Winter is a trying time for birds' survival as their natural food sources become depleted. So, knowing what birds eat in winter will help you provide the correct food for them. But all is not lost, as they are resoundingly resourceful at scouting out food. And luckily, they have plenty of friendly faces waiting to feed them.

What do wild birds eat in winter?

With insects, berries, and natural seeds nowhere to be seen, it can be difficult for birds to maintain their weight and energy. This is why we must help to aid their survival. Birds will be looking for fatty and oily seeds that can give them the boost they need to make it through the colder months, and these are hard to come by in winter.

Niger 

Niger is an incredibly oily seed that birds love to eat for an instant energy boost. You can provide these as part of a mix or provide them on their own as a straight. Make sure to use the correct feeder for your needs.

Sunflower seeds

Sunflower seeds are also oil-rich and prove popular with hungry birds in winter. And since there are different types - black sunflower, striped sunflower and sunflower hearts - it is best to provide a variety of these to suit beaks big and small.

Peanuts 

Peanuts are full of fat that can aid birds' weight gain so they can stay warm throughout winter. They are also a tasty treat and are popular with most bird species. You can provide these whole as a straight or kibbled in a mix.

Choosing your winter wild bird food

For novice bird feeders looking to kickstart their bird-feeding hobby, we have a range of all-rounder seed mixes that will appeal to the masses and leave no bird unsatisfied. Our Four Season Feast is a well-balanced mix that will work in all seasons and provide your garden visitors with a varied and substantial feed to see them through the colder days. Packed full of ingredients like kibbled maize and striped sunflower, Four Season Feast provides a high-protein, high-fat meal to keep them returning for more.

Our Winter Wellness mix is designed to help your garden visitors through their most challenging months. Peanut suet pellets and mealworms are a firm favourite amongst all garden birds, so when they can’t source those naturally in the winter, they will come flocking to your feeders and tables.

If you want to try and attract a more specific type of bird, like the nation's favourite robin, then we've designed a mix full of their favourites.  Our Robin Ready mix is specially formulated for their smaller beaks and contains kibbled maize and peanuts to make feeding that bit easier.

Why we should feed birds in winter

Of all seasons, winter can prove to be the most challenging one for our UK garden birds. Aside from the decrease in the availability of food, snow and frost also make for difficult foraging. By putting food out for birds, we can help ensure they survive winter to make it to breeding season. After all, this means we can keep enjoying their company in our gardens!