What to Feed Bluebirds in Winter : The Ultimate Guide

Watching bluebirds brighten a snowy winter landscape is truly magical, but keeping them well-fed during the cold months is essential for their survival. Unlike many backyard birds, bluebirds rely heavily on insects, which become scarce in winter. That’s why offering the right foods can make all the difference.

In this ultimate guide, you’ll learn exactly what bluebirds eat in winter, the safest foods to offer, and how to attract them consistently even when temperatures drop. Whether you’re a beginner birder or a seasoned backyard wildlife lover, this guide will help you support these beautiful winter visitors with confidence.

The Winter Survival Diet (The Nutritional Crisis)

In winter, a Bluebird’s metabolism is working overtime. The energy spent shivering must be constantly replenished. The food must be soft, high in protein, and high in fat.

1. The Gold Standard: Dried and Live Mealworms

Mealworms are the single best food source because they mimic the nutritional value and texture of a freshly caught insect. They are the perfect survival food.

• Dried Mealworms: These are the most common and easiest to store. They are highly efficient, providing concentrated protein and fat. Bluebirds will quickly learn to take them from a designated feeder tray.
• Live Mealworms: Offering live worms is a powerful attractant, especially during extreme cold, as the movement triggers the Bluebird’s natural hunting instinct. They are a welcome change from the seeds that birds like cardinals prefer.

2. Suet and Suet Dough (The High-Fat Energy Source)

Suet provides the essential fat needed to generate body heat. However, regular bird suet is often problematic for Bluebirds.

• The Bluebird Suet Rule: Avoid suet that contains large seeds or nuts. Bluebirds have small, weak bills compared to woodpeckers or nuthatches. They prefer soft, dough-like suet.
• Suet Dough/Crumble: The best options are specialty Bluebird Crumble or suet dough that is mixed with insect-based protein (like rendered fat mixed with mealworm pieces, cornmeal, or peanut butter). This soft consistency is easy for them to peck at and digest.

3. High-Energy Fruit and Vegetable Alternatives

While insects are primary, Bluebirds will consume soft fruits like serviceberries, holly, and sumac in the wild. You can supplement this diet safely.

• Soft Fruit: Small, soft pieces of apple, pear, or peeled orange (especially if spiked onto a tree branch near the feeder) can provide quick carbohydrates.
• Peanut Butter Mix: A mixture of smooth peanut butter, cornmeal, and high-quality vegetable shortening (suet dough equivalent) is a safe, high-fat, high-protein substitute. Never use pure peanut butter, which can be sticky and harmful.

Warning: What NOT to Feed Bluebirds

Never feed Bluebirds bread, milk, or pure seeds (like sunflower or thistle). Seeds lack the proper nutritional value for insectivores and can sit undigested in their gut. Raw suet fat from a butcher is also prone to spoiling and carries the risk of harmful bacteria, demanding a constant cleaning regime (similar to the rules for how to clean a birdhouse).

Specialized Feeders and Presentation

Bluebirds are ground-feeding birds. They won’t cling to a metal mesh or hang upside down. They prefer open trays or feeders with specialized access to exclude larger, more aggressive birds (like starlings, their main competitor).

1. The Bluebird Feeder Design (The Tray Method)

Bluebirds primarily hunt by perch and drop, meaning they watch from a low branch and drop to the ground. They approach feeders the same way, needing an open, tray-style presentation.

• Open Trays: A simple, elevated platform feeder is often the most accepted design for mealworms. The tray must have a solid bottom, unlike tube feeders for general seed.
• Covered Feeders: A clear plastic or glass roof is ideal for protecting mealworms from snow, rain, and humidity. Moisture ruins mealworms and makes them unappealing.
• Feeder Placement: The feeder should be mounted on a sturdy pole (see best birdhouse poles) away from cover, between 4 and 6 feet off the ground. This height is comfortable for the Bluebird and helps deter ground predators.

2. The Starling Exclusion Strategy

European Starlings are non-native, highly aggressive competitors that will devour all your expensive Bluebird food instantly. Your feeder must be designed to keep them out.

• Cage Feeders: The best solution is a feeder enclosed in a wire mesh cage. The mesh squares must be large enough for a Bluebird to squeeze through (around 1.5 inches) but too small for the wider-chested Starling.
• Roof Entry: Some specialty feeders have the only entry point in the roof, forcing the birds to drop in, a behavior Bluebirds are comfortable with, but Starlings are not.
• Visual Deterrence: Placing a secondary feeder (like a window bird feeder) with general seed further from the Bluebird feeder can divert larger flocks of competitors.

Bluebird Feeding Checklist

• Food Type: Dried mealworms, soft suet dough, or crumbles.
• Feeder Type: Covered tray feeder with or without a small exclusion cage.
• Water: Heated, liquid water source is non-negotiable.
• Placement: 5-6 feet high, on a baffled pole (safe from squirrels, see the principles of the best squirrel proof bird feeder pole).
• Safety Check: Must be 10-15 feet from dense cover (bushes/trees) to prevent cat ambushes.

5 Best Bluebird Winter Food & Feeder Picks (Amazon)

Investing in the right products is key to a successful winter feeding strategy. We’ve selected products that meet the high-protein, exclusion, and safety requirements necessary for winter Bluebird care.

Kaytee Mealworms for Wild Birds (Large Bulk Bag)

This is the essential winter food. Mealworms are naturally high in protein and fat, giving Bluebirds the survival energy they need. Buying in bulk (e.g., a 5 lb bag) is the most cost-effective way to sustain them through several weeks of freezing weather. They can be stored in an airtight container for long periods, providing a reliable food source when severe weather hits.

Key Features

• High protein content mimics a natural diet
• Easy to store and dispense in a tray feeder
• Cost-effective when bought in bulk
• Highly attractive to Bluebirds and Titmice

Aspects Bluebird Mealworm Exclusion Feeder

This is a game-changer for Bluebird feeding. It’s a small, clear feeder with a hinged roof and sides that are only partially open. This simple design allows Bluebirds (who are comfortable going into cavities) to access the food easily while deterring larger, more aggressive species like Starlings and Jays. The roof also protects the mealworms from snow and rain, keeping the food fresh. This concept of exclusion is similar to using birdhouse entry protectors on wooden houses.

Key Features

• Designed to exclude Starlings and larger birds
• Clear plastic offers protection from weather
• Easy to fill and clean (essential for mealworm residue)
• Can be pole-mounted or hung from a shepherd’s hook

C&S Bluebird Blend Delight Suet Dough

This specialized suet dough contains high-energy rendered fat, dried mealworms, and fruit, but no seeds. It’s soft, easy for the Bluebird’s bill to access, and provides a massive energy boost required to survive the cold. It should be offered in a small cup or tray, not a standard wire suet basket, as Starlings can easily dominate wire cages. This is the ideal complement to the mealworms.

Key Features

• High fat content for winter heat generation
• Soft, dough-like consistency is easy to consume
• No seeds to attract unwanted species
• Can be placed in a dedicated suet cup or tray

K&H Heated Deck Mount Bird Bath

In winter, liquid water can be harder to find than food. A heated bird bath is absolutely non-negotiable for winter survival, as it provides a liquid lifeline when all other water is frozen. This deck-mounted model (refer to guide to best bird baths) is perfect as it is thermostatically controlled, requires minimal maintenance (though cleaning is still necessary, see how to clean a bird bath), and provides safe, shallow water.

Key Features

• Provides essential liquid water during freezing weather
• Thermostatically controlled (saves energy)
• Safe, shallow depth for drinking and bathing
• Deck-mount design saves yard space

Audubon Nest Box Roosting Insert

Food is energy, but a warm bed is survival. Bluebirds will convert their nest boxes into communal winter roosting boxes. This insert is placed inside a standard Bluebird house (see dimensions chart) to cover the entrance hole, leaving a small hole at the bottom. This small, lower hole traps rising warm air, allowing several Bluebirds to huddle together to survive the cold, which is vital when birds sleep in birdhouses.

Key Features

• Converts nest box into a communal roosting site
• Traps rising heat, increasing survival odds
• Protects Bluebirds from winter winds and rain
• Simple installation and removal

Beyond Food, Roosting and Winter Safety

Nutrition is only one half of the survival equation. A Bluebird must also conserve the energy gained from the mealworms and suet. This means securing a safe, warm place to spend the night. This is a crucial element of landscaping for birds.

1. The Roosting Strategy (Housing for Winter)

During the nesting season, one Bluebird occupies a nest box. In winter, this changes completely. Bluebirds form small flocks and huddle together in a cavity for collective warmth. This is why it’s so important to convert your nest boxes.

• Clean the Box: First, remove all old nesting material. A dirty nest box harbors parasites and dampness.
• Install Roosting Accessories: Place a roosting insert (like the one reviewed above) to convert the standard entrance hole to a small, lower hole. This lower hole forces the heat to pool at the top, where the birds huddle.
• Orientation: Ensure the house opening faces away from prevailing winter winds (usually East or Southeast), a rule that applies to all housing, as detailed in what direction a birdhouse should face.
• Do Birds Sleep in Birdhouses? Absolutely. This communal roosting behavior is a life-saver, as birds use birdhouses in winter for thermal protection.

2. Habitat Safety and Water Access

Safety around feeders and housing remains critical in winter, where a cold bird can’t afford the energy of an unnecessary escape.

• Predator Pole Management: Ensure all feeders and houses are on baffled poles to deter climbing predators. This principle of defense is identical for all housing (refer to the best birdhouse poles guide).
• Water: Never underestimate the need for water. When the sun hits the feeding area (refer to the bird’s 24-hour clock), birds require immediate hydration. Keep the heated water source clean and full.
• Roosting Safety: Bluebirds are cavity nesters, a detail evident in the birdhouse reviews and what birds use birdhouses lists. Ensure any nesting sites are free of potential entrance predators.

FAQ & Habitat Management for Bluebirds

Can I feed Bluebirds seed in winter?

No. Standard best bird seed (like sunflower) is poor nutrition for Bluebirds. It’s safe to offer specialty seed mixes in other feeders (like a window bird feeder) to keep finches and other seedeaters occupied, but the Bluebirds should only be given the high-protein substitutes.

Are Bluebirds attracted to birdhouse gourds?

They prefer traditional wooden boxes, but they will occasionally use a large, strong gourd for nesting. If you are handy, you can learn how to grow gourds for birdhouses and how to dry birdhouse gourds. However, for survival, a well-sealed wooden box with the correct best wood for a birdhouse is always safer.

What if I don’t have a Bluebird box?

You can purchase a high-quality box or build one using simple DIY birdhouse plans. Just ensure the entrance hole is exactly 1 1/2 inches to exclude starlings. If you’re building, remember that even the small entrance hole needs protection (entry protectors) and should be built with minimal time required (how long does it take to build a birdhouse).

Do birds sleep in the same place every night?

Bluebirds during the winter roosting period will generally seek out the same safe roosting box every day. This communal behavior is why they prefer the same location (do birds sleep in the same place every night) for thermal huddling. This is a major factor in their winter survival.

What about cleaning the nest box in winter?

You should clean the nest box in the early fall after the last nesting attempt is complete. Never clean it during the winter months, as it may be occupied by roosting Bluebirds. Use the same safety principles that apply to disinfecting material or cleaning houses (how to clean a birdhouse).

Are there other unique house needs?

Yes. Specialized cavity nesters have unique needs. For example, wood duck box dimensions are complex because the box must be predator-proof and deep, while wrens prefer a much smaller house entirely. Your Bluebird house is a medium-sized box, perfect for its niche.

I’m worried about getting locked out during deep winter checks!

It’s a valid concern, especially when dealing with locks and frozen hands. We recommend securing a spare key to your house or shed using a best key hider disguised as a rock or garden accessory near your feeding station. This helps keep you safe and your focus on the birds.

I want to see the action up close. What are my options?

You can install a birdhouse with a camera or a best wireless birdhouse camera inside the roosting box before winter hits. This gives you incredible footage of the communal huddling behavior. For general observation, check out our birdwatching road trip guide.

What about paint and decorative gourds?

Bluebirds aren’t generally picky about what colors they prefer, but natural or muted blues are often recommended. If you paint your boxes, use non-toxic outdoor paint (best paint for a birdhouse). Also, be aware that you shouldn’t put nesting material (what to put inside a birdhouse) in the box; Bluebirds bring their own fine grasses.

Where can I find more tips?

Check out our birdhouse reviews and our master guides (like the one on how to get birds to nest in your birdhouse) for further tips on making your habitat attractive.