Evening Grosbeaks are striking yellow, black, and white finches that frequent backyards across the northern United States and Canada. These chunky birds have massive bills for crushing seeds and will visit platform feeders, large tube feeders, or tray and hopper feeders loaded with sunflower seeds. Determining the best feeder for Evening Grosbeaks depends on several factors including your budget, how many birds you want to attract, and your local squirrels.
What Do Evening Grosbeaks Eat?
Evening Grosbeaks primarily eat sunflower and safflower seeds. They will also feed on other large seeds like peanuts, tree nuts, and pine seeds. Cracked corn, millet, thistle, suet, and fruit can also attract Evening Grosbeaks. When stocking up on bird food for these visitors, look for sunflower seeds and blends made specifically for larger northern birds. Avoid mixes with a lot of filler like milo, wheat, oats, and flakes.
Best Feeders for Lots of Evening Grosbeaks
If you live in an area with frequent Evening Grosbeak sightings during irruption years, consider investing in a platform or hopper style feeder. These allow multiple large grosbeaks to perch and feed at once.
Platform feeders are open trays or platforms raised on legs. They allow easy perching access from all sides and accommodate larger flocks. Look for platforms with drainage holes so rainwater doesn’t soak and damage the seeds. Brush off spent seed shells after the birds leave.
Hopper feeders are enclosed feeders with clear plastic or glass sides, perches, and seed tray at the bottom. Seed gravitates down from the hopper above as birds feed. Try to find a hopper feeder with a large capacity for up to 5 pounds of birdseed. This minimizes the number of times you need to refill. Purchase a feeder with metal ports over the seed tray to make it squirrel proof.
Best Platform Feeders
- Songbird Essentials SEED101 Seed and Suet Tidbit Combo
- Perky-Pet 342 Panorama Bird Feeder
- GrayBunny GB-6836 Triple Platform Bird Feeder
Best Hopper Feeders
- Perky-Pet 379 Squirrel-Be-Gone Wild Bird Feeder
- Squirrel Buster Classic Squirrel-proof Bird Feeder
- Brome 1024 Squirrel Buster Plus Wild Bird Feeder
Best Feeders for a Few Evening Grosbeaks
If Evening Grosbeaks only occasionally visit your yard in small numbers, you can save money with smaller tube feeders. Look for tall tube feeders with short perches specifically made for larger birds. They should be at least 5 inches across with big seed ports and perches. Choose tubes made of chew-proof materials like steel or thick plastic.
The best tube feeders have removable bases for easy cleaning and drainage holes to prevent moldy seed buildup. Look for tubes with metal ports and perches to deter squirrels. Help deter squirrels further by installing feeders with weight activated perches that close access to the seed when anything heavier than a bird lands on it.
Here are some excellent tube feeder options for Evening Grosbeaks:
Best Tube Feeders for Evening Grosbeaks
- Squirrel Buster Legacy Squirrel-proof Bird Feeder
- Perfct Bird Gram Up North Tube Feeder
- Wild Bills WBFG05 5 Inch Tube Feeder
Best Feeder Setups to Attract Evening Grosbeaks
While feeder selection is important, you also need to think about the best setups to attract Evening Grosbeaks to your yard:
- Location – Place feeders in open areas visible from the sky. Grosbeaks can spot them from far away when flying over.
- Food Availability – Offer sunflower seeds, ideally in multiple hopper, tube, and platform feeders. Try peanuts and fruit like apple halves too.
- Water – Add a birdbath or small pond for drinking and bathing. Moving water from fountains or drippers helps prevent disease.
- Shelter – Provide evergreen trees or shrubs for windbreaks during bad weather.
- Visibility – Set up feeders near windows so you can watch Evening Grosbeaks and other birds up close.
Position feeders at different heights to accommodate both smaller and larger birds. Separate competing species by placing feeders far apart horizontally too. By offering a variety of well-stocked, squirrel-proof feeders, you’re sure to get visits from Evening Grosbeaks if they’re in your area.
When and Where to See Evening Grosbeaks
Evening Grosbeaks breed primarily across Canada and down into the northern tier of U.S. states. However, they are irruptive birds that wander south in unpredictable numbers every few years to seek food. This typically happens during winter months when food is scarce in their normal range.
Some winters they may only migrate short distances. But in big irruption years, Evening Grosbeaks can appear as far south as Texas, the Gulf Coast, and east to Georgia. Backyard birders across the northern states have a chance to attract them anytime from late fall through spring when they wander widely searching for seeds and tree buds.
Put up feeders and stock them with sunflower seeds to take advantage of any irruption in your area. Check eBird or contact your local birding groups to find out when Evening Grosbeaks arrive near you. With the right feeders and a little luck, you may get to enjoy these bright yellow winter finches at your feeders.
Conclusion
Evening Grosbeaks are spectacular yet unpredictable winter visitors to northern backyards. You can attract them to your feeders by offering their preferred sunflower and safflower seeds. Platform, hopper, and large tube feeders are excellent choices for serving their large appetites. Just make sure to pick squirrel-proof models suited to such big birds.
Place feeders in open visible areas near trees and water. Watch for irruption reports of wandering grosbeaks coming south in your region. With the proper feeders set up and stocked ahead of time, you’ll be ready for a splash of golden yellow in your yard! Following these tips will help you answer the question “What is the best feeder for Evening Grosbeaks?”
