What to Put in Your Bird Feeder in Spring: A Canadian Guide

Yes — and spring is actually one of the most important times to keep feeders stocked. Here's why:

• Migrating birds arrive hungry after long flights and need reliable food fast
• Resident birds like chickadees and nuthatches are raising young and burning more energy than any other time of year
• Natural food — insects, berries, and seeds — is not yet abundant in April and early May

The idea that you should stop feeding birds in spring is a myth. Feeders don't make birds dependent or stop them from foraging naturally. They simply provide a reliable backup that birds use when they need it.

Black oil sunflower seed remains the single best all-season choice for Canadian backyards. It attracts cardinals, chickadees, Blue Jays, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and finches — all in one feeder. Keep it stocked through spring without changing anything.

Peanuts are a strong spring addition. Blue Jays go heavy on peanuts in spring as they begin nesting, and nuthatches and woodpeckers love them year-round. Use unsalted peanuts only — salted peanuts are harmful to birds.

What to reduce: Cheap mixed seed blends that contain milo, wheat, or red millet. These are filler seeds that most birds toss aside, and on the ground they attract pests. In spring when yards are wetter, they also go mouldy faster.

This is the most important spring adjustment most Canadian bird feeders miss.

Suet can go rancid in warm weather. Once temperatures consistently reach 10°C and above — typically April in most of Canada — suet can spoil within days, which is harmful to birds.

Two options:

• Only put out as much suet as birds eat in 2–3 days and replace it frequently as temperatures rise
• Store unused suet cakes in the fridge or freezer between refills to keep them fresh longer

Woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees all rely on suet heavily in spring when they are feeding nestlings. It's worth keeping it available — just make sure it stays fresh.

Signs suet has gone bad: soft, oily texture, rancid smell, or dark discolouration. Replace it immediately.

Black-capped Chickadees are Canada's most reliable feeder bird — they visit over 90% of Ontario feeders all winter. In spring, something shifts: you may notice them visiting less frequently.

This is normal. In spring and early summer, chickadees switch heavily to insects — especially caterpillars — to feed their nestlings. A chickadee parent can catch hundreds of caterpillars a day during nesting season. Feeders become less critical when natural insect food is abundant.

Keep offering: black oil sunflower seed and peanuts. Chickadees will still visit, especially in the early morning. By midsummer you may see family groups — parents with newly fledged young — learning to use the feeder together.

Blue Jays are year-round residents across most of Canada. In spring they shift from heavy caching behaviour (burying acorns and seeds all fall and winter) toward nesting and raising young.

Spring is when Blue Jays incorporate more insects into their diet, but they remain reliable feeder visitors — especially for peanuts. Once a Jay finds a consistent peanut source, it returns several times a day.

One spring note: Blue Jays are known to investigate other birds' nests in spring. If you have robins or cardinals nesting nearby, temporarily relocating feeders away from the nesting area can reduce Jay pressure on those nests.

Best spring offerings for Blue Jays:

• Peanut coil feeder with unsalted whole peanuts
• Black oil sunflower seed in a sturdy tube feeder

Northern Cardinals stay in Canada year-round and become noticeably more active in spring. Many backyard birders notice cardinals most between 10 a.m. and noon — this timing lines up with warming temperatures and calmer yard conditions.

In spring, male cardinals are at their most vivid red as they establish territory and attract mates. If you want to see them reliably, the setup is simple: black oil sunflower seed or safflower seed in a stable, wide-perch feeder placed near shrubs or dense cover.

Cardinal spring tip: If squirrels are becoming more active as the weather warms, safflower seed is your best option. Most squirrels leave it alone, while cardinals eat it readily.

• Squirrel Buster Plus — wide perches, squirrel-resistant
• Armstrong Safflower Seed

Spring is woodpecker season in Canadian backyards. If you hear rapid tapping on your house, chimney, or metal gutters at dawn, that's a woodpecker drumming to establish territory — a normal spring behaviour that typically passes within a few weeks.

Downy Woodpeckers are among the most common feeder birds in Canada, visiting the vast majority of Canadian backyards in winter and continuing into spring.

In spring, woodpeckers are feeding nestlings and burning significant energy. Suet is the most important thing you can offer them. Keep your suet feeder stocked and replace it frequently as temperatures warm.

• Suet cage feeder with weather guard
• Armstrong Suet Variety 3-Pack — store extras in the fridge between refills

This is the most asked spring bird feeding question in Canada — and the timing matters.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Eastern Canada — Ontario, Quebec, Maritime provinces): expect first arrivals in early to mid-May. A good rule: have your feeder out by May 1.

Rufous Hummingbirds (British Columbia and western Canada): arrive earlier — mid-March on the coast, May in the interior.

The nectar recipe: 1 part plain white sugar to 4 parts water. Boil the water, dissolve the sugar, let it cool completely before filling the feeder. No red dye — it is unnecessary and potentially harmful. No honey or artificial sweeteners.

Spring maintenance rule: in cool spring weather, change nectar every 5–7 days. Once temperatures consistently hit 20°C+, change it every 2–3 days — warm weather causes nectar to ferment quickly, which can harm hummingbirds.

Placement: hang the feeder near flowering plants or shrubs, within 3 metres of cover. Hummingbirds like to perch between feeding bouts. If you have multiple hummingbirds, place feeders out of sight of each other — one dominant bird will attempt to guard a single feeder.

Hummingbird feeders coming soon — contact us to be notified when they're available.

Spring is feeder cleaning season. After a winter of heavy use, feeders accumulate shell debris, mold, and bacteria that can harm birds — especially as temperatures rise and moisture increases.

Spring cleaning checklist:

• Disassemble all feeders and scrub with hot water and a stiff brush
• Check for cracks or damage where bacteria can hide
• Clear the ground under feeders of accumulated shell debris — wet debris molds quickly in spring
• Clean birdbaths every 2–3 days once temperatures rise above 10°C
• Inspect suet feeders for rancid residue before refilling

Clean feeders attract more birds and keep your yard visits consistent through the season.

Year-round feeders to keep stocked:

• Black oil sunflower seed — the one seed that does everything
• Unsalted peanuts via a peanut coil feeder for Blue Jays and nuthatches
• Suet cakes in a weather-guard suet feeder — store extras in the fridge, replace every 2–3 days as temperatures rise

Add in May: hummingbird feeder with fresh 1:4 sugar water nectar.

Optional: safflower seed if squirrels are raiding your cardinal feeder.

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Should I stop feeding birds in spring?
No. Spring is one of the most important times to keep feeders stocked. Migrating birds arrive hungry, and resident birds are raising young and need high-energy food while natural insects and seeds are still scarce.

When should I put out my hummingbird feeder in Ontario?
Have it out by May 1. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds typically arrive in Ontario between early and mid-May.

Does suet go bad in warm weather?
Yes. Suet can go rancid when temperatures consistently exceed 10°C. Replace it every 2–3 days in spring, and store unused suet cakes in the fridge or freezer to keep them fresh longer.

Why are there fewer chickadees at my feeder in spring?
Chickadees switch to insects in spring to feed their nestlings. This is normal behaviour — they will return to feeders regularly by late summer with their newly fledged young.

What is the best spring bird feeder setup for Canada?
Black oil sunflower seed in a sturdy tube feeder, peanuts in a coil feeder, fresh suet replaced regularly in a cage feeder, and a hummingbird feeder ready for May. That covers the five most common Canadian backyard birds through spring.