Brenda Khan
Bluebirds are known for their colourful appearance, but what do these birds eat? In this article, we will explore the diet of bluebirds, including their favourite foods and how their eating habits change with the seasons. We will also discuss how humans can help bluebirds access a healthy and varied diet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet | Insects, wild fruit, berries, seeds |
| Insects | Grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, spiders, caterpillars, ants, wasps, bees, flies, myriapods, angleworms, snails, sow bugs, black olive scales, moths, weevils, termites |
| Wild Fruit | Flowering dogwood, holly, mulberry, wild grape, Virginia creeper, pokeweed, Viburnum, multiflora rose, Japanese honeysuckle |
| Vertebrates | Small snakes, salamanders, tree frogs, lizards, shrews |
| Commercial Food | Mealworms, suet cakes, peanut bits, raisins, ground-up cornmeal, Bark Butter Bits |
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What You'll Learn
Mealworms
Bluebirds will readily eat mealworms year-round, but they are especially helpful during the breeding season when parents need to feed their young. They can also help bluebirds survive during periods of cold, wet weather, enabling parents to stay near the nest to defend it and assist single parents.
It is important to note that mealworms do not provide complete nutrition and are calcium-depleting, so they should be used as a supplemental food source only. To counter the calcium depletion, mealworms can be coated with calcium carbonate or calcium citrate powder.
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Insects
Bluebirds have remarkable eyesight, allowing them to spot insects from a distance of up to 130 feet, although they typically feed on insects within a range of 16 to 65 feet. They usually choose perches that are 2 to 49 feet above the ground and scan the ground beneath for insects. They then swoop down to catch their prey, either eating it on the ground or bringing it back to their perch. Larger insects may be bashed against the ground or the perch to kill them and soften them before consumption.
The types of insects that bluebirds eat include grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, spiders, and caterpillars. They also eat ants, wasps, bees, flies, myriapods, angleworms, snails, sow bugs, black olive scales, moths, weevils, and termites. Caterpillars and insects in tall grass can be spotted from a distance of over 50 yards.
Bluebirds can also be fed mealworms as a supplement to their natural diet, especially during the breeding season when the parents will gladly accept them to feed their young. Mealworms can be purchased from pet stores or bird supply stores and placed in a shallow dish with smooth sides to prevent the mealworms from escaping.
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Fruit
Bluebirds generally perch next to the fruit or berry and pluck it before consuming it. They possess remarkable eyesight, allowing them to spot prey from considerable distances.
Some of the best winter food sources for bluebirds include flowering dogwood, holly, mulberry, wild grape, Virginia creeper, pokeweed, and Viburnum. While bluebirds will eat the fruit of multiflora rose and Japanese honeysuckle, these are invasive species that should be avoided.
It is beneficial to plant native fruit-bearing shrubs and trees to help bluebirds have a varied diet and to assist when insects are scarce. Additionally, providing a mix of fruits and berries in feeders can supplement their natural diet.
While mealworms are a popular food source for bluebirds, overfeeding them can lead to calcium deficiency. Fruits and berries can be a healthy alternative to ensure bluebirds get a balanced diet.
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Vertebrates
Bluebirds are insectivores, with their diet consisting mostly of invertebrates such as spiders, caterpillars, grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, wasps, bees, flies, and other insects. They also occasionally eat small vertebrates such as snakes, salamanders, tree frogs, and lizards.
Bluebirds are cavity nesters and usually perch on tall grass or fences before dropping to the ground to catch their prey. They can spot insects in tall grass from a remarkable distance of over 50 yards. They also occasionally catch insects in flight, especially during warmer seasons when flying insects are abundant.
Bluebirds can be fed mealworms, which are the larvae of the beetle Tenebrio molitor. They are a good source of protein and can be purchased at pet stores or bird supply stores. Mealworms can be served in a shallow dish with smooth sides made of glass, plastic, metal, or ceramic to prevent the mealworms from escaping.
In addition to insects, bluebirds also eat small fruits such as flowering dogwood, holly, mulberry, wild grape, Virginia creeper, pokeweed, and Viburnum. They may also eat the fruits of invasive species such as multiflora rose and Japanese honeysuckle, although these should be avoided if possible.
During the winter, when insects are scarce, bluebirds will also eat high-calorie foods such as suet, peanut butter, and sunflower seeds to help them survive the cold weather.
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Suet
There are many recipes available for making homemade suet, which typically involve blending a formulated diet or pelleted bird diet with dried fruit and melted suet. Some recipes also include peanut butter or dried mealworms. It is important to use a dedicated blender and to clean it thoroughly after use to remove any residue. The mixture should be blended until it is fine and then formed into a dry, crumbly mix.
Commercially prepared suet is also available, such as Bluebird Banquet from the Audubon Workshop, which can be purchased from specialty bird stores or online. These products often come in nugget form, which can be convenient for feeding bluebirds. However, bluebirds generally prefer homemade suet mixes, and they may be more likely to sample or gobble up peanut butter mixtures.
In addition to suet, bluebirds also enjoy a variety of other foods, including mealworms, insects, wild fruit, and berries. It is important to offer bluebirds a balanced diet and to provide a variety of food sources to ensure they get the nutrients they need.
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Frequently asked questions
A bluebird's diet consists of mostly insects, wild fruit, berries, and seeds. They are also known to eat mealworms, suet, peanut pieces, sunflower chips, raisins, currants, and grapes.
Beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, caterpillars, ants, wasps, bees, flies, myriapods, angleworms, snails, sow bugs, black olive scales, moths, weevils, and termites.
Mealworms are the best food to feed bluebirds and they will eat them year-round.
