What Is the Best Suet for Birds? A Complete Guide

We all take for granted the subtle role of birds in our biodiversity, how these feathered friends enhance our garden ecosystem, and give us a keen opportunity to observe nature at zero cost. With simple actions, we can enhance their presence and further attract them around us. And one of the simplest ways to better do that is by choosing the best suet for our birds. Suet for birds not only provide a high-energy and fat food source for these birds, but they also certify their sustenance throughout the year.  In this article, we give you an in-depth explanation of the best suet for your birds, what suet is made of, what to look for when buying suet, how you can smartly offer suet to birds without disturbing their habitat, and the best suet feeders for your birds.

The Best Suet Flavors for Birds

It does not matter the breeds of birds you have around you; a large number of them love suet, from woodpeckers to lovebirds, blue jays, and nuthatches. In fact, you'll often be surprised by the number of birds that are attracted to your suet combinations.  However, to ensure you always get the perfect suet flavors for birds, we recommend the following:

1. Birdseed and Suet Cake

While there are varied assortment of suet products available, homemade bird suet mixed with bird seeds happens to be the most affordable and sought-after option for a great source of energy for birds, most especially during the winter period. These energy-packed seeds and suits combinations can be made with the mixing of premium sunflowers, cut maize, naked oat, canary seeds, and peanut granules. 

2. Fruit and Nut Suet

Birds like finches, nuthatches, woodpeckers, wrens, and other nut-loving birds find this suet's flavor appealing to their taste. The reasons are not far-fetched considering the nutritious blend of dried fruits and nuts such as almonds, cashews, peanuts, raisins, pecans, crimped corn, and kernels. This high-energy suet's flavor, either homemade or sourced commercially, serves as a good fuel source for birds' high level of daily activities.

3. Insect Suet Block

Insect suet for birds is another high-energy, protein-packed suet flavor that is enjoyed by most garden birds, including chickadees, jays, bluebirds, starlings, and wrens. This suet flavor is usually made with a mixture of ground peanuts, cracked corns, and dehydrated insects like dried mealworms, and is designed to fit in all varieties of feeders, including log, ground, and mesh bird feeders. 

What Suet Attracts the Most Birds? 

Most people have been curious to ask which suet flavor attracts the most birds?. Actually, there is no one-size-fits-all selection for this.  However, one of the key variables that influences birds’ choice for their most desirable suet is the nutritional component.

A study published on BioMed Central outlines birds' skewed preferences for a seed-based meal. This is a clear indication of birds’ irresistible preference for bird seed suet that consist of sunflowers, peanuts, and others. 

Another thing that can also influence the birds’ preference for their most desirable suet is the weather and their breeding seasons. Most winter birds often need more provisions for energy to forage. Therefore, most of them often find insect-based protein-packed suet as the most desirable during this period. 

The following table provides you with an in-depth understanding of the top suet-eating species and the types of suet they are attracted to. 

Best Practices for Offering Suet for Birds

Suets attract a wide range of birds, most especially during the winter period. However, there is more to feeding suets than just putting them inside bird feeders. Therefore, the following are some of the best practices you should consider when offering suets for birds.

1. Identify Which Bird Species Enjoy Eating Suet

Observation is highly needed here; it's suboptimal to just offer suets without understanding which birds frequent your area, and also if these birds would love what you are offering. Therefore, you should make a checklist of the types of suet-loving birds like woodpecker, wren, American robin, and tally that with the suet flavor they love eating.

2. Consider Homemade Bird Suet

Making suets is all about being crafty with every mixing. You can make your own personal DIY bird suet that carries all your preferred recipes, tailored to satisfy the bird species in your area. To do this, consult any reputable available online DIY/homemade bird suet resources and experiment with various combinations. 

3. Invest in A Durable Suet Feeder

The effect of bird feeders on bird feeding experience can never be overestimated. As a matter of fact, a study by the National Library of Medicine establishes the correlation between clean and durable bird feeders and improved health of some birds. Therefore, investing in a durable suet bird feeder that comes in a sturdy metal or plastic model is essential to getting your birds to enjoy their suet.

When Should You Put Out Suet for Birds? 

You can put out suet any time of the year. But the most desirable period that birds to love suet the most is during the winter period. This is because of their need for calories and fat to survive the coldest period of the year.  But suet is not only for the harsh, cold winters. Our feathered friends also appreciate the vital nutrients that suet provides during spring when they are raising their young. Just remember to constantly keep watch on the suet during warmer months so as not to offer spoiled suet to the birds and also to avoid making a mess.

Final Thought

There is no doubt about the importance of suet in the well-being and healthy living of many bird species. Understanding the importance of suet for birds is not enough without keen knowledge about the specific suet flavor that each bird species loves. Among other things, you should always remember the importance of specialized bird feeders. They not only provide food but also allow you to monitor birds year-round.