A Droll Yankees Double Suet Feeder with a Red-bellied Woodpecker feeding. https://www.duncraft.com/Droll-Yankees-Double-Suet-Feederand http://drollyankees.com/product-category/bird-feeders-suet-feeders/ A Duncraft Pileated Tail Prop Feeder with a male Pileated Woodpecker! https://www.duncraft.com/Duncraft-Pileated-Tail-Prop-Suet-Feeder Birds Choice Green Roof Upside Down Suet Feeder with a White-breasted Nuthatch feeding. http://www.birdsforever.com/suet-feeders-birds.html

Although suet is a standard for any established feeding station during all seasons of the year – it’s a must when temperatures turn cold. Suet provides high energy food for birds and it is an economic, no-mess way to attract a variety of birds during all seasons – especially during late fall and winter. If you’re a beginner, it’s the best food to start with, and suet attracts many birds including some that may not come to other feeders or water.

Suet cakes, which are cheap at a buck a cake, are offered with a variety of added ingredients that may include nuts, berries, seeds, corn or peanut butter that may make suet more attractive to certain birds. There is also No-melt Suet that is most popular during summer temperatures, but can be offered anytime.

Similar in texture to the no-melt suet is my favorite to offer, the Hot Pepper Suet, which deters the big fox squirrels in my yard – period – no more squirrels hoggin’ all the suet. I understand that’s the case for raccoons and other mammals that may attack your suet feeder. Another option is to use a squirrel-proof suet feeder, which essentially protects the suet holder inside a wire-mesh cage that only small birds can enter.

For the most part, though, suet feeders are simple. They tend to be a square wire-mesh suet cake holder that you can hang as is, or that is affixed to the side or bottom of a platform feeder. An interesting “new” feeder is described as a Starling-proof suet feeder, which require birds to hang upside down to feed on the suet, an acrobatic act that starlings don’t do. If you aren’t a starling fan, or if winter flocks of starlings dominate your suet feeder, this is a good option for you – plus you can enjoy more acrobatics by nuthatches, woodpeckers and other birds as they feed upside down. Starling-proof feeders may also prevent House Sparrows and other species from your suet feeder, but some of the other species may be birds you wish to attract. Even so, it’s worth a try.

Woodpecker suet feeders are unique in that they provide a pronounced platform on the bottom to support a woodpeckers’ tail. As you know, woodpeckers stabilize themselves with their stiff tail feathers when they perch vertically on a tree or other structure. Woodpecker suet feeders come in different sizes, the largest of which is big enough to comfortably accommodate the big Pileated Woodpeckers. Most woodpecker feeders are two-sided and some include holders for two or even four suet cakes – and other birds can feed from woodpecker suet feeders too.

Suet is obviously a simple part of your feeding station, but there are plenty of options too, so you can make your suet feeder selections fun personal choices.