The best bird feeder and seed for nuthatches
Climb head-first down trunks and cling anywhere; will feed upside down on a suet cage. A suet cage fixed to a tree trunk suits the way nuthatches forage.
Which feeder types do nuthatches use?
| Feeder | Holds | Squirrels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suet cage | Suet cakes | Squirrels chew suet | The simplest feeder there is. Hang on a trunk or pole. |
| Peanut mesh feeder | Shelled peanuts | Squirrels chew through soft mesh; use steel | Birds peck pieces through the mesh, which is safer for nestlings than whole kernels. |
| Tube feeder | Sunflower, hearts, mixes | Poor unless caged or weight-activated | The workhorse for small clinging birds. Metal ports resist squirrel chewing. |
| Hopper feeder | Sunflower, safflower, mixes | Poor unless weight-activated or baffled | A house-shaped reservoir with a wide ledge. The best all-round feeder for cardinals. |
Feeders nuthatches use, budget to premium
Prices move constantly; the button shows the current figure.
What seed do nuthatches like best?
| Food | Why | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Shelled peanuts | Raw or dry-roasted, never salted or flavoured. Use a mesh feeder so birds peck pieces rather than swallowing whole kernels in nesting season. | Keep dry and cool; mould is the risk |
| Black oil sunflower | High oil content and a thin shell make it the widest-appeal seed there is. Most feeder birds in most of North America eat it. | Keeps well for months in a sealed metal can |
| 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 nuthatches
Prices move constantly; the button shows the current figure.
Where and when should you feed nuthatches?
- Height and spot: 5 feet or on a tree trunk.
- When: Year round.
- Range: White-breasted across most of the US; red-breasted in conifers of the North and West.
- Feeding style: Feeds at hanging feeders; a pole with a baffle keeps squirrels off without bothering them.
The same setup also brings cardinals, blue jays, goldfinches, house finches and chickadees, which use the same feeder types.
Nesting: Nuthatches use nest boxes. See the White-breasted Nuthatch house dimensions: 4 x 4 inch floor, 1 3/8 in hole, mounted 5 to 20 ft up.
Feeders for other birds
Cardinals · Blue Jays · Goldfinches · House Finches · Chickadees · Titmice · Woodpeckers · Bluebirds · 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 nuthatches feeding checklist
Feeder, seed, height and cleaning schedule for nuthatches on one printable page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What is the best bird feeder for nuthatches?
A suet cage is the most reliable choice for nuthatches. Climb head-first down trunks and cling anywhere; will feed upside down on a suet cage. Pair it with suet and suet dough, place it 5 feet or on a tree trunk, and keep it clean every two weeks. A second feeder type such as a peanut mesh feeder widens the appeal without adding much work.
What do nuthatches eat at feeders?
In order of preference: suet and suet dough, shelled peanuts, black oil sunflower and sunflower hearts and chips. Rendered suet cakes are the standard; no-melt doughs blend fat with flour or cornmeal to hold shape in heat. 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 nuthatches?
5 feet or on a tree trunk. 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 nuthatches can reach cover without cats being able to ambush them.
When do nuthatches come to feeders?
Year round. Range: White-breasted across most of the US; red-breasted in conifers of the North and West. Keep feeders stocked and clean through the season nuthatches are present in your area, since a feeder that is empty for several days is often abandoned for a neighbour's.
Do nuthatches use birdhouses?
Yes. Nuthatches are cavity nesters and will use a nest box built to their dimensions: a 4 x 4 inch floor and a 1 3/8 in entrance, mounted 5 to 20 feet up. See the dedicated box page for placement.