Bird Food Fruit

Feeding Methods

• Skewers and spikes make chunks of fruit readily accessible for small birds while preventing raccoons and squirrels from removing the treats. Smaller fruit such as berries and grapes can be placed in a raised covered bin to keep them collected in a single spot and off the ground away from insects. Hanging or platform bird feeders are an alternative if you can keep the fruit from falling off while the birds feed.

Berries

• Since wild birds naturally consume berries, setting out strawberries, blueberries and cherries are a surefire way to appeal to them. Strawberries alone are a magnet for many bird species, including mockingbirds, robins, blue jays and catbirds. Most store-bought bird foods that contain berries are either granular or solid blocks containing bird seed as well.

Large Fruit

• Fruit-eating birds also enjoy halved sections of larger fruit. Apples and oranges can be sliced and presented as a special treat since most birds are not equipped to enjoy its flesh or seeds naturally. Mockingbirds, woodpeckers and finches enjoy apples, while orioles, scarlet tangers and grosbeaks prefer a sliced orange. Some species enjoy several kinds of fruit and will eat from multiple slices.

Other Fruit

• Bird feeders have been known to successfully offer a wide range of fruit to birds. Melons and bananas can be peeled and presented for birds to pick at. Grapes are a popular food for plenty of species including bluebirds, robins, magpies, blue jays and towhees. Be conservative when setting out raisins, as too many raisins may be toxic to some birds.