What bird food do Blackbirds like?

Wednesday, 7th August 2019

We all know the English nursery rhyme “Sing a Song of Sixpence” which includes the unfortunate mention of 'Four and twenty Blackbirds, baked in a pie,' - we like to hope this was sung more for the entertainment of diners long, long ago as we don’t like to think of Blackbirds being put anywhere near pastry.

So, let's turn the tables and reveal what they like best from the Haith's wild bird food kitchen.

But first, a little more about our good friend the Blackbird.

The Blackbird is the most numerous breeding bird in the UK with around six million pairs and can usually be found around towns, parks, gardens, woods – in fact just about anywhere due to its adaptability.

Who doesn’t enjoy the song of the Blackbird? Don’t we all agree that it’s amongst the most beautiful and best-loved of any British bird, listen out for it just after a rain shower as this is when it is most likely to sing.

English Blackbirds rarely move any distance from where they are hatched and it takes between 11 and 14 days to make a nest (most of the nest-building work is typically done by the female).

When it comes to what bird food Blackbirds consume, they're spoilt for choice with Haith's wild bird foods because we have several mixes that are suitable for Blackbirds.

Songster Food* is one of Haith’s original wild bird food mixes, formulated back in the 1960s. It was created for ground-feeding birds (Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, and other thrushes) as they were overlooked at bird tables and possibly still are today.

Another favourite, Birdcake Mix is a perfect seed mix for creating homemade bird table treats. All you have to do is add suet or lard and mold the wet mix into yummy size treats.

Equally, Suet Pellets are a sure winner for attracting Blackbirds and come in a range of different flavours. Just scatter them on the ground or a bird table and you will be providing high-quality suet that's simple to feed and easy for the Blackbird to consume and top up on high-calorie offerings.

Haith's Soft foods are extra special - perhaps the ideal food for ground feeders; Softbill Food has been a best seller for decades. Made to our original 1950s recipe, this is a high-protein bird food containing minerals and vitamins blended with Bakers' Honey, vegetable oils and a rich nutritional soft food. It requires no mixing and should be stored in a cool dry place until you're ready to sprinkle a little soft food magic onto the bird table.