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Feeding birds in autumn

Written by Astrid | October 1, 2026

Autumn is a time of change for garden birds. The days become shorter, temperatures fall and the availability of food in nature changes. Birds therefore spend a large part of the day searching for enough food. At the same time, resident birds prepare for the colder months and some migratory birds embark on their long journey to warmer regions. But what do birds naturally eat in autumn and when is a good time to provide supplementary food?

Garden birds normally find much of their food themselves. Depending on the species, this consists of insects, larvae, worms, seeds, nuts, fruit and berries. Berries in particular are an important food source for various birds during autumn. As autumn progresses, insects become scarcer and more natural food sources begin to run out. Supplementary feeding is then a useful addition to what birds find themselves.

Why is feeding garden birds in autumn important?

In autumn, birds prepare for the colder months. They use energy to maintain their body temperature and try to build up sufficient reserves for winter. At the same time, the days become increasingly shorter, leaving less time to search for food. Many garden birds therefore look for places where food can regularly be found during autumn.

By starting to feed birds in autumn, you provide them with an additional food source alongside what they find themselves in nature. They can also begin to recognise your garden as a place where food is regularly available.

Food for garden birds

What do birds eat in autumn?

Not every bird has the same diet. Blackbirds like to search the ground for earthworms and insects and also eat fruit and berries. Tits eat insects, seeds and nuts, among other things, while finches and sparrows eat plenty of seeds. Some bird species may also enjoy fallen fruit.

A natural, bird-friendly garden therefore has plenty to offer in autumn. Faded plants still contain seeds, shrubs bear their last berries and insects and other small invertebrates can be found among fallen leaves. Try not to tidy your garden too thoroughly in autumn. This leaves more natural food available for the birds.

When should you feed birds in autumn?

Birds can be fed throughout the year. You therefore do not need to wait for the first night frost. In autumn, you can start by offering small amounts of food and adjust these according to the circumstances. At the beginning of autumn, there is usually still plenty of natural food available. As temperatures fall and the natural supply decreases, you can increase the amount of food available at the feeding areas. High-energy food such as unsalted peanuts and fat-based products is a useful addition at this time.

It is better to provide a suitable amount regularly than to offer a large amount all at once. This reduces the risk of food being left for too long, becoming wet or spoiling.

What bird food should you provide in autumn?

By offering different types of bird food, you can make your feeding area attractive to several bird species. In autumn, you can choose from options such as:

Seeds and kernels: suitable for sparrows, finches and tits, among other birds
Sunflower seeds: a high-energy option eaten by many garden birds
Unsalted peanuts: rich in fat and therefore suitable as a high-energy supplement
Fat balls and fat-based products: particularly useful when temperatures fall further
Peanut butter for birds: rich in energy; always use peanut butter developed specifically for birds
Berries and fruit: correspond to the food that various birds naturally search for in autumn

Would you like to learn more about what you can offer birds during the different seasons? Read our blog about Feeding garden birds.

Can you feed bread to birds?

Pieces or crumbs of bread are often given to garden birds, but bread is not the best choice. It fills the stomach while containing relatively few nutrients that are genuinely useful to birds. Bread also often contains salt, which is not good for birds in larger quantities. A small amount of bread occasionally will not usually cause harm, but do not make it a daily habit. Would you like to provide supplementary food for birds in autumn? Choose the nutritious alternatives discussed above instead. They provide more energy and nutrients, which birds can make good use of during the colder months.

How to offer bird food safely

It is not only important what you feed birds, but also how and where you offer it. Birds search for food in different ways. Tits, for example, like to use hanging feeders, while blackbirds and other ground-feeding birds prefer to search for their food closer to the ground. You can therefore combine different feeding areas, such as a hanging feeder, feeding house and bird table. Place these in a quiet, open location where birds can spot danger in good time. Shrubs, hedges or trees nearby provide a safe place for them to retreat.

Hygiene is important. Pathogens can spread more easily in places where many birds gather. Regularly remove leftover food and droppings, clean food containers and bird tables thoroughly and replace any food that has become wet, mouldy or dirty.

View our range of supplies for garden birds and choose a suitable feeding area for the birds in your garden.

Water for birds during cold weather

Birds also need water in autumn and winter. They use it not only for drinking but also for caring for their feathers. Place a shallow dish of clean water in a safe location and replace the water regularly. The water may naturally freeze during cold nights. Check the water dish daily and replace frozen water with fresh water. Do not add salt, antifreeze or other substances to prevent freezing.

Birds can also bathe when the weather is cold. Their plumage protects them against the cold. Make sure that the dish is not so deep that small birds have difficulty getting out.

Make your garden attractive to birds
Supplementary feeding is only one way to help birds in autumn. A garden with sufficient natural food and shelter has much more to offer them.
Leave some faded flowers containing seeds in place
Choose shrubs and plants that produce berries or seeds
Leave fallen leaves in some areas; insects and other small creatures live among them
Provide shrubs, hedges and trees as places to shelter and rest
Avoid using pesticides against insects where possible
Consider installing nest boxes. Outside the breeding season, some birds may use these as sheltered resting places

This makes your garden not only a feeding area but also an environment in which birds can continue to search for food themselves and find shelter.

Which birds can you see in your garden in autumn?

You can encounter familiar garden birds such as house sparrows, great tits, blue tits and blackbirds throughout the year, while robins often appear a little more frequently in autumn. Autumn is also an important migration season. Some birds leave for the south, while others arrive in the Netherlands from more northerly regions to spend the winter or stop temporarily during their migration. The birds that ultimately visit your garden and feeding area depend on the surroundings, the natural food supply and the food you provide. By offering different types of food in several places, you can make your garden attractive to various bird species.

Would you like to learn more about different garden animals, such as birds, hedgehogs and squirrels? Discover here which species there are and how they live.

Feeding birds in autumn: good preparation for winter

Autumn is the ideal time to make your garden attractive to garden birds. Leave as many natural food sources in place as possible, supplement them with suitable bird food and provide fresh water, clean feeding areas and sufficient shelter. This gives birds a pleasant place to find food and helps them prepare for the colder winter months.

Read our other blogs

How do you attract more birds to your garden?

Attracting more birds to your garden starts with providing the right conditions. Birds look for places where there is enough food, water and peace. When a garden does not provide this, birds are less likely to stay. By responding to what birds need, you can attract more birds to your garden and create a wide variety of bird species. This makes your garden an attractive place for different garden birds.

The top 10 garden birds

In gardens, a number of bird species are spotted clearly more often than other species. These birds are among the most common garden birds. Every year, garden birds are counted to gain insight into how birds use gardens. With this information, birds can be better protected and supported. Based on these counts, we have listed the most popular species. In this blog, you can read which garden birds these are and how to recognise them.

Feeding garden birds: What to feed and when?

It is recommended to feed garden birds all year round. Birds need energy throughout the entire year. In winter, they use energy to keep themselves warm; in spring, they need it for nesting, laying eggs, and raising their young. In autumn, they build up reserves to prepare for the winter. Birds stop eating once they are full. It is also a myth that birds forget how to find food for themselves.

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About the author

Astrid, veterinary nurse at Vetsend

Astrid is a veterinary nurse and works at Medpets as a content specialist, where she uses her many years of hands-on experience to provide pet owners with clear and reliable information. She specializes in rabbit behaviour and enjoys contributing ideas for innovative products and blog posts that meet the needs of both pets and their owners.