Do you still want to attract birds as the cold weather moves in? Want to know which birds are common in November (Midwest) and what they like to eat?
Here are the birds you’re most likely to attract and which types of food they prefer (from my experience in the Northern Midwest). See how many you can get to your feeders!
House Finch: This is the bird I see the largest number of in the winter next to the Juncos. They prefer my safflower and sunflower seeds. During the summer they eat thistle/niger seed, but have ignored it during winter months.
Chickadee, Black-Capped: Prefers safflower, sunflower seeds and peanut pieces in my yard, but will also eat suet and thistle/niger seed.
Dark-Eyed Junco: They prefer sunflower seeds, but are also frequent visitors to my safflower. They eat mostly from the ground and love the feeders I keep low to the ground (tray and tube). P.S. I don’t have pets or trouble with cats, so I have safe spots for near-ground feeders.
Nuthatch, White-Breasted: These little birds are hilarious! They love all the food I put out – suet, sunflower, safflower and peanuts. They’ll gladly come ’round for any or all of it.
Northern Cardinal: These beauties like sunflower and safflower seed the best. I’ve had the pleasure of watching the same pair in my yard for years.
Blue Jay: They prefer my tray feeder that has a combination of a suet ball, sunflower seed and peanuts (whole in the shell or pieces).
Woodpeckers, Downy (pictured)/Hairy/Red-Bellied: They definitely prefer the suet. I keep it in a cage feeder with bottom-access. They will also frequent my sunflower tube feeder.
The one thing ALL my birds love in November, and throughout the winter, is water. I keep a shallow, lipped tray on a bench all winter (no heater). They’ll eat the snow when it’s really cold and the water is frozen. But when we get a bit of sunshine and it melts, they love to get a drink.
What birds do you feed and see in November?
Attract 50 most wanted birds to your backyard.
Find out how to become a citizen scientist and count birds at your feeders this winter.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m pleased to say I get all of the above and many more here in southwestern Ohio. I feed them every day and they pretty much know when to expect me.
Hi Linda – Isn’t it fun getting to know your birds. They become like family friends. hehe I look forward to seeing them and feeding them daily. I get a kick out of the times the feeders are empty – they sit outside and “talk” to me until I fill them. Ah – the things we do for amusement. Enjoy!
We are in N. Central Florida. My pole will hold 6 feeders so I try to keep a variety. We have Cardinals, Titmouse, Chickadees & House finches regularly at the feeders. We also keep a couple dishes of seed for others or over flow. We have a lot a ground scavengers like morning doves. Last week we saw a pair of Baltimore Orioles for the first time. Living in the country we have all kinds of birds including a pair of hawks and a pair of owls that are seen regularly in the yard.
Oh, that’s cool Diane. Sounds like you have an amazing variety of birds. I would love to see owls in my yard, but I think it’s highly unlikely in town. We do see a Cooper’s hawk occasionally hanging around checking out the feeders. He’s stealthy – hardly know he’s there; never makes a sound. hehe
I would also love to see Titmouse – they look so cute. Have fun birdwatching. I just got my Bird Count kit from Project FeederWatch (Cornell Lab of Ornithology http://birdsandbloomsblog.com/2011/11/06/embrace-winter-and-count-birds/)–can’t wait to get started.