Should We Feed Birds? What the Science Says About the Impacts of Bird Feeding

Anna’s Hummingbird | Kevin Rees | Audubon Photography Awards 

If you’ve ever watched a chickadee dart in for a sunflower seed or a hummingbird hover at your feeder, you’ve experienced one of the simplest joys of connecting with nature. Feeding birds is one of the most popular ways people engage with wildlife. But as bird populations face global decline, many are asking: Is feeding birds helping or harming them?

The truth is nuanced. Decades of research show that feeding birds has mixed impacts. Some of these impacts are positive, some negative, and many depend on the species, location, and timing.

Black-capped Chickadee | Kelli Westfal | Audubon Photography Awards

On the positive side, birds with access to feeders often show better health, stronger body condition, and improved breeding success. Feeder-watching also fuels large-scale community science projects like Project FeederWatch, which has expanded our understanding of bird ecology across North America.

Yet, there are risks. Disease transmission increases when birds congregate at feeders, and improper feeder hygiene can spread illnesses such as salmonellosis or conjunctivitis. Feeders can also increase the risk of a bird-window collision and attract predators or rodents. In some cases, feeding may even shift migration patterns or change which species dominate a local ecosystem.

In short: feeding changes bird behavior and ecology in complex ways.

House Sparrow and European Starling | Bevi Chagnon | Audubon Photography Awards

The Impacts You Don’t See: Where Bird Seed Comes From

Feeding doesn’t just affect the birds in your backyard. Many popular feed ingredients, like sunflower seeds and corn, are grown using neonicotinoid pesticides (insecticides that are highly toxic to pollinators) and chemical bird deterrents that harm wild bird populations far from our homes. These chemicals are linked to declines in insect-eating bird species because they decimate their natural food sources. Choosing pesticide-free or ethically grown bird seed is one way we can help reduce this impact.

Dark-eyed Junco | Dori Eldridge | Audubon Photography Awards

Why We Still Feed: Connection and Conservation

Despite the complexity, feeding birds remains one of the most accessible and enjoyable ways for people to connect with birds. During the pandemic, interest in bird feeding soared. Watching bird behavior provides comfort, wonder, and a sense of stewardship that can inspire lifelong conservation habits. For many communities, especially those with limited access to green spaces, bird feeders offer a window into the natural world that might otherwise remain out of reach.

Rufous Hummingbird | Chase Weinholtz | Audubon Photography Awards

How You Can Feed Birds Responsibly

If you make the choice to feed birds, please do so in a way that keeps our feathered friends safe. Here are some simple guidelines you can follow at home:

• Keep feeders clean: Wash them regularly to prevent disease transmission and remove moldy, wet, and spoiled seed.
• Clean up under feeders daily: Prevent rodent attraction and seed spoilage.
• Keep cats indoors: Outdoor, free-ranging cats are the number one cause of direct, human-related bird mortality in North America.
• Place feeders at safe distances from windows: Keep them close to windows (within 3 feet), or far from windows (more than 30 feet) to reduce bird-window collisions.
• Use native plants: Supplement feeders with shrubs and trees that provide natural food sources.
• Buy ethical seed: Look for pesticide-free, bird-safe, or locally sourced options.

Feeding birds isn’t just about watching wildlife, it’s about caring for it. By feeding responsibly, we can ensure this beloved tradition continues to bring joy without harming the birds we cherish.