8 Things That Will Bring Birds to Your Garden — and Help Them Survive the Winter
Spruce up your winter garden by attracting and protecting pretty, feathered visitors.
When the frosts and freezes set in and the garden falls quiet, it’s easy to think nothing stirs beyond the hedges.
But look a little closer, and you’ll see glimmers of birdlife among the bare branches: a robin foraging in the fallen leaves, the brilliant red of a male cardinal against the snow.
Winter is the hardest season for our garden birds, as natural food grows scarcer and daylight hours are short. Yet with a few smart additions, your garden can become their lifeline: a refuge of warmth, shelter, and nourishment amid the chill.
Even better, as well as helping them, you get to watch their pretty colors illuminate your drab winter flowerbeds.
We spoke to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds about best garden practices in winter; here are eight simple things birds can’t resist, and how they’ll help feathered visitors thrive through and conquer the coldest months...
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Suet cakes
Energy-rich and packed with seeds or insects, suet cakes are true winter lifesavers. Hang them high in a quiet corner, away from prowling cats, and you’ll soon see black-capped chickadees, tufted titmouses, and white-breasted nuthatches flitting in for a hearty feast.
Fresh, unfrozen water
A birdbath or shallow dish of fresh water is a lifeline when ponds and puddles turn to ice. Refresh it daily, and pop in a ping-pong ball or floating twig to keep it from freezing over completely. Even the simplest bowl can become a bustling watering hole on a frosty morning.
Louise Mahon, a spokesperson for the RSPB, explains: "A supply of clean water is just as vital to birds in winter as it is in the hotter months – not just for hydration, but for the cleaning of birds' feathers in order to maintain their insulating and waterproofing properties.
"We recommend creating a bird bath or a mini wildlife pond, making sure to clean the water daily and remove any green algae which may initially form on the surface."
Keep Reading: Birdbath Mistakes You’re Probably Making—And How to Fix Them
Black sunflower seeds
A small seed with broad appeal: high in oil, easy to crack, and beloved by house finches, nuthatches, and chickadees alike. Offer them in a feeder with narrow ports to deter larger birds, and enjoy the dramatic flashes these lively visitors bring to grey winter days.
Shelter from the wind
Birds need somewhere soothing to rest, roost and preen. Thick evergreens, ivy-clad fences and neatly stacked log or brush piles offer vital cover from bitter winds and hungry predators. A well-planted corner of the garden can feel like sanctuary on a cold, still afternoon, so don't hold back on winter shrubbery.
Louise adds: "Now is also a great time to install a nest box; not only will birds discover and hopefully inhabit it during nesting season next year, they also like to roost in nest boxes when temperatures drop.”
Keep in mind that different species require different types of boxes. Choose the right box for the right bird with this guide from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
"If you do already own a nest box, it's also good to clean it out after this year's nesting season, using best practice," Louise says.
Mealworms
Packed with protein and perfect for keeping energy levels up, mealworms are adored by the eastern bluebird, northern mockingbird, downy woodpecker, American robin, and many more. Offer live or dried (soaked briefly in warm water to soften), and watch these feathered beauties dart in eagerly for their treat.
Native plants with berries
Planting native species that produce berries provides natural food and shelter long after the feeders are empty. Your local cooperative extension can suggest local native options, but some common North American natives that will provide tasty berries include winterberry, serviceberry, and dogwood.
Keep Reading: 12 Plants That Attract Songbirds to Your Landscape
Mixed seed feeders
A good-quality seed mix brings variety and life to your garden. Choose blends with millet, sunflower hearts and cracked corn — and avoid cheap fillers like wheat, which most small birds leave behind. Hang your feeders near cover, and you’ll soon have a busy breakfast crowd of finches, sparrows and more.
Louise advises: "Only put out as much food as is likely to be consumed in one day, and try to prevent birds with different diets from mixing with one other – the easiest way to do this is to use separate feeders for each diet type."
Let nature take its course
Louise advises: "It can often feel like there's too many jobs to complete around the garden, but the good news is that less 'tidying up' ahead of winter can really benefit birds and other wildlife.
"For instance, if you leave dead seedheads on flowers [especially native plants such as coneflower and black-eyed Susan], rather than removing, the seeds of plants like teasels can be a brilliant food source for finches who love to pick them out with their beaks.
"Elsewhere, don't worry about clearing away fallen autumn leaves, and instead gather them up underneath bushes and trees. They form a protective barrier against frost and support good habitat for insects which in turn are an important part of many bird species' winter diets."
Note: This article was originally published by Country Living UK. The birds, plants, and some references mentioned here have been edited for a North American audience.
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