Best way to feed Blackbirds

While the Blackbird family are usually avoided when considered a nuisance backyard bird, this isn't the thinking by many others who will do all they can to feed Blackbirds.

Best way to feed Blackbirds is on the lawn, while throwing over live or dried mealworms, with seed mixes scattered in. Avoid use of bird feeders that must be hung, as Blackbirds are incompatible with these devices. You can put bird food in a dish or on an open platform bird feeder - just to sustain the bird feed longer.

While most people are often seen to avoid feeding Blackbirds in the yard, as they look at them as a nuisance - this may not be what others think as all wild birds must be fed.

Blackbirds can still be rarely found in your yard or there's an opportunity to feed them while distracting them as other bird feeders are put out for other birds only. In which we need to find the best way how to feed Blackbirds in a reliable way.

Good then because all you need to do to feed Blackbirds is throw any seed mixes, dried or live mealworms over the lawn.

Blackbirds are ground feeding birds thus would benefit them if what they want to eat, is actually on the ground where they normally forage.

Mealworms in dried or live varieties are a favorite with Blackbirds yet can sustains for longer if thrown over a damp lawn or if needed while in a drought.

Seeds can also be thrown over the lawn for Blackbirds while also lasting longer when placed in an area that isn't so kind, at it normally speeds up the germination process.

With that in mind the best way to to feed Blackbirds while sustaining the bird food for longer, is offering it all up in an heavy ceramic dish or on top of an open platform ground bird feeder [refer to featured image above].

It should be a ground level platform bird feeder to guarantee use while a platform bird feeder on a pole can be an option.

Feed Blackbirds on ground

As an official ground feeder, Blackbirds would appreciate you feeding them on the lawn as this bird species tend to avoid any bird feeder.

Blackbirds can be seen foraging on the ground as its spends its time walking over the lawn looking for insects. In the summer, Blackbirds like to eat beetles, caterpillars or snails - all of which can be found in a yard.

Best way to feed Blackbirds of any kind then is on the ground, as they're are ground feeding bird who spend their time foraging.

Don't put bird food in a bird feeder if it may closely imitate what they feed on in the wild, as Blackbirds are incompatible at bird feeders.

Open top platforms or putting bird food in a dish would be fine, with bird feeders made to hang must be avoided at all times.

What you can feed Blackbirds on the ground anytime of the year is dried or live mealworms, while prioritizing dried or live mealworms in summer.

Under bird feeders to clean up

As it happens Blackbirds can be seen to avoid eating up what you've left out for them, as they may be foraging in an area well away from where you threw the bird food.

Not a problem then as you'll know better next time, as food is thrown over their own patch.

To be sure Blackbirds do clean up what you offer them, there can be no better place than bird food left out under the bird feeders; hanging off a bird feeder pole or perhaps one that is hung on a tree branch.

Aim of the game is for ground feeding birds like Blackbirds to avoid attempting to land on a restricting bird feeder - where they can spend their time in the yard - probably competing with pigeons to eat up any spoils landing under the bird feeders.

Consequently, to feed Blackbirds while avoiding pigeons you can trap bird food under a cage to allow passage for Blackbird - yet the spacing between the bars would be too narrow for larger pigeons.

People do have trouble with a mess accumulating under bird feeders, thus this would be the solution as Blackbirds along with their ground eating birds can feed off spilled seeds or nuts.

With that in mind, if you want to keep Blackbirds off bird feeders if they are scaring off other birds - you only need to leave bird food on the ground as it would distract them.

Sustain food on platform feeder

While I highly recommend you feed Blackbirds on the lawn, as its here where birds are sure to bump into what you threw over the ground, let's also consider sustaining the bird food for longer.

Bird food over the ground can quickly spoil in any weather condition; who's to say then you can't offer Blackbirds their favorite bird food... when it can be on a feeder.

Not any bird feeder mind you as it must be an open top platform bird feeder on the ground. You can also consider a pole mounted platform bird feeder although a platform on the ground is far more accessible to all ground feeders.

Its simple to use as an often wide flat wooden platform or use of a wire tray mounted to a pole is accessible to small or large size birds - including those less able at bird feeders.

It can be used to hold dried or live mealworms while Blackbirds can be seen to perch around the edge, yet can be seen to walk all over it at the same time.

As Blackbirds can be fed on oats as they are grain eating birds, you can also supply a range of fruits on a platform where it must be avoided to use directly on the ground.

Blackbirds can also raid a suet feeder so rather than keeping Blackbirds off a suet feeder, you can continue to offer suet cakes as normal while laying the suet bird feeder on its side, sitting on top of the platform.

Never in bird feeder

Now that I've established Blackbirds are exclusive ground eating birds, its essential you feed birds on the ground, to be sure bird food remains accessible.

What is a little more difficult while offering dried or live mealworms to Blackbirds, is that they are also seen to forage higher up in shrubs or trees on occasion; thus Blackbirds can be seen to tackle a hanging bird feeder as a result.

If Blackbirds are raiding you more restricting bird feeders and you have no problems with that, then no big deal.

However if you intend to feed Blackbirds in hanging bird feeders only - like the hanging wire or tube style bird feeders - without witness Blackbirds attempting to use them in the first place, then I can tell you Blackbirds can't be tempted this way.

Best way to feed Blackbirds in your yard is on the ground only, then if Blackbirds can be seen to perch on a tube bird feeder or cling onto the suet cake feeder, then continue to feed them this way.

Blackbirds don't have the agility as most common backyard birds, thus most are seen to avoid feeders if they can, while only using a bird feeder if they really need to eat.

Feed Mealworms or Seeds

OK now I've established only feeding Blackbirds on your lawn while avoiding bird feeders unless its a platform bird feeder, let's see what you can feed them.

I have mentioned many times before now Blackbirds can be seen happily feeding on dried or live mealworms - as its closely related to all the insects they eat in the summer.

And as a seed eating bird Blackbirds can be fed on standard bird seed mixes that may contain sunflower seeds with nut meat - including grain which Blackbirds do like to eat in the wild.

Feed Blackbirds primarily on mealworms or seeds then while any fresh or dried fruits can be added on top of a platform bird feeder.

To keep it tidy I recommend added all this into a dish, even if the dish has to be put on top of the platform bird feeder.

Mealworms can go on the lawn to be specific and so to can seeds. Anything else can be seen to rapidly rot whereas seeds, dried or live mealworms can last longer.

To summarize

So how you'd feed Blackbirds the best way you can with great success, which is only offering Blackbirds what they eat while throwing it over the lawn.

Blackbirds can be seen to use bird feeders yet are primarily ground eating birds; thus can feed as they normally would while foraging on the ground - as they avoid going without if you so happen to put bird food in bird feeders only.

If knowing where Blackbirds occupy your lawn space, its advisable to only throw dried or live mealworms there - including seed mixes in the area they visit - to avoid bird food going unnoticed.

Blackbirds eat a lot of insects in the summer thus this would be the time to serve up dried or live mealworms, it really doesn't matter what kind.

To be sure to keep the space under your bird feeders clean while hanging up on a bird feeder pole or branch, then do be sure to throw food under bird feeders hanging above.

Prioritize sustaining bird food for longing while lifting any kind of bird food you so happen to feed them - as you put it on an open top platform ground bird feeder.

Similarly, all bird food can be placed in a ceramic bowl to prevent it germinating in wet or hot conditions on the ground.

Best way to feed Blackbirds then is on the ground, while providing seeds, dried or live mealworms over the lawn - all while offering fruits on a platform feeder or dish to preserve it for longer.

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