Not sure what to feed birds? Consider these ten kitchen scraps and other food items that birds in your backyard will appreciate.
Did you know that you can use kitchen scraps as bird food? By offering the right scraps to birds, in addition to traditional bird food, you provide a greater variety of nutritional sources while also reducing landfill waste.
In no particular order, here are ten types of kitchen leftovers and other food items you can feed birds.
1. Cereal
Breakfast cereal can work great as a tasty food source for wild birds in your backyard. But not just any breakfast cereal, though.
For the best nutritional value, go for cereal with low sugar content and fewer artificial additives and flavorings. The wholegrain and natural fruit ingredients in the healthier breakfast cereals are excellent for wild birds.
This includes oatmeal as well. Read my article about oats and bird food for more information about this and how best to prepare and feed it to birds.
2. Baked Goods
This is a classic choice of bird food taken straight from the kitchen, and it works remarkably well. Stale bread, biscuits, crusts, crackers, and cookies; most birds will appreciate this type of food.
Just be sure to break things up into smaller pieces, and perhaps soak the harder pieces in a bit of water to make it easier for birds to consume. Also, make sure the food is still in reasonably good shape and not moldy.
But don’t overdo this type of kitchen scrap, as the nutritional value is relatively low compared to some of the other food items on this list.
3. Pasta and Rice
Cooked rice and pasta can also be offered to wild birds, as they are a great source of carbohydrates.
It should be plain rice and pasta, though, not meal leftovers with extra bits like sauce, thick cheese, or spices. It’s best to cut the pasta into smaller, edible pieces.
4. Fruits
There is a whole range of fruits that you can feed to wild birds in the backyard, such as raisins, apples, grapes, berries, bananas, oranges, and grapefruits.
What also works really well, for even more variety, is the seeds of certain fruits, such as pumpkins, watermelons, and honeydew melons.
When you’re feeding common fruits like apples and bananas to birds, be sure to remove the skin and slice them into small pieces. And don’t forget to remove the seeds from apples.
If you happen to have fruit trees in your backyard, there’s no need to offer leftover kitchen fruit to birds. Birds happily eat fruit from the trees or fruit that has fallen off.
5. Vegetables
Just like fruits, some leftover vegetables can also work really well as a type of food for wild birds.
Common leafy greens, such as spinach and kale, are liked by some bird species. And otherwise, frozen peas, corn, and baked potatoes will definitely attract more birds to your backyard.
6. Nuts
Some nuts, like peanuts, are used as traditional raw bird food, but some other nuts that we buy for ourselves can also be offered to wild birds.
For example, walnuts, pecans, and almonds will be much appreciated by birds visiting your backyard. Just make sure they are raw or lightly roasted nuts.
It’s recommended to crush the nuts you’re feeding to make it easier for birds to eat. Another option is leftover peanut butter, which some birds will also like.
7. Cheese
This may come as a surprise, but cheese as a kitchen scrap can also be consumed by birds, but not all types of cheese.
The best cheese for birds is the harder, stale bits of cheese, like cheddar, but certainly not moldy cheese. Softer cheeses, such as cream cheese or brie, are unsuitable for birds.
8. Meat
Lots of birds feed on insects, and in that way, they’re a good addition to any backyard as it keeps the ecosystem healthy.
But we can also feed tiny bits of meat as kitchen leftovers to birds, such as beef fat or meat bones, for a good dose of protein.
9. Eggs
Cooked eggs are not only very nutritious for humans, but they can also be good for birds. Mix some egg bits with other conventional bird food, and it will get eaten.
You may also consider preserving and processing egg shells for nutrition, as they are loaded with calcium. To do so, clean the shells, then crush and grind them, and place them in a pot or container.
10. Pet Food
Dog and cat food can also be used as bird food, so why not allocate a tiny portion of your dog’s meal to the birds in your backyard?
Just make sure to cut and crush pet food into smaller pieces for birds to munch on.
Final Thoughts
Why use kitchen scraps as bird food? It’s a simple way to feed backyard birds, save money, and reduce waste.
While store-bought bird food is easy, scraps that would otherwise be tossed can supplement their diet with extra nutrients, especially in winter when natural food is scarce.
Scraps alone aren’t enough, but in small amounts, they’re a helpful addition. Plus, it’s a good way to teach kids about minimizing food waste.
Use a platform feeder, a hanging cage feeder, or place small amounts in a birdhouse. Never put out rotting food—it attracts pests and unwanted animals. For more options, check out my bird feeder guide.
Also, be aware that birds need a balanced diet. Scraps are a nice bonus, but shouldn’t replace natural food or traditional bird feed.
Lastly, kitchen scraps can attract mice, rats, and other pests. Stick to small amounts and use feeders that are harder for pests to reach.
