Diet

What do song sparrows eat?

Insects in summer; seeds in fall and winter.

New World sparrows (Passerellidae)Song SparrowMelospiza melodia

Spring and summer diet

  • Beetles, caterpillars and grasshoppers

Fall and winter diet

  • Weed and grass seeds

Best feeder foods

  • Millet
  • Hulled sunflower
  • Cracked corn

Song Sparrows feed at the edge of shrubbery and are among the first birds singing in late winter.

Which feeder works best for song sparrows →

Where song sparrows need winter food

Frequently asked

What do song sparrows eat?

Insects in summer; seeds in fall and winter.

What is the best food to feed song sparrows?

Millet, Hulled sunflower, Cracked corn.

What do song sparrows eat in winter?

Weed and grass seeds.

Sources

  1. Song Sparrow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Song Sparrow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Song Sparrow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

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.