Spring Suet Feeders

In the cold months of a northern winter, suet fat provides nourishing food for woodpeckers, nuthatches, tree creepers and chickadees.

In December, three downy woodpeckers vie for a spot at the suet feeder.

During cold spring weather that delays insect appearances, suet will also attract some migrants that are wanting the high fat food as a substitute. Like last year, this spring has been cold with below temperatures and lack of insects. This has attracted birds to the suet feeder.

A yellow-rumped warbler feeds on suet. This bird species is the first warbler to arrive in Minnesota.

Red-wing blackbird - probably likes this suet because it has cracked corn in the mix.

Last year on Mother’s Day, there was a huge fallout of migrants and given that the weather was cold that spring, there was quite a bit of demand for the suet from birds I had never seen eat suet before. Here are some of the amazing photos from that day.

Baltimore Orioles!!

Male and Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak

A resident Hairy Woodpecker is having to wait for the Rose-breasted Grosbeak to clear. Notice how the male Grosbeak’s breeding feathers are still coming in.

The grosbeak and orioles will be arriving here in the coming days once we start getting clear nights and some constant winds out of the south.