Can birds eat raisins?
Yes. Soaked raisins are a good winter food for robins, bluebirds and mockingbirds that eat little seed.
The details
Fruit-eating birds that stay north in winter, such as American Robins, Eastern Bluebirds and Northern Mockingbirds, rarely touch sunflower seed. Raisins soaked overnight in water give them soft fruit when native berries run out.
Use plain raisins without sugar coating or sulfite preservatives where possible. Serve in a small dish; they also mix well with mealworms in a bluebird feeder.
How to offer it
- Soak overnight in warm water, drain, serve in a dish.
- Mix with dried mealworms for bluebirds.
Avoid
- Sugar-coated or chocolate-covered raisins
Birds that take it
Frequently asked
Can birds eat raisins?
Yes. Soaked raisins are a good winter food for robins, bluebirds and mockingbirds that eat little seed.
Should raisins be soaked?
Soaking makes them softer and easier for birds to swallow, especially in cold weather.
Related questions
Sources
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.