Can Birds Eat Cranberries?

If you’re wondering if birds can eat cranberries, the answer is yes–but with a few caveats. Cranberries can be an excellent addition to your backyard buffet, but it’s essential to know how to offer them safely to birds. Let’s look at both fresh and dried cranberries for birds–and the type of cranberries that should not be fed to our avian friends.

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Fresh Cranberries: A Nutrient-Rich Treat

Fresh cranberries are an excellent source of vitamins C and E, antioxidants, and fiber, making them a healthy snack for birds.

Their natural tartness can be a hit or miss with some bird species, but generally, birds that eat berries will likely try cranberries.

Before offering fresh cranberries, make sure they are washed to remove any pesticides or residues. You can place them whole in a feeder or chop them up and scatter them around your garden to see which birds are attracted to them.

Dried Cranberries: Serve With Caution

Dried cranberries can also be offered to birds, but with a few important caveats.

Firstly, many commercially available dried cranberries are sweetened with sugar or artificial sweeteners, which are not healthy for birds.

If you choose to feed dried cranberries, look for unsweetened varieties that don’t contain added sugars or oils.

It’s also a good idea to soak them in water to rehydrate them before offering, making it easier for birds to eat and digest.

Cranberries to Avoid

Not all cranberry products are safe for birds. Here are some types of cranberries you should avoid feeding to birds:

Cranberries Cooked with Sugar or Other Sweeteners: Many cranberry sauces or cranberry dishes contain high amounts of sugar or sweeteners that are unhealthy for birds.
Chocolate-coated Cranberries: I enjoy eating chocolate-covered cranberries–but they’re just for me! These can’t be served at the bird feeder because birds cannot eat chocolate.
Artificially Flavored or Colored Cranberry Products: These can contain chemicals and additives that might be harmful to birds.

Which Birds Might Eat Cranberries?

Offering cranberries in your backyard is likely to attract a variety of bird species, particularly those that have a natural inclination towards fruits and berries in their diet.

While the specific types of birds that might visit can vary depending on your geographical location, here are some common backyard birds known to enjoy cranberries:

American Robins: Robins are famous for their love of worms, but they are also avid fruit eaters, enjoying berries including cranberries, especially in the colder months.
Northern Mockingbirds: Known for their wide range of vocal imitations, these birds are also versatile eaters, enjoying fruits and berries as a significant part of their diet.
Cedar Waxwings: These sleek, masked birds travel in flocks and are particularly fond of berries. They can often be seen feasting on cranberries among other types, sometimes even becoming slightly intoxicated if the berries have fermented.
Eastern Bluebirds: These small thrushes enjoy insects during the warmer months but switch to fruits and berries, such as cranberries, during the fall and winter.
Scarlet Tanagers: Primarily insect eaters, these strikingly colored birds also incorporate fruits and berries into their diet, particularly when migrating or during the off-season.
Hermit Thrushes: Less flashy than some other berry-eating birds, the Hermit Thrush still enjoys a good berry, cranberries included, especially in colder regions.
Waxwings: Both the Cedar and Bohemian Waxwing love berries and will often visit yards in flocks if there’s a good berry supply, cranberries being no exception.

Offering cranberries to your backyard birds can be a wonderful way to provide them with a nutritious snack and observe how different species interact with this tart fruit!