Ants are opportunistic insects that are always looking for sources of food. This often leads them to investigate bird feeders, which can seem like an easy meal ticket. However, the question of whether ants are actually attracted to bird feeders is a complex one with many variables to consider.
The potential appeal of bird feeders for ants
At first glance, bird feeders seem like they would be a good food source for ants. After all, bird feeders contain seeds, nuts, suet, nectar, and other tasty morsels that birds enjoy. Ants are omnivores that will eat just about anything, so bird food would likely appeal to them.
Additionally, bird feeders are designed to provide a constant, replenishing supply of food for birds. This means there is a steady stream of fresh food available if ants can access it. Bird feeders are also often elevated off the ground and placed in open areas of yards, making them easy to find for foraging ants.
Common foods found in bird feeders that attract ants
Here are some of the most common types of foods found in bird feeders that ants may find attractive:
- Seeds – Black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, millet, cracked corn, and other hull-less seeds appeal to many ant species.
- Sugary foods – Hummingbird nectar, fruit jam, and even suet with fruit or insects can contain sugars that appeal to sweet-loving ants.
- Fruits – Dried raisins, berries, apples, oranges, and other fruits offered at platform feeders will attract ants.
- Insects – Live mealworms, dried insects, and insect suet cakes provide protein ants crave.
- Peanut butter – Offered as a cheap feeder food, peanut butter is loaded with oils and protein ants love.
With such a buffet of potential food just waiting there for the taking, it’s easy to see why ants might be interested in bird feeders.
Factors that attract ants to bird feeders
There are a few key factors that seem to make bird feeders particularly appealing to foraging ants. These include:
- Accessibility – Bird feeders are designed to be easy for birds to get into. This also makes them easy for ants. Spilled seeds below feeders give ants an entry point.
- Nutritional value – As mentioned, bird foods are energy-dense and packed with protein and carbohydrates ants utilize.
- Reliability – Bird feeders provide a steady, predictable food source ants can exploit once they locate it.
- Elevation – Hung bird feeders attract ants up off the ground into easy reach.
- Lack of competition – Birds are less defensive of feeders than other predators, giving ants more opportunity.
Exploiting these factors allows clever ants to tap into an excellent food resource other insects may overlook or be unable to access. Ants are expert navigators and feeder design often does little to exclude them completely.
Ant species commonly found at bird feeders
Many different ant species will visit bird feeders if given the chance. Here are some of the most frequent bird feeder raiders:
- Black carpenter ants – These large ants love high-protein foods like insects, meat, and peanut butter.
- Argentine ants – Aggressive sugar-loving ants that swarm in huge nesting colonies.
- Odorous house ants – Extreme generalists that consume sweet and protein-rich foods.
- Pavement ants – Enjoy sugary substances and relative safety of elevated feeders.
- Acrobat ants – Prefer sweet liquid foods like nectar and juice.
- Crazy ants – Forage erratically in large numbers for carbohydrate-rich foods.
- Thief ants – Tiny opportunistic ants that steal whatever they can carry.
- Fire ants – Aggressively sting to defend protein foods including insects and peanut butter.
This list just scratches the surface, but it covers some of the most common species known for getting into bird feeders. Different ants are attracted to different kinds of bird foods based on their dietary preferences.
Do ants actually like eating bird feed?
While ants are certainly interested in getting into bird feeders, an important question is whether they actually prefer the kinds of foods found inside them that are formulated for bird consumption.
The nutritional composition of ants’ natural diets and foods targeted for avian consumption differ significantly. Ants require more simple carbohydrates relative to protein than most birds. They also have specialized digestive systems geared toward breaking down foods common in their natural environments.
Many bird seed mixes contain nuts, hulls, dried fruit, and other complex components. These may prove difficult for some ant species to digest. Ants consume solid food through a process called trophallaxis in which it is chewed and broken down via liquid regurgitation. Hard bird seeds can pose a choking hazard.
The ant diet tends to consist more of plant and insect secretions, honeydew, rotting fruit, and scavenged dead insects. These provide more simple sugars. Bird feed is higher in protein and fats. While ants can and do exploit bird feeders, they likely are not perfectly matched to an ant’s dietary preferences in the wild.
Downsides of bird feed for ants
Some potential downsides of bird feeder food for ants include:
- Lower ratio of carbohydrates to protein than naturally-available ant foods
- Presence of complex grains and hulls harder for ants to digest
- Lack of digestible sugars favoured by sugar-feeding ant species
- Dried seeds and fruits with lower moisture content than living plant material ants consume
- Unfamiliar components and textures not recognized as food by some ants
- Potential pesticide residues toxic to ants
These factors likely limit most ants to opportunistically exploiting bird feeders rather than relying on them as a complete dietary substitute in place of natural foraging.
Do ants actually harm bird populations?
A common concern when ants infiltrate bird feeders is whether they might negatively impact wild birds by competing with them for the feeder food. But do ants really diminish the bird food supply enough to affect populations?
Studies investigating this issue have found minimal impacts on bird numbers from ants at feeders. Below are some reasons why ants do not typically cause reduced bird numbers:
- Ants focus on sugary liquids, ignoring higher-value solid seeds eaten by birds
- Most ants only forage at night when birds are inactive
- Birds are able to functionally defend feeder territory from slow-moving ants
- Ant numbers spike for short periods then naturally decline to low levels
- Abundant natural food is available aside from feeders
- Birds aggressively defend feeder access over ants
- Feeders are kept well-stocked by human care and input
In most cases, ants forage on spilled feed and do not greatly impede birds directly. Their small size and inability to chase birds limits impact. Population-level effects on birds are negligible save for highly rare and isolated cases.
Methods to limit ants at bird feeders
While ants likely pose little true harm to bird populations, their presence at feeders can still be annoying and undesirable for birders. Here are some effective methods to reduce ants at feeders:
Use a bird feeder with ant moats
Specialized bird feeders have built-in moats or gaps filled with water that ants cannot cross. These physically block their access to the feeder.
Elevate feeders on poles
Raising feeders higher makes it harder for ants to reach them. Pole mounts are slippery and difficult for ants to traverse.
Apply Vaseline as a barrier
Petroleum jelly applied to feeder poles and hanging wires blocks ants from crossing. Be sure to keep Vaseline away from feeder perches.
Use diatomaceous earth around feeders
This abrasive, desiccant powder disrupts ant respiration and shreds their exoskeletons on contact. Sprinkle it around feeders.
Plant ant-repelling flowers nearby
Flowers like lavender, mint, citronella, and marigolds repel ants in feeder vicinity through scent and toxicity.
Frequently clean under feeders
Sanitize the ground under feeders daily to remove any spilled food or pheromone trails that attract ants.
Use ant baits and traps
Bait stations, traps, and granular chemicals placed near feeders help control nearby ant nests and foraging trails at the source.
Conclusion
Ants are certainly attracted to the bounty of tasty, nutritious foods bird feeders provide in a convenient, easy-to-reach package. However, bird feed is not a perfect match for ant nutritional needs due to its higher protein and fat content and complex grains. While ants opportunistically exploit readily available feeders, they likely rely primarily on natural food sources to truly thrive.
In most cases, ants do not significantly harm bird populations or compete with them for feeder food. Their threat is more nuisance than ecological. With a few prevention measures in place, ants can be deterred from feeders and peaceful birdwatching can resume.
