Quick Answer
Dried mealworms attract a wide variety of birds, including chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, woodpeckers, wrens, cardinals, blue jays, robins, and even hummingbirds. Mealworms are a protein-rich food source that many birds find appealing, especially during winter when natural food sources are scarce. Offering dried mealworms is an easy way to attract more birds to your yard.
What Birds Eat Dried Mealworms?
Here are some of the most common backyard birds attracted to dried mealworms:
Chickadees
Black-capped chickadees, Carolina chickadees, and other species readily eat mealworms. Chickadees are small acrobatic birds that frequent bird feeders.
Nuthatches
White-breasted nuthatches, red-breasted nuthatches, and pygmy nuthatches will come to mealworm offerings. Nuthatches frequently feed upside down on tree trunks and branches.
Titmice
Tufted titmice and bridled titmice relish mealworms. Like chickadees and nuthatches, titmice are small active foragers.
Woodpeckers
Downy woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, and other species will eat dried mealworms. They use their sharp beaks to pluck the worms out of feeders.
Wrens
Carolina wrens, house wrens, winter wrens, and Bewick’s wrens will come to mealworm feeders. Wrens are inquisitive birds that flit through vegetation looking for insects.
Cardinals
Northern cardinals and pyrrhuloxia relish mealworms. The bright red cardinals are a favorite sight at backyard feeders.
Blue Jays
Blue jays are omnivorous birds that will readily consume dried mealworms. Jays have strong black bills for cracking nuts and seeds.
Robins
American robins enjoy mealworms, especially in winter when their normal food sources are limited. Robins often feed on lawns looking for earthworms and other invertebrates.
Hummingbirds
While they subsist mostly on nectar, hummingbirds will occasionally pick mealworms out of feeders for extra protein.
Nutritional Value of Mealworms
Dried mealworms are an excellent source of essential nutrients for wild birds:
Nutrient | Per 100g Dried Mealworms |
---|---|
Protein | 53g |
Fat | 29g |
Fiber | 5g |
Mealworms contain more protein per gram than beef or chicken. The fat content consists largely of healthy unsaturated fats. Mealworms also contain vitamins and minerals like vitamin B12, riboflavin, phosphorus, copper, and zinc.
This nutrient profile makes mealworms an energy-dense food source perfect for small birds. Consuming dried mealworms helps birds meet their high metabolic demands, especially in cold weather.
When to Offer Dried Mealworms
Mealworms can be offered to backyard birds year-round. Here are some tips on when birds may be most attracted to mealworms:
- Winter – Natural food is limited in winter, so mealworms provide essential nutrients for overwintering birds.
- Spring Migration – Migrating birds need to refuel, so they will stop at feeders with mealworms.
- Nesting Season – Adult birds gather extra protein from mealworms to feed their chicks.
- Autumn – Birds stock up on calories from mealworms before migration or winter.
- Year-Round – Mealworms attract the most species when offered all year as a supplemental food source.
Ways to Offer Mealworms
There are several techniques for offering dried mealworms to backyard birds:
Mealworm Feeders
Specialty feeders designed for mealworms have trays or tubes that dispense the worms while keeping them dry. Position the feeder near vegetation or other cover, as birds will perch nearby waiting for a chance to dart in and grab a mealworm.
Platform Feeders
You can scatter mealworms across a flat platform feeder. Allow space for birds to perch nearby. Make sure the platform has drainage holes so rainwater does not soak the worms.
Ground Feeding
Sprinkle mealworms directly on the ground in an open area. Cover the worms lightly with leaves or mulch. Birds like juncos, sparrows, towhees, and thrashers will scratch through the cover looking for the mealworms.
Suet Feeders
Adding a handful of mealworms to suet cakes will increase their appeal. Woodpeckers especially like foraging for the worms in suet.
Conclusion
Offering dried mealworms is sure to increase bird activity and diversity in your backyard. Mealworms attract chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, jays, cardinals, wrens, and many other species. Birds relish the protein-rich nutrition of mealworms. Try offering mealworms during winter, migration periods, and nesting season when birds need extra energy. Use specialty mealworm feeders, platform feeders, or sprinkle on the ground to make the worms available to your backyard birds. With a little creativity, you can design a mealworm feeding strategy to attract a feast of birds.