Experts explain if peanut butter is safe for birds to eat at feeders. Plus learn which birds eat peanut butter.
Can Birds Eat Peanut Butter?
Updated on Mar. 12, 2025
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Is Peanut Butter Safe for Birds to Eat?
“I’ve heard that peanut butter by itself can be harmful to birds because it’s so thick and sticky. Is that a myth?” asks Birds & Blooms reader Celeste Pappas of Silver Spring, Maryland.
Birding experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman say, “Peanut butter is a good high-fat, high-protein food, and as long as you offer it with proper care, it’s safe to feed to wild birds. Offer it in a special peanut butter feeder or simply smear it on tree bark. Just be aware that it may stain that area on some trees. If you offer it in a feeder, be sure to keep the feeder clean and free from mold. In summer or in warmer climates, put peanut butter out in smaller quantities to keep it from turning rancid.”
Did you know: It’s a myth that birds will choke on peanut butter. This protein-packed and fat-filled bird treat gets gobbled up year-round.
Which is best? We settle the debate of peanuts in the shell vs. shelled peanuts for birds.
What Type of Peanut Butter Is Best for Birds?
“What type of peanut butter should I feed to birds?” asks reader Beth Mucci of Swanzey, New Hampshire.
Kenn and Kimberly say, “Peanut butter is a good high-protein food for birds, and they can eat any of the same types humans do. If you’re buying it specifically for birds, look for natural or organic types with the fewest additives. Try offering crunchy peanut butter for an extra nutty treat. It’s best to avoid low-fat varieties, which may not have as much nutritional value for the birds.”
How to Serve Peanut Butter to Birds
If you offer peanut butter stuffed into holes in a log-type feeder, be sure to clean it out thoroughly before refilling it so mold won’t grow on the remains of older contents.
Go ahead and keep peanut butter in your homemade suet mix. You can also smear peanut butter on tree bark, or slather pine cones in peanut butter and dip them in birdseed. In summer, mix it with cornmeal and birdseed to create a suet substitute.
What Kind of Birds Eat Peanut Butter?
Woodpeckers, nuthatches and blue jays love to eat peanut butter.
Psst—orioles and fruit-loving birds love to eat grape jelly
Is Expired Peanut Butter Safe?
“Is it OK to feed birds peanut butter past its expiration date?” asks reader Mae Standen of Alpena, Michigan.
Kenn and Kimberly say, “Peanut butter is an excellent source of calories and provides protein-rich energy. The dates printed on products like these usually err on the side of caution, so peanut butter might be safe for months after the sell-by date has passed.
Open the jars and examine the contents. If the oil hasn’t separated and it doesn’t smell odd, it should be fine to feed to the birds. We add a bit of cornmeal to peanut butter to reduce the stickiness, making it easier to put in feeders or on trees. As always, it’s important to keep feeders clean and birds healthy, so be sure to scrub off any excess or old peanut butter.”
About the Experts
Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman are the official bird experts for Birds & Blooms. They are the creators of the Kaufman Field Guide series and they lead birding trips all over the world.
