What to Feed Garden Birds in Winter
Winter is when garden feeding makes the biggest difference. Small birds like robins and wrens have little fat reserves and struggle in prolonged cold snaps. Here’s what to put out, and what to avoid.
Why winter feeding matters
In summer, garden feeding supplements plenty of natural food. In winter, when the ground is frozen and invertebrates are buried or dormant, garden food can be the difference between survival and starvation for small birds. Small birds burn through much of their energy just keeping warm overnight, and need to replace it every day.
The best foods for garden birds in winter
Dried calciworms
Dried calciworms (black soldier fly larvae) are one of the best winter foods for insect-eating birds. Robins, blackbirds, song thrushes and starlings take them readily, and they fill the gap left when earthworms are out of reach in frozen soil.
In cold weather you can offer them dry. Alternatively soak briefly in lukewarm (never hot) water and serve in a sheltered dish. Soaking guide → Our British-grown dried calciworms start from £6.99.
Suet products
Fat balls, pellets and blocks are the highest-calorie foods you can offer. Remove plastic netting from fat balls before hanging, as birds and hedgehogs can get trapped. Replace regularly, as suet can go rancid.
Sunflower hearts
No husks, no waste and high energy. Taken by tits, finches, sparrows, nuthatches and woodpeckers. Use a hanging feeder with a tray to catch fallen seed.
What to avoid in winter
- Letting feeders run empty: birds rely on a regular station. Keep it stocked from November to February.
- Frozen water: check and refresh water daily in freezing weather.
- Mouldy food: damp encourages mould. Clean feeders weekly and don’t top up on top of old food.
Ground feeders to prioritise: robin (calciworms, suet), blackbird (calciworms, fruit), song thrush (calciworms), dunnock (small seeds, suet), wren (calciworms, suet crumbles).
Feeder birds to prioritise: blue tit and great tit (sunflower hearts, suet), chaffinch (mixed seed), nuthatch (sunflower hearts, suet), starling (suet, calciworms).
Dried calciworms for winter feeding
British-grown dried Calci Worms. Bags from £6.99.
Shop dried Calci Worms →Related: Dried Calci Worms for wild birds · How to attract robins · Are mealworms bad for hedgehogs?