Suet cake

A blue tit feeding on a suet cake

A ring-shaped suet cake is formed in a mold by adding melted fat to a mix of seeds

Suet cakes or fat balls are nutritional supplements for wild birds used in bird feeders. ^[1] They commonly consist of sunflower seeds and wheat or oat flakes mixed with suet, pork fat, or coconut oil. Further blends may also contain nuts, fruits, mealworms and other insects. ^[2]

Next to balls, which are predominantly common in Northern and Central Europe, suet cakes may take various shapes such as rectangles, rings, or wheels. ^[2] Fat balls are often sold within a fine plastic net allowing their suspension, such as on branches or in bushes. The nets can, however, be a danger to other species, such as deer, who may find the balls and eat them whole. ^[3] Other forms of suet cakes can be placed within suspendable cages. ^[2]

Species attracted

In North America, birds such as woodpeckers, goldfinches, juncos, cardinals, thrushes, jays, kinglets, bluebirds, chickadees, nuthatches, wrens, and starlings prefer bird feeders offering suet. ^[4]

References

1. Minetor, Randi (2011). Backyard Birding: A Guide to Attracting And Identifying Birds. Guilford, CT, US: Globe Pequot Press. p. 16. ISBN   978-0-7627-7166-0.
2. Campbell, Scott D. (1989). "Nontypical and Do-It-Yourself Food Recommendations". Easy-to-make Bird Feeders for Woodworkers . New York: Dover Publications. pp.  45–46. ISBN   978-0-486-25847-8. Suet cake -wikipedia.
3. Häggström, Adreas (23 April 2018). "Pers varning – efter fyndet inuti djurets magsäck". www.expressen.se. Expressen . Retrieved 7 November 2019.
4. "Suet | Baltimore County Library System". Archived from the original on 2008-04-18. Retrieved 2018-03-12.

External links

• Suet cake recipes on the Baltimore Bird Club website