Do Cardinals Eat Bugs and Hunt Insects?
Being a birder, you likely know cardinals are seed eaters and ground feeders. But what else do they munch on? For instance, do cardinals eat bugs? Here’s the scoop:
Cardinals typically feast on plant-based foods year-round, but in early summer, they switch to insects and bugs for extra protein. They gobble beetles, crickets, flies, and more.
This blog post dives into the bugs cardinals eat and their role in their diet. Let’s get started!
Want to learn more about cardinal foods and diet:
Why Do Cardinals Eat Bugs?
Cardinals turn to bugs during breeding season and food shortages, as insects provide protein, fats, and vitamins essential for energy and chick growth.
Bugs also help cardinals control pest populations, benefiting gardens by reducing crop-damaging insects. Insects are critical in spring to support nesting and fledgling development, per Cornell Lab.
Different Bugs Cardinals Consume As Alternative To Seeds:
Below, we have shared information on what bugs cardinals eat in question-answer format. So, let’s get straight into it.
Do Cardinals Gobble Mealworms?
Yes, cardinals gobble mealworms, especially beetle larvae, which are packed with protein. They seek them out during winter and breeding season for energy boosts.
Live mealworms are preferred for their freshness, attracting cardinals to feeders.
Do Cardinals Eat Freeze Dried Mealworms?
Cardinals eat freeze-dried mealworms in winter when fresh insects are scarce. These provide a balanced mix of protein, fat, and fiber, keeping cardinals healthy in cold weather.
Freeze-dried mealworms are a convenient, nutrient-rich option for backyard feeders, per Audubon Society.
Do Cardinals Devour Mosquitoes?
Cardinals eat mosquitoes, particularly at night or during food scarcity. However, mosquitoes can carry viruses or parasites, posing risks to cardinals and other birds.
They target mosquitoes in flight, using quick, agile movements to catch them.
Do Cardinals Eat Dragonflies?
Cardinals consume dragonflies, along with sawflies, spittlebugs, scale insects, and other small insects. Their diverse diet helps them adapt to changing food availability.
Dragonflies offer a high-energy snack, ideal for long flights or breeding.
Do Cardinals Eat Roaches?
Yes, cardinals eat roaches, from large arthropods to oversized arachnids. Surprisingly, they also prey on small reptiles like lizards when food is limited.
Their strong beaks allow them to tackle tough-shelled roaches with ease.
Do Cardinals Eat June Bugs?
Cardinals enjoy June bugs, which provide protein and fat alongside their favorite black oil sunflower seeds. These bugs fuel their active lifestyle and long flights.
June bugs are a seasonal treat, abundant in early summer.
Do Cardinals Consume Stink Bugs?
Indeed, as you know, these birdies consume most insect types and stink bugs aren’t an exception. Whenever cardinals find stink bugs, they dine on these insects.
However, sometimes cardinals can go after stink bugs and hunt them down.
Do Cardinals Eat Wasps?
Surprisingly, cardinals eat wasps, but conflicts can be risky. A single wasp is harmless, but a swarm’s poisonous stings can harm a cardinal.
They cautiously target lone wasps, avoiding nests to stay safe.
Do Cardinals Gobble Caterpillars?
Caterpillars are a favorite for cardinals, especially during breeding season. They feed them to their chicks when other natural foods are scarce.
Soft-bodied caterpillars are mashed for nestlings, aiding growth, per National Wildlife Federation.
How Do Cardinals Hunt Bugs?
Cardinals hunt bugs by foraging on the ground, in shrubs, or on low branches. They use their sharp eyesight to spot movement and strong beaks to snatch prey.
They often hunt in pairs during breeding, scanning foliage or soil for insects like caterpillars and beetles.
Their agile hops and quick pecks make them efficient insect hunters.
How Can Cardinals Help Your Garden?
Cardinals are natural pest controllers, eating bugs like caterpillars and beetles that damage plants. Attracting them reduces the need for chemical pesticides.
Offer feeders with sunflower seeds and plant native shrubs like dogwood to draw them. A clean birdbath also encourages visits.
Their pest control saves gardeners money and supports eco-friendly practices.
Wrapping Up:
Cardinal’s food habits are diverse; they consume literally everything they find, whether the food is pesky critters or grasses. Cardinals eat bugs and insects based on the season and availability, but they mostly feed on various seeds.
However, this was all for whether cardinals eat bugs or not. We hope now you have a thorough understanding of these birds’ diets. We expect you to visit our website frequently to get unknown information on cardinals and share our content on Facebook & Pinterest.
Image Source:
- Canva.com/photos
