Red breasted grosbeaks are beautiful songbirds that many backyard birders enjoy seeing visit their feeders and gardens. With their distinctive cherry red triangle on a black and white body, these finches bring a pop of color to backyards where they live. While red breasted grosbeaks primarily breed in boreal forests across Canada and Alaska, they migrate south and can be found across much of the western and eastern United States during fall and winter months. If you live in an area where red breasted grosbeaks live or migrate through, you may be wondering what is the best way to attract them to your backyard. Here we will explore tips for food, habitat, water sources and more that can help draw these lovely birds to your yard.
Provide Appropriate Bird Feeders and Food
One of the best ways to attract red breasted grosbeaks is providing the right type of bird feeders stocked with their preferred foods. Here are some tips:
Platform Feeders
Platform feeders, sometimes called tray or hopper feeders, are excellent for attracting grosbeaks. These feeders allow the large finches plenty of space to perch and easily pick out sunflower seeds, their favorite food, from the tray. Select a feeder with a wide, sturdy platform and make sure to fill it with an assortment of black oil sunflower seeds for the grosbeaks to enjoy.
Tube Feeders
Tube feeders with large ports can also work well for serving up sunflower seeds. Look for tubes with short perches built for larger beaks and bodies. Make sure the seed ports are 1.5 inches or larger to accommodate grosbeaks. Fill the tube feeder with sunflower seeds and mix in some safflower seeds as well.
Suet Feeders
While sunflower seeds are their top choice, red breasted grosbeaks will also feed on suet. Offer suet in cage feeders or food blocks in a suet holder. Be sure to get suet without seed fillers, as they really just want the high fat suet.
Specialty Seed Mixes
You can also try offering specialty seed mixes formulated to attract grosbeaks in hopper or platform feeders. Look for mixes with sunflower seeds, safflower, peanuts, raisins, fruit bits and nut pieces.
Provide Water
Be sure to provide a water source for visiting grosbeaks. They will appreciate a birdbath, fountain or other water feature for drinking and bathing. Place it near bushes or trees to make the birds feel safe visiting it. Change the water daily to keep it clean. optionally, add a mister to give them a fun shower!
Offer Fruit
In addition to seeds, red breasted grosbeaks relish various fruits. Try offering sliced oranges, apples, berries and grapes in platform feeders or fruit feeders with spindles. You can also skewer cut fruit on branches. Be sure to clean up any old fruit regularly to avoid spoilage.
Create Sheltering Habitat
When attracting grosbeaks, also consider the habitat and landscaping around your yard. Here are some tips:
Trees and Shrubs
Grosbeaks prefer yards with mature trees and shrubs. These provide shelter, nesting sites and insect food sources. Oak, maple, fir and pine trees are excellent choices. Thick hedgerows, evergreen shrubs and berry bushes also appeal to them.
Wooden Fences
Wooden fences, trellises and posts make good perching and nesting spots. Consider adding these vertical surfaces around your yard.
Brush Piles
Brush piles create an insect-rich environment that will attract grosbeaks searching for protein sources. Add brush cuttings, small logs and clippings.
Native Plants
Landscape with native plants and flowers that will attract the insects grosbeaks feed on. Some good options are black-eyed susans, coneflowers, milkweed and asters. Avoid pesticides that could reduce insect numbers.
Use Sounds to Attract Them
Try using audio bird calls to catch the attention of red breasted grosbeaks visiting your area. Broadcast recordings of grosbeak songs, chickadee calls and other birds they flock with. This signals that your yard is an active space and encourages them to investigate. Only use calls during daylight hours and sporadically to avoid overuse.
Timing Tips
Follow these tips on when to employ your backyard birding tactics:
Year Round
Provide food, water and habitat all year to attract grosbeaks that live in your area, as well as migrants stopping through.
Spring and Summer
April through July is when most red breasted grosbeaks nest across their breeding range. Ensure your habitat, especially mature conifers, offers good nesting spots. Provide batting material like pet hair or wool.
Fall and Winter
October through March is when populations boom as northern grosbeaks migrate south. Concentrate efforts on plentiful, preferred foods and safe cover.
Avoid Deterrents
When going through all this effort to welcome grosbeaks, be sure to avoid these common deterrents:
Messy Feeders
Dirty, cluttered feeders and rotting food will deter grosbeaks. Follow a cleaning routine to keep feeders fresh.
Competition
Aggressive species like starlings and grackles can bully grosbeaks. Use feeders that exclude larger bullies and provide separate small bird feeders.
Harassment
Too much disturbance near feeders from pets, people and noise will make grosbeaks uncomfortable. Give them adequate cover and space.
Chemicals
Pesticides kill the insects grosbeaks rely on. Avoid weed killers and other chemicals where possible in yards.
Conclusion
With a little effort focused on food, water, shelter and discouragement of deterrents, you can successfully attract gorgeous red breasted grosbeaks to your backyard. They will reward you with their beauty, songs and fun antics at feeders. Try implementing these tips to bring in these special birds during the seasons they visit your area. Enjoy the vibrant pop of color and bird watching excitement they will bring.
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More Tips for Food
When it comes to feeding red breasted grosbeaks, you can try a few additional strategies beyond basic sunflower seeds and suet:
Mixed Diets
Vary the types of foods you offer to provide a balanced diet. In addition to their favorite sunflower seeds, offer safflower, cracked corn, millet, nuts, dried fruit and suet.
Quality Foods
Seek out higher grades of birdseed, preferably organic when possible. Avoid cheap “filler” seeds like milo and wheat that grosbeaks won’t eat.
Varied Feeder Locations
Place feeders in different spots around your yard to reduce crowding. Try offering sunflower seeds in one area, suet blocks in another area and fruit in another spot.
Protect from Rain
Grosbeaks will avoid feeders that get wet in rain or snowstorms. Place feeders under eaves or roofs to keep food dry.
Reduce Mess
Use tray feeders with catching rims, screened bottoms or mesh bags to minimize wasted hulls. This keeps feeding areas cleaner.
Discourage Bullying
Monitor feeders for aggressive birds that may bully grosbeaks and revise setups as needed. Use feeder types, locations and exclusions to prevent intimidation.
More Tips for Water
Water sources are just as important as food. Here are some additional water tips:
Fountains
Grosbeaks will appreciate moving water. Consider adding a fountain dripping into the birdbath for extra appeal.
Misters
Misting sprayers that add a shower effect are especially popular with many birds. Choose one with adjustable flow and pressure.
Dripping Water
Simply dripping water slowly from a hose into a birdbath creates motion that attracts attention.
Waterfall Pools
Small preformed waterfall attachments can add the look of a woodland waterfall and soothing splashing sounds.
Clean Surface
Keep water fresh and free of algae with weekly scrubbing. Use a plastic scouring pad to remove any slippery buildup.
Depth Variety
Include baths of varying depths for wading, soaking and safety. Include depths of 2-4 inches for versatility.
More Habitat Tips
To make your yard as attractive to grosbeaks as possible, incorporate these added habitat tips:
Conifers
If space allows, plant more conifers like pine and spruce trees that provide preferred shelter and nest sites.
Deciduous Trees
Birch, maple and poplar trees are deciduous options that will boost insect numbers for feeding.
Elevated Perches
Place additional posts, benches or elevated perching platforms around the yard for convenience.
Ground Cover
Use native ground cover plants, leaf litter, mulch beds and pine straw to encourage insects and provide foraging spots.
Nesting Materials
Provide natural materials like pet fur, yarn, moss and wool for grosbeaks to build nests during breeding season.
Berry Plants
Berry producing shrubs like elderberry, holly and dogwood will provide fruit crops that grosbeaks and other birds enjoy.
Avoid Over-pruning
Let dead branches and varied growth remain for nesting nooks and insect habitats.
Further Deterrent Avoidance
To ensure your yard is fully grosbeak friendly, be especially vigilant to avoid these additional deterrents:
Lingering Predators
Watch for predatory cats, snakes or invading hawks that may be hunting grosbeaks and chase them off your property.
Rodent Takeover
An overpopulation of squirrels, mice or rats competing for food can prevent grosbeaks from feeling comfortable feeding. Trap or use deterrents on rodents.
Shiny Objects
Reflective tape, pie pans, pinwheels or anything that spins and glints in sunlight may scare grosbeaks away. Eliminate these types of decorations.
Loud Machinery
Try to use leaf blowers, lawn mowers and other noisy equipment only when necessary, not daily. The sounds disturb ground feeding birds.
Excess Human Activity
If feeders are too close to heavy foot traffic areas or popular play zones, shy grosbeaks may avoid them. Seek out quieter garden spots.
Conclusion
Succeeding in attracting sought after red breasted grosbeaks takes knowledge, persistence and care in regards to food, water, habitat and deterrent avoidance. Follow the tips and advice outlined here to turn your yard into a grosbeak magnet that brings delight as you watch them feed, play and raise young. With the right elements in place, you stand an excellent chance of being rewarded by a flash of brilliant red on black wings visiting your backyard buffet and sanctuary. So begin preparations today to lay out the welcome mat for these special birds.
