All About Peanuts: Who Eats Them & How to Offer Them

Birds are constantly seeking high-calorie foods to fuel their high metabolism and keep them energized to survive and thrive in the wild. This is especially true during times of extreme weather, through migration, and during nesting season. Depending on the species, a birds' caloric intake need can be as high as 10 000 calories in a single day - that's equivalent to a human consuming 155 000 calories! One of the best foods to offer birds to help them meet their caloric demands is peanuts. High calorie, high protein, and highly desired. There are two types of peanuts commonly available for bird feeding: in the shell, and out. But what's the difference? Is one type more nutritious than the other? Can all birds eat the same type? Let's discuss the benefits and how-tos of peanut feeding. 

Red-bellied Woodpecker feeding from Squirrel Buster Peanut Feeder

Blue Jay feeding on peanut in the shell from Wreath Peanut Feeder

Peanuts in the shell

Peanuts in the shell are a great option for offering a high-energy food that mimics natural foods such as acorns or pine nuts. They are perfect for caching thanks to their protective outer shell which keeps the inner nut safe from the elements and from other birds. Because of their tough outer shell, it takes a specialized bill to crack them open which makes peanuts in shell attractive to the large-billed species below. To help crack the shell, birds will often hold the peanut between their feet or wedge it into an appropriately sized crevice and hack away until the nut is exposed enough to eat. 

Birds who love them: Blue Jays, Hairy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Pileated Woodpeckers, Tufted Titmice. In addition to birds, squirrels and chipmunks will readily accept peanuts in the shell as treats. You may even find they come knocking (literally) when they want more. Bonus tip: Having trouble with starlings at your feeders? Offer peanuts in the shell - they can't crack them open and will move on quickly! 

Best feeders: There are several ways to offer peanuts in the shell including specially designed feeders such as the Wreath Peanut Feeder (pictured above), Peanut Hut Feeder, or Starling-Proof Peanut/Suet Feeder, simple tray feeders (note: use only with a baffle in place if you want to exclude squirrels or chipmunks), or no feeder at all. There is little chance of waste with peanuts in the shell if offered on a deck or right on the ground, jays will have them cleaned up in no time.

Fun fact! Studies have shown that jays will actually weigh peanuts by moving them up and down, and feeling the heaviness of each one. Cracking peanuts open takes time and energy that the jays could be spending on caching, so weighing them is a much more efficient way of choosing the heartiest nut. You can experiment with this in your own yard by carefully opening a handful of peanut pods (shells), and mixing up the contents (ex. place one peanut in one shell, two in another, etc), close the shells back up, line them on a deck railing from lightest to heaviest and watch the jays move and shake each one to help make their selection! 

Red-breasted Nuthatch feeding on shelled peanuts from Acorn Peanut Feeder

Shelled peanuts

Shelled peanuts come in many different forms including whole, halves, and chopped. No matter the size, they all offer all the same nutritional benefits of peanuts in the shell - without the shell. Without the tough outer shell to crack through, shelled peanuts are more accessible to other birds who enjoy eating peanuts but lack the ability to break the shells open. While the lack of shell is a bonus for attracting a wider variety of species, shelled peanuts also attract some birds seen as a nuisance at feeders such as grackles and starlings. See below for blackbird exclusion methods when offering shelled peanuts. 

Birds who love them: Blue Jays, woodpeckers, nuthatches, Carolina Wrens, Black-capped Chickadees, grosbeaks, Dark-eyed Juncos, Northern Cardinals, Brown-headed Cowbirds, European Starlings, Common Grackles, and even some birds that don't typically eat from seed feeders including warblers, orioles, and thrashers. 

Best feeders: Shelled peanuts can often be found in seed mixes and can be offered in standard hopper feeders, some tube feeders, tray feeders, or specialty shelled peanut feeders like the Acorn Peanut Feeder (pictured above), Mesh Peanut Feeder, Mini Peanut Feeder (great for kids), or Flower Pot Peanut Feeder. Note that none of these feeders are squirrel, chipmunk, starling, or grackle proof and will require placement on a pole system with a baffle if exclusion is necessary. To avoid needing to hang your peanut feeder on a baffled pole system, opt for feeders that have built-in exclusion like the Squirrel Buster Peanut Feeder (main photo, top of page) which is weight adjustable and has a closing mechanism that shuts out squirrels as well as some of the heavier and undesirable birds and is made of a special chew proof material. 

Find all things peanut feeding including peanuts in the shell, shelled peanuts, peanut feeders, and even squirrel feeders that hold peanuts at our Barrie and Newmarket locations! 

Happy trails!

- Shayna