So, today I’m sharing birding tips on backyard birds that eat apples. It’s apple season! You can buy a few or you can buy them by the bushel. You can make pies, jelly or jam, cobblers or just snack on them. But, whatever you do pick up a few apples for your backyard birds. They love them too.
Apples are an excellent source of sugar. Sugar provides energy, which is essential during fall migration and winter months. Furthermore, apples help our backyard birds to maintain body heat during chilly weather. So, help our feather friends by providing some of those delicious apples.
Here’s a list of backyard birds that eat apples:
- Mockingbirds
- American Robin
- Blue Jay
- Northern Bobwhite
- Northern Cardinal
- Cedar Waxwing
- Downy Woodpecker
- Eastern bluebird
- Eastern Towhee
- Grosbeaks
- Gray catbird
- Hairy woodpecker
- House Finch
- Northern Mockingbird
- Orioles,
- Purple Finch
- Red-bellied woodpecker
- Red-headed woodpecker
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Crows
Place chucks or chopped apples in a small dish for backyard birds. You can also use a platform or hopper feeder too. Furthermore, you can cut the apples in half, remove the seeds, and just place the apples on the ground. If you can find a way to place an apple on a dead branch on a tree, that’s a great way to attract backyards to it. Additionally, I have chopped apples in my kitchen chopper and mixed it in with the birdseed during the winter months too.
So, check your area to see what birds from the list can be lured to your backyard. Please note, my list is not all inclusive. There may be birds in your zone that are not on my list, so do your research on your backyard birds. You may also like: How to Attract Backyard Birds to Your Bird Bath.
Hello,
Do the apple slices attract outdoor roaches, ants, flies or rats/mice? Thank you
Hi Diana. I’ve never had a problem with any rodents or insects. I only set the apples out during the spring and fall months, when the weather is chilly. Most birds can fend for themselves during the summer. Also, you can hang the apples from a tree limb, use a bird feeding dish etc. Hope this helps, and thanks for stopping by. Hope you will visit again.
Why remove the seeds?
Hi Frieda. The seeds are considered toxic, so they must be removed. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you will visit again.
Do squirrels monopolize the apple feast? I don’t mimd them until the birds can’t get near your offering.
Hi GG. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I don’t have problems with the squirrels eating the apples, but they do snatch the grapes from my feeders. I limit the amount of grapes that I set out or don’t set them out for a few days. That solves the problem temporarily, lol. They always come back.
Hi, thanks for the information, I’m in Brisbane Aust, I’m just starting with bird bath, feeder, & what to put in for making a nest. Cheers Karen
Hi Karen,
Thanks for stopping by. I’ll be sharing lots of information on birdwatching. I have numerous posts on the blog about birding, so check under Nature-Garden category. There’s more coming coming, so be sure to subscribe to my blog. Please stop by again. Hugs!
What bird is sitting on an apple in the picture above?
I put all kinds of fruits an veggies out of the birds (and squirrels).
Hi Anna. That is a female house finch. I’m so glad you stopped by. I hope you will visit again, fellow bird watcher/feeder.
Missing from your list is the crow. We watch these intelligent birds as they grab apples that have fallen from our trees. They fly the short distance to our birdbath and drop the apples in the water.
Then they chow down.
Can you believe ut? They actually WASH their food!
Hi Pat. I had no idea crows eat apples. I don’t get many to stop by feeders, but I will amend my post to add crows. My neighbor has an apple tree, and I have a huge bird bath. I’ll be looking for them. Please stop by again.
How interesting, I had no idea birds even ate apples. TFS!
Yes, my backyard birds love them. I chop them up during the winter and add them to my birdseed mixture. In the summer, I slice them or place a few slices in my kitchen slicer. I also feed my birds celery, green beans, fresh spinach, corn, lol. They love it. I’m going to be adding a few of my recipes on the blog shortly.