In theory, all carnivorous and omnivorous birds may eat suet. But most birds are opportunistic feeders, and many species adapt their diets seasonally due to practical compulsions, including food availability and nutrition requirements.
Many birds in Southern California eat suet, including kinglets, nuthatches, scrub jays, sparrows, titmice, towhees, warblers, and woodpeckers. A house finch may sometimes eat suet, but black phoebes rarely do so. Mourning doves and hummingbirds don’t eat suet.
Dozens of Birds in Southern California Eat Suet
The following birds in Southern California eat suet:
- American Goldfinch
- American robin
- Bewick’s wren
- Bushtit
- California scrub jay
- Chestnut-backed chickadee
- Dark-eyed junco
- European starling
- Golden-crowned kinglet
- House finch
- Northern flicker
- Northern Mockingbird
- Oak titmouse
- Orange-crowned Warbler
- Pine siskins
- Ruby-crowned kinglet
- Song sparrow
- Spotted towhee
- Steller’s jay
- Western bluebird
- White-breasted nuthatch
- White-crowned sparrow
- Woodpeckers
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
The American crow is a permanent resident in some parts of Southern California and has a non-breeding presence in a few regions.
American crows are drawn to suet, which might scare some birds away, especially the smaller species.
Also, unlike the American crow, many birds are drawn to suet if the cakes or blends have some of the other foods they prefer.
For instance, the indigenous California scrub jay’s favorite food is the acorn, but it is drawn to suet cakes containing:
- Cherries
- Cultivated corn
- Mealworms
- Peanuts
- Sunflower seeds
Similarly, the following birds prefer suet cakes containing dried mealworms:
- American Goldfinch
- Bewick’s wren
- Bushtit
- Northern Mockingbird
Largely granivorous and fruitarian birds don’t have an intense fondness for insects, bugs, or dried mealworms and prefer suet cakes containing seeds.
Many birds like crushed peanuts or peanut butter, alongside or in the blended plugs and nuggets of rendered beef fat.
Here are a few birds that prefer suet with seeds and peanuts:
- Chestnut-backed chickadee
- European starling
- Oak titmouse
- Spotted towhee
- White-breasted nuthatch
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
Some species are more demanding, such as American robins and house finches.
These fussy eaters may look for fruits and other commonly used ingredients in suet cakes or plugs.
The American robin likes jelly, whereas the house finch is drawn to nyjer seeds.
A few birds in Southern California eat suet irrespective of the blend.
The northern flicker and kinglets, whether golden-crowned or ruby-crowned, may visit your suet cage or feeder without any additional ingredients.
Likewise, both white-crowned and song sparrows in Southern California are readily drawn to suet cages.
But California towhees and dark-eyed juncos feed on the ground, so you’ll need some spreadable suet.
Or you’ll want to place cakes and plugs on a platform or tray feeder for such birds.
How To Attract Birds in Southern California With Suet
You need the right kind of suet in an appropriate feeder for many birds in Southern California.
Something like St. Albans Bay’s Suet Plus High Energy Suet Cakes from Amazon.com will attract many omnivorous birds in SoCal.
This no-melt rendered beef suet also contains:
- Cracked Corn
- Beef Suet
- Black Oil Sunflower
- Millet
You can use the pack of 12 throughout the year for more than a dozen bird species in Southern California, including pine siskins and woodpeckers.
But if you want to attract birds that love peanuts and berries, you’ll need to use something like a St. Albans Bay Suet Plus Variety Pack, which is also found on Amazon.com.
This pack has 4 assorted suet cakes, each weighing 11 ounces. The 4 flavors are:
- Peanut blend
- Nuts and berry
- Wild bird blend
- Woodpecker blend
St. Albans Bay is among the leading bird suet brands with many other assorted flavors, such as cherry.
They also have a melt-resistant formula, so you can use them any time of the year.
Some birds won’t be too excited with your suet feeder if the cakes don’t have dried mealworms.
That’s why birders often set up different feeders with distinct suet cakes. You can get a variety pack on Amazon.com like the Blue Seal’s Mealworm Medley Suet & Treat.
The pack of 6 has 3 types of wild bird food:
- 2 mealworm and nut suet cakes
- 2 mealworm medley doughs
- 2 mealworm medley treat bars
The distinct varieties may help you to attract many species of birds in South California that eat suet.
You also might want to use an appropriate feeder for different birds.
Platform feeders or trays can work well for perching birds, while suet cages will draw chickadees, woodpeckers, and other similar birds.
When To Attract Suet-Eating Birds in Southern California
Southern California is a key transit and stopover region for hundreds of migrating birds along the Pacific Flyway, and many species only spend their winters in Southern California.
Some species are perennial residents, which means you’ll need to use the right type of suet at different times of the year.
For instance, the golden-crowned kinglet is a wintering species in Southern California, but the ruby-crowned kinglet has a resident population.
Steller’s jay isn’t that easy to find, while Bushtit has a year-round presence along the SoCal west coast.
Likewise, the white-crowned sparrow winters in Southern California, although it is a perennial resident in some regions up north and along the Bay Area.
You may find the song sparrow in some parts of the region throughout the year.
Oak titmice and white-breasted nuthatches are perennial SoCal residents, so you will routinely find these birds at your suet feeders.
The orange-crowned warbler is mostly migratory, but the yellow-rumped warbler has a breeding and non-breeding presence in Southern California.
California scrub jays and towhees are permanent residents in the region, so you can usually attract them with suet.
The other birds that are likely to frequent your suet cages or feeders are mockingbirds and woodpeckers, including the following species:
- Acorn woodpecker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Lewis’ woodpecker
- White-headed woodpecker
Some Birds in Southern California Don’t Eat Suet
Anna’s hummingbird has a year-round breeding population in Southern California, but it does not eat suet.
Its cousin, Allen’s hummingbird, migrates through the region and isn’t drawn to suet either.
Likewise, mourning doves don’t eat suet, although they might frequent your bird seed feeders for most of the year.
The cedar waxwing eats insects in the spring, but it isn’t readily drawn to backyard feeders while wintering throughout Southern California.
Black phoebe is an interesting case, as it has a year-round presence in some parts of Southern California and eats insects and mealworms.
However, black phoebes are rarely found at suet feeders or cages.