weather, so it’s important to check them regularly and make sure they aren’t beginning to spoil. You can buy feeders for orioles that are designed to hold half an orange or orange slices.

Nectar

Hummingbirds feed on nectar in flowers and small insects attracted to native plants. You can draw them to your yard by planting native flowers or by putting up a special feeder filled with sugar water.

Learn more about how to attract hummingbirds.

Body

Feeding Stations

Bird-feeding stations may be as simple as seeds placed on the ground or as complicated as a feeder accessible only to birds of certain weights to keep squirrels away. A plain wooden platform can be erected as a simple feeding station. Some edging around the outside will help keep the seed from falling to the ground. You may like to add a roof and three walls to keep the rain off, or you may prefer the open platform for easy bird access and for the additional brightness for picture taking. A good way to offer sunflower seeds to birds is with a commercially available, clear-plastic cylinder or silo-type feeder.

Different birds have different feeding habits. Some songbirds, such as the dark-eyed junco, white-crowned sparrow, and Harris’s sparrow, prefer to feed directly on the ground. Cardinals and blue jays will feed either on the ground or on a platform feeder. Goldfinches and chickadees also will visit small, plastic feeders that are fixed to the outside of a window by a suction cup.

Where to put your feeders

Remember to locate your feeding station outside a room where you can relax and enjoy the visitors.

Hang feeders in places where birds can see approaching predators and fly to safety. Hawks and house cats are both known to hunt at backyard feeders.

Media
American Goldfinch on a Birdfeeder
Body

American goldfinches eating sunflower seeds

Noppadol Paothong

Body

Be careful of placing feeders near windows where vegetation or sky is reflected. If you hear or see birds hit your window, treat the outside of the window immediately with opaque stickers so the birds know the window is not a pass-through or escape route. Window strikes are the second-largest contributor to wild bird mortality. They are very common — act quickly if you see evidence of strikes. Treating windows is an easy fix! Learn more about how to prevent window strikes from the American Bird Conservancy.

Body

Year-Round Feeding

Many people enjoy feeding songbirds year-round. In fact, the most crucial times in the life of many birds are in the early spring when naturally occurring seeds are scarcer and also during inclement weather in winter. In the spring and summer, many young birds follow their parents to the feeder. It is fascinating to watch the parents show their young how to crack open the seeds.

Some birds, such as the Baltimore oriole and the ruby-throated hummingbird, are only found in Missouri in the summer for breeding season and leave in the fall for the winter. Orioles may be attracted to the feeding stations with fruit. Hummingbirds come to special feeders filled with sugar water mimicking nectar.

Bird-Feeding Myths

You may have heard that it's important to continue feeding once you start it. However, no research indicates that during normal weather birds will starve if feeding is stopped for a time. Birds often visit many feeding stations in a neighborhood. You will be amazed at how fast birds discover new feeding stations. Their natural curiosity and mobility ensure their success at making the rounds.

Another myth is that feeding birds will prevent them from migrating. Birds know when to begin migration based on other triggers, like changes in day length.

Keeping Feeders Clean

Wash feeders regularly to prevent the spread of diseases between birds.

Hummingbird feeders should be washed every week or two to keep mold and bacteria from building up. During hot, humid summer weeks, wash feeders every 2–3 days — and replace the sugar water just as frequently. It is especially important to check the small openings through which the hummingbirds drink to make sure there is no black mold.

Body

Other Tips

Provide Water

To increase the popularity of your feeding station, provide water — especially during drought or when the temperature stays below freezing for several days. Carolina wrens and bluebirds may be enticed to feeding stations during the winter, too, if water is available.

Add a bird bath to your yard. Replace the water every day or two to keep the water fresh and clean. Birds often leave feces or feathers in the water, which can grow bacteria that can spread to other birds. Wash the bird bath every week or two with a weak vinegar-water solution (nine parts water to one part vinegar). To keep water from freezing in winter, you can get a heater to place in the bird bath or find affordable heated bird baths.

Landscape with Native Plants

In addition to selecting the right seed for your bird-feeding stations, you can attract more birds to your yard with native plants that provide cover and additional seeds and insects. Quite often in new housing developments, trees and shrubs for nesting, perching, and escaping predators are in short supply. Birds need places to perch overnight and vantage points from which they can view the feeder and also watch for potential predators. Evergreens offer valuable, year-round cover from the weather in addition to secluded nesting sites.

Title
Related Content

Birding Events

Private Event | My Events | My Profile

Displaying 1 - 13 of 13
Date: Friday, March 3, 2023 8:00 am - Friday, March 31, 2023 8:00 am
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center

Corvids: crows and ravens

are very intelligent and curious birds.

Encountered in many mythologies:

significant to shamans, they speak from the other world;

as tricksters, they carried light to the indigenous peoples;

often, they play a role in creation stories;

they guard souls on journeys to other worlds.

Their perspective of height

and the capacity of breadth

allow them to quickly message patterns of change.

As a multidisciplinary artist, I am committed

to a curious mind, learning from nature

and the elements of water, earth, air, wind, and fire.

My work encompasses sculpture, paintings, and photography,

oftentimes using a combination of media:

beeswax, resin, and oil; stones an wood;

lead sheeting, wire, and precious metals; textiles;

collected papers, found objects, cast bronze and glass.

The historical reverence for the power

and sacredness of earth

spans our cultural memory.

We live in a chaotic world.

It is difficult to feel a part of the whole

with the loss of balance and control:

personally, politically, and spiritually.

When we become still and silent,

we may then listen

to the past, the present and the future.

Hopefully, we will continue to find ways

to understand and bond,

not only to our environment,

but most importantly,

to each other.

Catherine Eaton Skinner

2022

www.ceskinner.com
Registration period: March 2 - March 22
Date: Thursday, March 23, 2023 8:00 am - Thursday, March 23, 2023 12:00 pm
Location: Wallace State Park
Winter is hanging on, and birds are still out and about in their particular habitats, finding food. Join us on a hike to see the birds in action. We will meet at the shelter house directly into the park, then proceed to the trail to start birding. Dress for the weather & bring your own binoculars, snacks, and drinks. Folks can leave anytime, if they have had enough.
Registration period: February 6 - March 24
Date: Saturday, March 25, 2023 1:00 pm - Saturday, March 25, 2023 2:00 pm
Location: Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center
Falconry is the ancient art and hunting sport of using trained birds of prey to hunt wild game. It was introduced to the United States in 1622 by England, and though it has evolved over the years, one thing remains the same: the bond between the falconer and their bird. Join Meagan Duffee-Yates, Master falconer, as she discusses the rich history of falconry. Discover what makes birds of prey such fascinating animals and see live birds of prey. She'll discuss the steps involved in becoming a falconer and the importance of raptor conservation. Best for age 5 and up.
Registration period: March 1 - March 31
Date: Friday, March 31, 2023 6:00 pm - Friday, March 31, 2023 8:30 pm
Location: Runge Conservation Nature Center
This is no joke! Join Runge naturalists as we learn about the interesting life history and sky dance of Wilson’s snipe and the closely related American woodcock. After an indoor portion of the program, we will venture out to a local conservation area in search of these birds. Make sure to dress for the weather, including waterproof shoes or boots. Registration required. Ages 7+
Registration period: April 1 - April 13
Date: Thursday, April 13, 2023 7:30 am - Thursday, April 13, 2023 9:30 am
Location: Runge Conservation Nature Center
Join MDC naturalists and area birders as we discover the avian life that calls Runge home. These short birding walks are for all experience levels. We will gather near the front doors of the nature center. Binoculars and field guides will be provided for those who need them. Registration preferred. Ages 8+
Registration period: March 17 - April 15
Date: Saturday, April 15, 2023 3:30 pm - Saturday, April 15, 2023 4:30 pm
Location: Online only
Warblers are difficult birds to recognize but a joy to many. Join naturalist Jordi Raos as she discusses how to improve your warbler identification. Naturalist Notes is a regular program where a naturalist showcases one of their favorite nature topics. All ages are welcome, but this program is designed for ages 10-adult. Please include a valid email address when you register so we can send you a virtual program link. This program will not be recorded.
Registration period: March 20 - April 14
Date: Tuesday, April 18, 2023 6:00 pm - Tuesday, April 18, 2023 7:00 pm
Location: Cape Girardeau Nature Center
Create a unique, wearable work-of-art using a turkey feather. Not only will you take home a personal souvenir, but you will also learn about turkey hunting in Missouri. This is a hands-on class and participants must be at least 16 years of age to participate.
Registration period: March 17 - April 18
Date: Tuesday, April 18, 2023 6:00 pm - Tuesday, April 18, 2023 7:30 pm
Location: Online only
MDC Science programs highlight the incredible work done by scientists with the Missouri Department of Conservation. Don’t miss your chance to learn about barn owl biology in Missouri. Natural History Biologist, Rhonda Rimer, will give an informative presentation about this project and more, followed by a question-and-answer session. A live barn owl from Dickerson Park Zoo will also be featured. All ages are welcome, but this program is designed for ages 12-adult. Please include a valid email address when you register so we can send you a virtual program link. This program will not be recorded.
Registration period: April 1 - April 19
Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2023 7:30 am - Wednesday, April 19, 2023 9:30 am
Location: Runge Conservation Nature Center
Join MDC naturalists and area birders as we discover the avian life that calls Runge home. These short birding walks are for all experience levels. We will gather near the front doors of the nature center. Binoculars and field guides will be provided for those who need them. Registration preferred. Ages 8+
Registration period: March 1 - April 21
Date: Saturday, April 22, 2023 10:00 am - Saturday, April 22, 2023 11:00 am
Location: Steyermark Wood Conservation Area

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Mississippi Hills Master Naturalist Chapter will host two interpretive nature hikes at Steyermark Woods Conservation Area in Hannibal on Saturday, April22. The first hike will begin at 10 a.m. and focus on Spring Migratory Bird identification. The second will start at 1 p.m. and focus on Spring Wildflower identification. Each hike will last approximately one hour.

Celebrate the spring season with an educational hike through Steyermark Woods. The morning bird hike will be led by Dr. Coelho, Professor of Biology at Quincy University, an avid birder, and trained Missouri Master Naturalist volunteers, participants will observe and learn about the conservation area, woodland habitat, and spring migratory birds.

The afternoon hike will be led by Mississippi Hills Master Naturalist and participants will observe and learn about the conservation area, woodland habitat, flowering trees and ephemeral wildflowers in bloom.

Participants should wear good hiking shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather, and should consider bringing a camera, binoculars, water, and snacks.

Registration period: April 1 - April 28
Date: Friday, April 28, 2023 7:30 am - Friday, April 28, 2023 9:30 am
Location: Runge Conservation Nature Center
Join MDC naturalists and area birders as we discover the avian life that calls Runge home. These short birding walks are for all experience levels. We will gather near the front doors of the nature center. Binoculars and field guides will be provided for those who need them. Registration preferred. Ages 8+
Registration period: January 24 - April 29
Date: Saturday, April 29, 2023 7:00 am - Saturday, April 29, 2023 8:30 am
Location: Cape Girardeau Nature Center

A practical, hands-on follow up to Dr. Mike Taylor's presentation, Birding by Ear.

Hike with a mic through the woods to record bird songs and calls. You will need to bring a smartphone; a small number of hand-held recorders will be available for use. You’ll have the opportunity to try out different recorders as well as shotgun and parabolic microphones.

This program is part of the MO Birding Society Spring Meeting, for additional information please visit: https://mobirds.org/
Registration period: April 1 - May 3
Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023 1:30 pm - Saturday, May 6, 2023 3:30 pm
Location: Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center
Birds across Missouri have lots of beak shapes and sizes to help them catch food effectively. Explore the world of bird beak diversity through hands on activities from a bird’s eye view. You may arrive anytime between 1:30 and 3PM to complete at your own pace. Plan to spend approximately 30 minutes to visit every station. Children must be accompanied by an adult.