Can birds eat peanut butter?
Yes. Plain peanut butter is safe and high in fat. Choose one with no added salt, sugar or xylitol, and mix it with oats or cornmeal so it isn't sticky.
The details
Peanut butter is a favorite of woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice and wrens. The old warning that it chokes birds has little evidence behind it, but cutting it with oats, cornmeal or suet makes it crumbly and easier to eat.
Read the label. Many brands add salt and sugar, and some 'natural' or reduced-sugar brands add xylitol, which is dangerous to dogs that may raid the feeder. Store-bought peanut butter suet is an easy alternative.
Peanuts are prone to aflatoxin mold; buy fresh jars and do not leave smeared peanut butter out for weeks in wet weather.
How to offer it
- Mix 1 part peanut butter with 2 parts cornmeal or oats; press into a log feeder or pine cone.
- Blend into homemade suet.
Avoid
- Salted or sweetened brands
- Any product with xylitol
- Old, rancid jars
Birds that take it
Frequently asked
Can birds eat peanut butter?
Yes. Plain peanut butter is safe and high in fat. Choose one with no added salt, sugar or xylitol, and mix it with oats or cornmeal so it isn't sticky.
Does peanut butter choke birds?
There is no good evidence of it, but mixing it with cornmeal or oats removes the worry.
Is crunchy or smooth better?
Either works once mixed with a dry binder.
Related questions
Sources
- Project FeederWatch (Cornell Lab): Common Feeder Foods
- National Audubon Society: Bird-friendly food and feeding
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.