Peanuts are a popular food for many backyard bird species. However, not all birds can or should eat peanuts. Some birds’ digestive systems are not equipped to handle the fats and proteins in peanuts, while other species simply do not like the taste or texture of peanuts. Additionally, peanuts can pose a choking hazard for smaller bird species.
When setting up bird feeders, it is important to understand which birds eat peanuts and which do not. Offering peanuts to birds that cannot properly digest them could potentially make the birds sick. Similarly, providing inappropriate food can lead to wasted seeds and money as birds avoid feeders with food they do not eat.
Below is an overview of common backyard birds and their preferences when it comes to peanuts as a food source. This guide will help inform best practices for stocking bird feeders that attract target species while supporting their nutritional needs.
Birds That Do Not Eat Peanuts
Finches
Most finch species do not eat peanuts. This includes the American goldfinch, house finch, purple finch, Cassin’s finch, and other North American finches. Finches have very small, delicate beaks that are not well-suited for cracking open peanut shells. They also prefer small seeds and nyjer seed in their diet. Avoid putting out peanuts if attracting finches is a priority.
Warblers
Warblers are primarily insectivores, meaning they eat mainly insects and other invertebrates. They do not typically eat bird seed of any kind, including peanuts. Warblers such as the yellow warbler, palm warbler, pine warbler, and common yellowthroat find insects on branches and leaves rather than bird feeders. They may occasionally take a drink from a water source but they will not eat peanuts or other seeds.
Swallows
Like warblers, swallows are aerial insectivores. They feed entirely on flying insects caught in mid-air. Swallows such as barn swallows, tree swallows, and bank swallows will not visit feeders for peanuts or any other offerings. These species are specialized for catching insects and lack the appropriate beak and digestive system for processing hard seeds.
Swifts
Swifts including chimney swifts and Vaux’s swifts feed exclusively on insects like flies, wasps, beetles, and other flying bugs. They do not have the ability to perch on feeders and only briefly land to nest. Do not put out peanuts or other foods expecting to attract swifts – they will not come to feeders of any kind.
Tanagers
Both summer and scarlet tanagers eat mainly insects and fruit. They do not consume bird seed or peanuts. Occasionally, tanagers may take a dried fruit offering from a feeder but they ignore seeds and nuts. Prioritize suet, nectar, or mealworms to attract tanagers rather than peanuts.
Waxwings
Waxwings like cedar waxwings and Bohemian waxwings feed almost entirely on fruit. They might occasionally pick insects off trees but they do not eat bird seed. Waxwings will fly over peanut and seed feeders looking for trees and bushes with fruit. They do not have an interest in peanuts or other seeds.
Flycatchers
Flycatchers are, as their name implies, insectivorous birds that expertly catch flying insects. They occasionally supplement their diet with berries but they do not eat seeds or nuts. Flycatchers like the eastern phoebe, eastern kingbird, and western kingbird will hawk insects around feeders but they will not take interest in any feeder offerings, including peanuts.
Swallows
Tree swallows, northern rough-winged swallows, bank swallows, and other species feed aerially on flying insects. They do not have the beak structure or digestive system to handle seeds and nuts. While swallows may be seen gracefully swooping near feeders, they will not eat peanuts or other bird seed.
Nuthatches
While nuthatches do eat seeds and nuts, most species do not eat peanuts. The red-breasted nuthatch is the only common nuthatch in North America that regularly eats peanuts. However, white-breasted nuthatches, brown-headed nuthatches, pygmy nuthatches, and other species do not typically eat peanuts. They prefer smaller seeds like suflower chips.
Chickadees
Chickadees like the black-capped chickadee and Carolina chickadee predominantly eat small seeds and insects. They do not usually eat peanuts. Chickadees have tiny beaks that cannot easily break open peanut shells. They prefer nyjer seed, safflower seed, millet, and other small seeds at feeders.
Kinglets
Ruby-crowned kinglets and golden-crowned kinglets are tiny, hyperactive birds that feed mostly on insects and spiders. They occassionally supplement their protein-rich diet with sap, suet, or fruit. However, they do not eat seeds or nuts. Kinglets are too small to crack open peanuts and have no interest in them as a food source.
Creepers
Brown creepers and other creeps forage for insects hidden in bark crevices. Their diet is comprised almost exclusively of spiders, beetles, ants, and insect eggs. They do not eat seeds or nuts. While they move up tree trunks near feeders, creepers will not come down to eat peanuts and other offerings.
Wrens
Wrens like the Carolina wren, house wren, and Bewick’s wren predominantly eat insects. They also eat some seeds, but usually smaller fare like nyjer seed or finely cracked corn. Most wrens do not eat peanuts. Their narrow beaks are not well-adapted for opening peanut shells.
Gnatcatchers
Blue-gray gnatcatchers and black-tailed gnatcatchers eat primarily insects and spiders. They might supplement with sap, suet, or fruit on occasion, but they do not eat seeds or nuts. Gnatcatchers find food in trees and shrubs, not at bird feeders. Do not put out peanuts expecting to attract these petite, energetic birds.
Dippers
American dippers and water ouzels forage underwater for larval insects and small fish. They are built for diving and have waterproof plumage. Dippers do not eat seeds or nuts and will not visit bird feeders. They obtain all their food from streams and rivers rather than backyard offerings.
Thrushes
Many thrushes including hermit thrushes, Swainson’s thrushes, and wood thrushes eat insects and fruit. While they might come to feeders for dried fruit, thrushes generally do not eat seeds or nuts. The peanut shells are difficult for thrushes to crack open with their slender, curved beaks.
Orioles
Orioles like the Baltimore oriole and orchard oriole drink nectar and eat fruits, berries, and some insects. They do not typically eat bird seeds or nuts, including peanuts. While orioles will visit specialized jelly and nectar feeders, they tend to ignore any offerings of peanuts or other seeds.
Shrikes
Northern shrikes and loggerhead shrikes eat mainly insects, smaller birds, and small mammals. They are carnivorous songbirds uninterested in seeds or nuts. Shrikes hunt from exposed perches and impale prey on thorns or barbed wire. They will not visit backyard feeders for any food, let alone peanuts.
Larks
Horned larks and other larks predominantly eat seeds and insects. While they sometimes eat weed seeds, they usually avoid harder seeds like peanuts. Larks use their slender bills to pick seeds off the ground; they do not perch on feeders. Scattering millet or finch mix will work better for attracting larks than peanuts.
Birds That Sometimes Eat Peanuts
While the birds listed below generally enjoy eating peanuts, they should only be fed peanuts in certain circumstances that are safe for their digestive systems:
| Bird | Notes on Peanut Consumption |
|---|---|
| Chickadees | May eat crushed or finely chopped peanuts but cannot break open whole nuts. |
| Nuthatches | Red-breasted nuthatch readily eats peanuts. Other species do not. |
| Woodpeckers | Will eat peanuts but prefer suet. Peanuts should only be 10% of diet. |
| Wrens | May eat finely chopped peanuts but typically avoid whole nuts. |
| Thrushes | Might eat crushed peanuts but cannot open whole shells. |
| Starlings | Eat peanuts but can become nuisances at feeders. Not a preferred species for many. |
When offering peanuts to these species, take precautions to make sure the nuts are suited to the birds’ physical abilities and nutritional needs:
– Chop or crush peanuts into small pieces so birds can safely swallow them
– Avoid whole peanuts which could pose a choking risk
– Mix small amounts of peanuts into seed blends rather than providing pure peanuts
– Offer alternative foods like suet, fruit, or nut butter for more balanced nutrition
Monitor feeders to ensure peanuts do not spoil and remove any excess, uneaten peanuts promptly. Provide peanuts in limited quantities to species that only occasionally eat them.
Birds That Love Peanuts
The following common backyard birds readily consume peanuts as a significant part of their diet:
Blue Jays
Blue jays eat mostly nuts and seeds and are one of the most voracious consumers of peanuts at feeders. Their strong beaks allow them to easily crack open peanut shells. They will often rapidly collect and cache peanuts around yards for future meals.
Crows
American crows consume a wide range of foods including grains, fruit, small animals, and carrion. They also have a particular fondness for peanuts. Crows use their thick, heavy bills to open nuts and relish the high-fat peanuts.
Titmouse
Tufted titmice and other titmouse species are regular visitors to peanut feeders. They use their stout gray bills to pry open shells and extract the seed within. Peanuts are a prized food source for these active songbirds.
Magpie
Black-billed magpies eat a varied omnivorous diet including carrion, insects, reptiles, grains, nuts, and fruits. They are intelligent and use their stout, hooked bills to access the meat inside peanut shells. Magpies consume peanuts readily at feeding sites.
Jays
Jays like the blue jay, Steller’s jay, gray jay, and scrub jay all eat peanuts. Their strong bills allow them to eat seeds with hard shells. Jays are frequent visitors to any feeders stocked with peanuts. They aggressively guard their food and cache excess peanuts.
Woodpeckers
Downy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, northern flickers and other woodpeckers eat peanuts from hanging feeders. Their chisel-like bills help open the shells. Woodpeckers also drill into feeders and lick out oil and bits of seed.
Nutcrackers
As their name implies, nutcrackers like Clark’s nutcracker and the Eurasian nutcracker adeptly crack open nuts and seeds. Large, hardy peanuts are one of their preferred natural foods. They live up to their name by making quick work of peanut shells.
Chickadees
While chickadees prefer small seeds, black-capped chickadees and other species will eat fine peanut pieces at feeders. Their tiny beaks cannot manage whole nuts, but they enjoy bits of crushed peanuts in moderation.
Titmice
Tufted titmice and bridled titmice eagerly eat whole peanuts at feeders throughout their range. They use their short, stout bills to open shells and extract the peanuts. Titmice will excitedly gather at any feeders stocked with peanuts.
Siskins
Pine siskins and Eurasian siskins both eat nyjer seed but also enjoy peanuts when available. They use their notched bills to deftly open shells. Offering peanuts can attract these busy little finches to feeders in winter.
Grosbeaks
Large-beaked grosbeaks like the evening grosbeak and pine grosbeak have big appetites for seed and nuts. Their strong bills make quick work of peanut shells. They consume both black oil and in-shell peanuts in large quantities.
Cardinals
Northern cardinals eat a variety of seeds and nuts. They are common visitors to peanut feeders, using their short, thick bills to open shells. Watch for pairs working together, with the female opening peanuts and the male stealing them.
Grackles
Common grackles and other grackle species are omnivorous, eating grains, fruits, small creatures, refuse, and more. They are aggressive and opportunistic foragers that readily eat peanuts when available. Their long bills easily open shells.
Juncos
Dark-eyed juncos predominately eat small seeds. However, some individuals, especially males, will eat peanut pieces. Focus on fine bits or chopped peanuts when attracting these ground foragers.
Sparrows
Large sparrow species like white-throated sparrows eat seeds and will consume both crushed and whole peanuts. Watch for them scavenging bits other birds have dropped. House sparrows may eat whole peanuts but prefer mixed feed and millet.
Tips for Feeding Peanuts to Birds
When offering peanuts at backyard bird feeders, keep these tips in mind:
– Buy fresh, high-quality peanuts in small batches to prevent spoilage
– Offer shelled peanut pieces for birds unable to open shells
– Chop peanuts into bite-size bits for species with small beaks
– Use metal mesh feeders that allow drainage to deter mold
– Clean and disinfect feeders regularly to prevent diseases
– Provide alternative foods like suet, fruit, and nectar
– Avoid peanuts if allergies are a concern for children and pets
– Remove peanuts shells which attract less desirable animals
– Position feeders to minimize competition and deter squirrels
– Observe consumption patterns and adjust offerings accordingly
Conclusion
While peanuts are relished by some backyard birds, they do not appeal to all species. Birds like finches, warblers, and flycatchers focus on insects and fruits rather than seeds and nuts. Avoid putting out peanuts if trying to attract these species.
Other birds like chickadees may sample peanut pieces but cannot eat whole nuts due to their tiny bills. It is best to crush or chop peanuts when offering them to such birds.
Meanwhile, jays, woodpeckers, nuthatches, titmice and other larger species actively seek out and consume whole, in-shell peanuts. These birds can be drawn in with an ample supply of fresh peanuts in feeders.
By understanding the differences between birds that relish peanuts and those that have no taste for them, we can make our bird feeding efforts more targeted and effective. Offering appropriate foods helps create a diverse backyard bird habitat that provides needed nutrition. Being mindful of bird preferences takes the guesswork out of what birds will flock to feeders filled with hearty peanuts versus other tempting treats.
