The best bird feeder and seed for bluebirds
Insect eaters that do not eat much seed. An open dish or a mealworm feeder with entry holes is the right tool. Offer mealworms in a small dish at the same time each morning and bluebirds learn the schedule within days.
Which feeder types do bluebirds use?
| Feeder | Holds | Squirrels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mealworm feeder | Mealworms | Low interest | Dish or enclosed box with bluebird-sized entry holes that keep larger birds out. |
| Platform or tray feeder | Anything | None at all | Draws the widest range of species, including ground feeders. Needs a mesh floor for drainage and daily cleanup. |
Feeders bluebirds use, budget to premium
Prices move constantly; the button shows the current figure.
What seed do bluebirds like best?
| Food | Why | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Mealworms | Dried mealworms are easy to store; soaking them briefly in warm water makes them more appealing. Live worms work best for bluebirds. | Dried keep for months; live need refrigeration |
| Suet and suet dough | Rendered suet cakes are the standard; no-melt doughs blend fat with flour or cornmeal to hold shape in heat. | Raw suet goes rancid above about 70 F; use no-melt dough in summer |
| Sunflower hearts and chips | Costs more per pound but nothing is wasted as shell weight, and nothing sprouts under the feeder. The best choice over a patio or deck. | Spoils faster; buy what you use in a few weeks |
Food to buy for bluebirds
Prices move constantly; the button shows the current figure.
Where and when should you feed bluebirds?
- Height and spot: 4 to 5 feet, in open lawn.
- When: Spring through autumn in the North; year round in the South.
- Range: Eastern bluebird in the East, western and mountain bluebirds in the West.
- Feeding style: Comfortable feeding on the ground or a low tray, so clear spilled seed and keep cats away.
The same setup also brings cardinals, blue jays, house finches, wrens and mourning doves, which use the same feeder types.
Nesting: Bluebirds use nest boxes. See the Eastern Bluebird house dimensions: 5 x 5 inch floor, 1 1/2 in hole, mounted 4 to 6 ft up.
Feeders for other birds
Cardinals · Blue Jays · Goldfinches · House Finches · Chickadees · Titmice · Nuthatches · Woodpeckers · Wrens · Orioles · Hummingbirds · Mourning Doves · Juncos · Native Sparrows · Towhees · Grosbeaks · Robins · Mockingbirds · Pine Siskins · Purple Finches · Redpolls · Keeping starlings and grackles away · Red-bellied Woodpeckers · Downy Woodpeckers · Cedar Waxwings · Quail
Get the bluebirds feeding checklist
Feeder, seed, height and cleaning schedule for bluebirds on one printable page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What is the best bird feeder for bluebirds?
A mealworm feeder is the most reliable choice for bluebirds. Insect eaters that do not eat much seed. An open dish or a mealworm feeder with entry holes is the right tool. Pair it with mealworms, place it 4 to 5 feet, in open lawn, and keep it clean every two weeks. A second feeder type such as a platform or tray feeder widens the appeal without adding much work.
What do bluebirds eat at feeders?
In order of preference: mealworms, suet and suet dough and sunflower hearts and chips. Dried mealworms are easy to store; soaking them briefly in warm water makes them more appealing. Live worms work best for bluebirds. Offer one food per feeder rather than a mix, so birds are not flicking unwanted grains onto the ground to get at the one they want.
Where should I put a feeder for bluebirds?
4 to 5 feet, in open lawn. Keep it within 3 feet of a window or beyond 30 feet to avoid collisions, at least 10 feet from anything a squirrel can jump from, and 10 to 12 feet from dense shrubs so bluebirds can reach cover without cats being able to ambush them.
When do bluebirds come to feeders?
Spring through autumn in the North; year round in the South. Range: Eastern bluebird in the East, western and mountain bluebirds in the West. Keep feeders stocked and clean through the season bluebirds are present in your area, since a feeder that is empty for several days is often abandoned for a neighbour's.
Do bluebirds use birdhouses?
Yes. Bluebirds are cavity nesters and will use a nest box built to their dimensions: a 5 x 5 inch floor and a 1 1/2 in entrance, mounted 4 to 6 feet up. See the dedicated box page for placement.