FRFeeding Quebec’s wild birds with insects: 2025 guide
Discover how to enrich the diet of wild birds in Quebec with mealworms, black soldier fly larvae, and silkworms. Practical guide for bird feeders.
More and more Quebecers are installing feeders in their yards to attract and feed wild birds. But did you know that by adding dried insects to your bird menu, you could turn your feeder into a veritable natural buffet?
Why feed insects to wild birds in Quebec?
Several species of birds in Quebec that visit our feeders are naturally insectivorous or partially insectivorous. Offering dried mealworms and other insect larvae is a simple, natural, and particularly beneficial for Quebec’s bird population.
Nutritional benefits of insects for birds
These small proteins are an exceptional source of nutrients:
- High-quality protein (up to 50% dry weight)
- Calcium essential for egg and bone formation
- Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- Essential B vitamins and minerals
This natural bird food is ideal:
- In winter in Quebec, when insects are rare
- In spring, during the breeding season
- Feeding baby birds in summer
- All year round for a varied diet
Which birds in Quebec eat insects?
Among the common birds of Quebec that regularly visit domestic feeders are:
Insect-eating birds of Quebec
- Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) – resident species
- White-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) – available year-round
- American Robin (Turdus migratorius) – great lover of mealworms
- House sparrow (Passer domesticus) – loyal to Quebec gardens
- Common Wren (Troglodytes aedon) – small but voracious
- Minor peak (Picoides pubescens) – present in Quebec forests
These species of Quebec birds, already accustomed to bird feeders, will happily discover this new source of nutrition.
Best insects to feed birds in Quebec
Dried mealworms: the #1 choice in Quebec
Mealworms for bird feeding (Tenebrio molitor) are the most popular!
Benefits of mealworms:
- Easy to distribute and store
- High in protein (50-60%)
- Important source of calcium
- Local Quebec production at Tricycle in Montreal
- Perfect for attracting wild birds
Black soldier fly larvae: calcium supplement
Mealworms for bird feeding (Tenebrio molitor) are the most popular!
- High calcium content (3-5 times more than mealworms)
- Perfect for bird breeding
- Appreciated different texture
- Sustainable and eco-friendly development
Silkworms: premium choice for birds
Dried silkworms are made up of:
- Easily digestible protein source
- Option to diversify bird diets
- Choice to test birds’ food preferences
In a future article, we will discuss the ideal dosage, how to adapt insect feeding according to the seasons, and more.
Stay tuned for more updates.