Do Birds Eat Ants?

Ants are a part of the diet for various bird species. While not all birds will eat ants, for those that do, ants provide essential nutrients and encourage natural foraging behaviors. Encouraging a healthy ant population in your garden can attract a diverse range of birds, contributing to the ecological balance of your backyard habitat. Let’s look at which birds might eat ants around your bird feeder!

Birds That Commonly Eat Ants

Ants provide birds with proteins and fats, which are crucial, especially during breeding and molting seasons. Many bird species are insectivorous, relying heavily on insects for protein and other nutrients. Several bird species are known to include ants in their diet:

Woodpeckers: These birds often eat ants found on tree trunks or in crevices in the bark.
Wrens: Small and agile, wrens will consume ants among other insects as part of their diet.
Robins: Known for their ground foraging behavior, robins eat a variety of insects, including ants.
Starlings: These birds are opportunistic feeders and will consume ants when they are available.

Offering Ants to Birds in Backyard Feeders

Whether you want to attract ants to your birdfeeding area–or you’d just like the birds to eat the ones that have already decided to call your yard home–there are several things you can do to make the ants attractive to birds and safe to eat!

Avoid Pesticides: To ensure a safe food source for birds, avoid using pesticides in areas where ants and other insects are present.
Natural Habitat: Create a natural habitat that is friendly to ants. This includes having areas with loose soil, leaf litter, and decaying wood. Having a woodpile or a rock garden can provide nesting sites for ants
Water Sources: Ants need moisture, so providing a consistent water source can attract them. This can be as simple as a shallow dish of water or a dripping water feature–which will also be really popular with the birds.
Plant Native Species: Planting native plants can attract native ants and other insects, providing a natural food source for birds.
Leave Some Food Out: Occasionally, leave out small bits of foods that attract ants, like pieces of fruit or sugary substances. Place these away from your home and bird feeders to avoid attracting ants to unwanted areas.