Whether you’re a backyard birdwatcher or would-be exterminator (or a bit of both), there are many reasons to attract bug-eating birds to your yard or garden. Not only is there a variety of beautiful bug eaters out there, but these birds eat the pests that bother you while relaxing outdoors, and those that eat up your plants in the spring and summer. Here’s how, and why, to attract bug-eating birds to your outdoor space.
The Benefits of Bug-Eating Birds
As mentioned, insect-eating birds are tiny pest control experts that will rid your yard of unwanted insects like mosquitoes, white flies, aphids, earwigs, slugs, beetles, and more. That’s instant garden beautification right there! No more drilled holes in your leaves, shriveled or dying foliage, or damaged plants. Plus, with the variety of bug-eating birds out there, you’ll see a wonderful range of colorful birds in your yard—perfect for bird watching!
Which Birds Eat Which Bugs?
| Birds* | Insects |
| Bluebirds | Mealworms, grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, moths, grubs, caterpillars, snails, ants, spiders, moths, termites, and mosquitoes |
| Cardinals | Beetles, grasshoppers, snails, crickets, leafhoppers, cicadas, katydids, flies, centipedes, spiders, and butterflies |
| Chickadees | Aphids, whitefly, mealworms, caterpillars, snails, earwigs, and spiders |
| European Starlings | Grasshoppers, crickets, bees, wasps, locusts, beetles, moths, and butterflies |
| Flycatchers | Flies, wasps, ants, caterpillars, spiders, grasshoppers, midges, and beetles |
| Nuthatches | Caterpillars, ants, beetles, treehoppers, mealworms, and earwigs |
| Orioles | Caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, mealworms, spiders, and wasps |
| Purple Martins | Mosquitoes, gnats, moths, and flies |
| Sparrows | Beetles, crickets, caterpillars, ants, bees, and spiders |
| Swallows | Moths, mosquitoes, beetles, grasshoppers, mayflies, dragonflies, and caddisflies |
| Titmice | Aphids, caterpillars, beetles, spiders, snails, wasps, stinkbugs, ants, wasps, and treehoppers |
| Towhees | Mealworms, caterpillars, beetles, moths, snails, spiders, millipedes, moths, and ants |
| Warblers | Caterpillars, aphids, whiteflies, grasshoppers, ants, bees, walking sticks, beetles, and spiders |
| Woodpeckers | Beetles, ants, caterpillars, flies, mosquitoes, bees, weevils, and mealworms |
| Wrens | Moths, flies, spiders, caterpillars, crickets, grasshoppers, mealworms, and beetles |
How to Attract Bug-Eating Birds to Your Yard or Garden
Provide Shelter
Shelter from inclement weather and a scorching sun is vital for birds, and they look for it when scoping out places to rest and rejuvenate. You can provide shelter in your yard or garden in a variety of ways. One way is to make your yard bird-friendly. Forget manicured hedges and perfectly trimmed trees—let them go a little wild! Thick, overgrown shrubs and dead tree branches are ideal nesting spots for many insect-eating birds. You can also hang birdhouses and nesting boxes on the side of your house, or mount them on a fence rail or post. To protect backyard birds, keep your garden or yard free of pesticides and other chemicals.
Feed the Birds
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to reason that the best way to attract insect-eating birds is to offer them insects! Fill your feeders with dried or live mealworms (a famous favorite of bluebirds, though other birds also love these protein-packed morsels). Many backyard birders like to place just a few worms on top or near their bird feeders to attract birds’ attention so they’ll find them. You can also offer insect-packed suet cakes that offer birds other high-energy nutrients, like fat and oil (both of which are needed for migrating and nesting). Consider placing two or more bird feeders in different areas in your yard; this is a great way to attract more—and a wider variety of—insect-eating birds. Once there, these birds will then check out your yard to see what other insects are on the menu.
Offer a Water Source
Bird are always looking for fresh water sources. By adding a water feature like a birdbath, fountain, or artificial pond to your yard, you’ll capture birds’ attention with the sound and movement of trickling water. This is especially true in the hot summer months, when birds are more apt to look for drinking and bathing water (and when you could use their help with the mosquitoes and other pests that are out). If you have a birdbath, keep the water shallow (3” or less) and place a branch or stone in the water so that birds can stand on it while drinking. Keep the birdbath or other water source in a shaded place in your yard and refresh the water regularly.
Get Seed Delivered, Join a Bird Walk, and More!
Did you know that Chirp delivers in the Big Bear Lake area for FREE? Order bird seed and other birding essentials from the comfort of your own home. Speaking of home, did you also know that we offer both live and virtual Bird Walks and Bird Talks? Join a guided bird-watching tour or expert bird talk—in person or online. See our schedule here. We look forward to birding with you!
