🐦 Feeding the Birds in Autumn – A Scottish Garden Guide

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Oct 6
2 min read

As autumn settles over Scotland, our landscapes come alive with russet tones, misty mornings, and shorter days. While many animals prepare for winter, our feathered friends are doing the same — and this is where we can lend a helping hand.

Feeding the birds in autumn isn’t just a joy; it’s an important way to support local wildlife during a critical time of year.

🍁 Why Autumn Feeding Matters in Scotland

Here in Scotland, autumn can bring early frosts, strong winds, and wet weather. These conditions make natural food sources harder to find. Berries and insects become scarce, and the cold burns up a bird’s energy quickly.

By putting out food now, you’ll help garden birds build the fat reserves they need to survive winter — and you’ll encourage regular visitors to your feeders for the months ahead.

🥜 What to Feed Garden Birds in Autumn

Autumn is all about high-energy foods. Here’s what to offer:

Sunflower hearts or black-oil sunflower seeds – A favourite among tits, finches, and robins.
Fat balls and suet cakes – Packed with calories, perfect for colder climates.
Peanuts (unsalted, aflatoxin-free) – Great for woodpeckers, tits, and nuthatches.
Nyjer seed – Loved by goldfinches and siskins.
Chopped apple or berries – Especially appreciated by thrushes and blackbirds.
Mealworms (live or dried) – Ideal for robins and insect-eaters.

Peanuts 12.55kg

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Sunflower Hearts 12.55kg

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Wild Wings Dining Station with Bird Food

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Tip: Avoid bread – it offers little nutrition and can go mouldy quickly in our damp weather.

🧼 Tips for Bird Feeding in the Scottish Autumn

Clean feeders regularly
Wet, humid conditions can cause mold and disease. Clean feeders every 1–2 weeks with a mild disinfectant.
Use weatherproof feeders
Autumn rains are no joke in Scotland. Use covered feeders or trays with drainage holes.
Provide fresh water
Even when it’s raining, clean water sources are essential. Use a birdbath or shallow dish, and rinse it out every few days.
Don’t tidy too much
Leave seed heads on plants like teasel and thistle. Let fallen leaves gather — they shelter insects birds love to eat.
Keep cats away
Place feeders in open areas where birds can spot predators. Keep feeders away from fences and shrubs where cats can hide.

🕊️ Birds You Might See in a Scottish Garden This Autumn

Scotland is home to a wonderful variety of garden birds. In autumn, look out for:

Blue Tit – Cheeky, agile, and loves sunflower seeds.
Great Tit – The UK’s largest tit, often seen bossing smaller birds at feeders.
Coal Tit – Shyer, but common in wooded areas and gardens.
Robin – A familiar friend, often following gardeners around.
Blackbird – Forages under shrubs and leaf piles.
Chaffinch – Often feeds on the ground below feeders.
Goldfinch – Striking birds with a love for nyjer seed.
Siskin – More common in the Highlands, but increasingly seen in gardens.
Long-tailed Tit – Travels in small, excitable flocks.
Woodpecker – The Great Spotted Woodpecker may visit peanut feeders.