Switch to winter food

What is changing this month

Insects are disappearing, so fat becomes valuable. Winter visitors are arriving and summer birds are leaving.

Birds to expect in October

White-throated Sparrow Winter visitor White-crowned Sparrow Winter visitor Dark-eyed Junco Winter visitor Song Sparrow Year-round American Tree Sparrow Winter visitor Northern Cardinal Year-round Downy Woodpecker Year-round

Most often reported at feeders this month. What turns up depends on your region and the weather, so treat it as a starting point.

Feeder jobs for October

• Add suet and peanuts alongside sunflower.
• Check suet for rancidity in mild spells.
• Rake spillage so it does not attract rodents.

Water in October

First frosts can ice a bath overnight. A heater keeps water available, and antifreeze must never be used.

What to watch for

• Switch to winter food: add suet and peanuts alongside sunflower, not instead of it.
• Check suet in mild spells; use warm-weather formulations if it softens.
• Ground seed attracts rodents — feed in trays and clear spillage.
• Keep the bath clean as leaves and debris blow in.

Three things not to do

• Don't replace sunflower with suet — add it alongside.
• Don't leave spillage under feeders; it attracts rodents as nights cool.
• Don't add antifreeze to a bath as frosts begin.

Check this locally

Timing shifts with latitude, elevation and the year. Use these as pointers, then check what is actually happening near you.

• North: winter feeding is already under way.
• Mid-latitudes: summer birds leave as winter sparrows arrive.
• South: conditions still feel like late summer in many years.

Questions this month raises