How to attract Bluebirds to feeder

Unlike your genuine bird feeder birds, bluebirds are not your regular bird feeders, thus it can be made hard for bluebirds to be attracted to use such a device.

Bluebirds can be attracted to an open top platform bird feeder or a tray with a rim to easily perch on, whereas what is seen as restricting hanging bird feeders are way beyond a bluebirds ability at feeders. Bluebirds can be attracted by using dried or live mealworms, with berries or fruit used in open trays.

Hard as it can be to attract bluebirds to a bird feeder, if you go for an open top platform bird feeder that is on the ground, on a pole or hangs, then bluebirds will use it in time.

Bluebirds are primarily ground feeding birds in the wild, thus a ground bird feeder may see more action than one that is higher up.

Where you place a bluebird feeder is in a centralized location with no restrictions in place, with a platform bird feeder fully compatible with bluebirds.

What bird feed you use is limited to only dried mealworms or berries if you like, with bluebirds seen to feed on limited husk-free seeds. Add dried mealworms on to an open top bird feeder - with live mealworms really catching their eye.

Live mealworms can be thrown over the ground to match the bluebirds behavior in the wild, whilst dried mealworms can be thrown on top of the platform.

Sturdy, no movement bird feeders are key to success such as a pole mounted platform or a feeder mounted to a wall. Similarly, bluebirds can even be seen to feed on a window bird feeder, thus proves the point bluebirds prefer a stabilized bird feeder.

You may have to begin attracting bluebirds to a bird feeder by offering berries or dried mealworms on the ground, a tree branch or on backyard furniture - as only then can bluebirds be confident enough to begin using a bird feeder.

Hard to attract too feeder

What you absolutely must know about bluebirds is the species are not bonafide bird feeder birds, in fact bluebirds can be seen more feeding off bird feeders, rather than trying tackle a difficult one.

Its not for trying anyway, as few bluebirds may give the compact, complex hanging bird feeders ago, however rare that may be.

While its hard to attract bluebirds to feeders with restrictions, even a hanging mealworm feeder can see more movement - in which can make it hard for bluebirds to feed on.

With that in mind its best to use a solid, static bird feeder on the ground.

Bluebirds do eat from bird feeders but as the species eat limited feed on any kind of bird feeder in the yard - what bluebirds do eat which is part of their diet in the wild, won't be available on bird feeders.

For your information, bluebirds are exclusive insect and berries eaters, with berries prioritized more in winter.

Now as you can imagine, your standard bird feeder for seed mixes, peanuts or suet isn't going to cut it with bluebirds. Although I will say bluebirds can be seen eating off a suet block, or indeed mixed seeds in rare circumstances,

Fruit or insect filled suet cakes or fat balls might tempt bluebirds to feed off it, though you can't really expect much success with bluebirds of the Eastern, Mountain or Western to eat it, or even touch it.

Well then, what you can only feed bluebirds at bird feeders will only be live or dried mealworms - or any kind of berries laid out on a platform feeder.

Setup large, wide bird feeders

Now that I've established bluebirds are not really bird feeder birds, I can tell you bluebirds will of course use certain types of bird feeders.

What kind of bird feeders bluebirds like are the ones that are unobstructed, thus an open top platform bird feeder or a mounted dish tray will be accessible to bluebirds, and therefore accessible to less able bird feeder birds such as robins.

Now then what you can use is a pole mounted platform bird feeder sitting on top of a stand, with a flat, wooden table sitting on top with bluebirds favorite foods placed on it.

As dried or live mealworms, including all kinds of fruit which can't be inserted inside of a bird feeder - with an open top platform bird feeder they tick the boxes.

Stabilization is key to attracting bluebirds to use bird feeders, thus a platform feeder or better still, a platform ground feeder is just what they feel comfortable using.

Similar, hanging platform bird feeders can be used by bluebirds, but if its seen to swing or move, it simply won't be touched.

Attracting bluebirds to your yard is one thing, to get them to feed off any kind of bird feeder is difficult, due to bluebirds being incompatible at feeders, whereas their natural feeding behavior is linked to foraging on the ground only.

Now that you know a stable platform bird feeder will work with bluebirds, you can also try a bird feeder dish mounted to a bird feeding station pole.

Because stabilized, open top bird feeders are compatible with bluebirds, you may even be able to attract bluebirds to a window feeder.

Bluebird ground eating bird

What is a vital piece of information to know about bluebirds is that the species are primarily ground feeding birds, thus are less likely to feed on a restricting feeder.

Its the same with any ground eating birds really, including robins or wrens; foraging on the ground is ingrained in their brain - thus the idea of foraging off a bird feeder can be seen to be a waste of time.

With that, bluebirds are not really used to using such a complicated device, swaying around in the wind above, and therefore bluebirds don't have the experience to use such a thing.

What you do feed bluebirds can be dried or live mealworms, including berries, if you only throw them over the lawn, as its guaranteed to be accessible to all.

Bird feeders can be used, and should be used to keep bird food more organized and tidy in the yard - whereas bird feed on the ground will soon be eaten up over a far more restricting, self-contained hanging bird feeder.

Bluebirds have got to eat in winter too, especially more fruits at this time, so a bird feeder won't be used for any species to hold such a thing, with the exception of platform feeder.

Come winter, its up to you to replace bluebirds wild bird feed now possibly buried under a foot of snow during winter, as their natural feeding grounds become depleted. With insects or fruits covered in snow, there's no possible way bluebirds can access it.

Fruits need to be added to a surface in the yard with snow brushed off first thing, while live or dried mealworms can be thrown on top of snow.

Prioritize Dried Mealworms in feeder

What bluebirds primarily eat in the wild is insects and berries, with insects that includes crickets, grasshoppers, beetles and many more.

Now you are not going to be able to feed bluebirds such thing in bird food form, yet there is a simple alternative to wild insects that are widely available to you.

What bluebirds like more than anything else is dried mealworms, or live ones.

Actually I will say bluebirds can really be attracted to live, wiggling mealworms more as they are seen on the lawn or deck; whereas dried mealworms placed within an open top platform feeder will attract bluebirds to them still.

Prioritize your best bluebird compatible mealworm feeder with an open to the elements, platform or tray that hangs or is mounted.

No such thing as a bluebird dried mealworm feeder, it only has to be a platform bird feeder on a pole, that hangs or is a ground platform feeder.

What else works great to add dried or live mealworms in, while remaining compatible with a bluebirds limited ability on bird feeders - is a bird feeder tray or dish placed on a surface or is mounted to a pole.

Real proof a simple dish or tray for dried mealworms is all you need to see bluebirds come to this kind of feeder; is a lightweight tray that is stuck to a window, of which bluebirds are regularly photographed feeding out of.

Bluebirds won't use restricting bird feeders for seeds, peanuts or suet of any kind, but anything they like in an open tray or platform, bluebirds will perch around the rim to feed.

Feed outside of bird feeder

So bluebirds are not a real big fan of bird feeders then even though they can be seen once in a while to use them, even the most restricting feeders in use that is.

And as bluebirds would rather miss a bird feeder all together to feed, you may have no choice than to feed birds out of a bird feeder.

For now I might add, because how you attract bluebirds to feeders will often begin be attracting them to the yard at first - only then can bluebirds be encourage to use a bird feeder that is made within their limited ability.

Bluebirds are ground feeding birds thus this is where live or dried mealworms can be thrown on the ground, preferably on the lawn.

Fruit in dried form or fresh mustn't be thrown on the ground as it will rapidly rot in such conditions, thus a higher surface in the yard must be used, with primarily a platform bird feeder fitting the bill.

Bird feeders that are open to the elements can be used later, while for now you just need to focus on getting bluebirds used to your backyard environment.

Bluebirds can be attracted to eating dried mealworms with no problems at all if you do already receive visits by bluebirds; its just a matter of making sure mealworms or fruits remains accessible at all times, to avoid a missed opportunity.

To summarize up

How to attract bluebirds to a bird feeder is if this feeder in use is open to the elements, meaning its not a complex, restricting seed or nut type feeder that is beyond a bluebirds ability.

You see bluebirds find it hard to use a hanging bird feeder as the species are primarily ground eating birds; thus are rarely seen foraging at an elevated point, much like where a bird feeder is located.

What you can use to attract bluebirds to a feeder is by using an open top platform or bird feeder tray that hangs, can be mounted or is stuck on top of a pole.

Bluebirds can feed off a platform bird feeder or dish as they perch around the rim to feed on their favorites, which is similar to what they eat in the wild.

What you place on top of a platform bird feeder or in a bird feeder tray of any kind is primarily dried or live mealworms - as bluebirds eat more insects in the wild all year than anything else that is part of their diet.

Fruits which include berries or dried fruits if you like can be tried, with winter being the time to prioritize fruits along with their favorite live or dried mealworms.

Feeders that will attract bluebirds must be unimpeded, open to the elements with dried mealworms clearly accessible to feed with ease. Prioritize dried mealworms in feeders, with an option to throw live mealworms over the ground.

Bluebirds are ground eating birds after all, so can appreciate bird feed on the lawn.

How you may have to encourage bluebirds to use a bird feeder may begin outside of bird feeder; such as on the ground or on a flat surface within the yard - only then can bluebirds be encouraged to use a bird feeder in due course.

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