When you think about feeding birds, seeds and nectar might come to mind, but what about spiders? There are thousands of bird species and many prefer juicy insects over grains. Birds are a natural form of pest control to limit the number of creepy crawlers in your yard. You can attract several spider-eating species with various bird feeders, shrubs, perches, and water features. Some attractions can entice more than bird one species, maximizing the spider eaters in your garden. Talk about feeding two birds with one seed!
If you’re inviting birds to your yard, you want to ensure you’re not also using insecticides to kill the spiders. Although these flyers enjoy alive spiders the most, they eat dead ones, too. It can be toxic for a bird to ingest an insect that has consumed poison. Keep in mind that birds won’t eat large spiders like tarantulas, but they do commonly munch on brown recluses, daddy longlegs, and house spiders.
Swallows
Swallows like the barn, tree, and cliff species all feast on insects, including the venomous black widow. You can lure swallows to your yard with flowers or a nest box. Burberry and myrica shrub fruit will entice these birdies when there are no bugs around. The insectivores won’t be interested in seeds but they do look for crushed eggshells when they need calcium.
Owls
Owls are carnivorous animals and they eat everything from fish to small mammals. If you want them in your yard to combat the spiders, just know they’ll only come out to hunt at night. Avoid turning on porch lights after dark, as that can confuse and scare owls away. Dense trees are best for luring these nocturnal birds in. If your area has small owl species, you can also add a nesting box for them.
Tanagers
Harold Stiver/Shutterstock
Tanagers’ diet mainly consists of spiders, among other insects. Although they do enjoy fruits, seeds, and nectar. Try planting wild cherries or grapes, so when they stop to eat they can hunt for spiders too. Tanager species like the scarlet tanager also enjoy the water. A fountain or birdbath that cascades the sound of flowing water should bring these vibrant flyers to your yard.
Corvids
Andyworks/Getty Images
Corvids like crows and ravens aren’t picky about their food. They’ll eat almost anything, including your intruding eight-legged pest, so attracting them to your yard should be a piece of cake. They’ll come to visit if you leave out seeds, grains, or water (they love bird baths). Even keeping the garbage can lid slightly ajar can bring these shiny black birds into your yard. However, these methods may also attract unwanted rodents.
Hawks
ChristopherRM/Shutterstock
Inviting other birds to your garden may attract hawks to your yard. Hawks are carnivores and enjoy a hearty diet of reptiles, birds, and small mammals. While hunting in your yard they may feast on any spiders they spot. They can help control rodent populations, too. Adding Hawk perches gives the birds a nice place to rest and scope the area for prey. They are best installed away from trees or anything that would obstruct their bird’s eye view.
Pigeons
Jono Photography/Shutterstock
Cracked corn, fresh berries, wheat, sunflower seeds, and barley are top attractors for luring pigeons to your backyard. Clean water that makes for a refreshing drink and a place to bathe will also make your home a hot spot for these flyers. When it comes to devouring spiders, pigeons will mainly eat soft-shell or small arachnids they come across.
Wrens
design_cam/Shutterstock
Wrens love insects and search for these delectable treats in low areas like shrubs, tree trunks, and on the ground. If you have a green thumb, try planting native berry shrubs in your yard to give the birds a good place to spider hunt. Water will also give the wrens a reason to stop by and there are plenty of ways you can DIY a bird bath.
Blackbirds
Mauribo/Getty Images
Blackbirds like the Brewer’s blackbird and the common grackle love to munch on the eight-legged critters. Their diet is mainly insects and seeds, but they also consume berries. Planting mulberry or elderberry shrubs is a good start to drawing blackbirds to your yard. Dense greenery also provides shelter for these animals which will make your garden a safe haven for them. Another idea is to leave twigs and vines around so the blackbirds can build a nest.
Sparrows
Oscar Vargas Mora/Shutterstock
Sparrows are ground-feeding birds. Sprinkling some of their favorite seeds like sunflower, safflower, and millet in the soil where you spot the most spiders is a great way to encourage them to come to your garden and eat the grains and insects. Water, of course, is another way to entice sparrows, but a ground bird bath is best for this species.
Robins and Thrushes
Richard G Smith/Shutterstock
American robins and other birds in the thrush family do their hunting on the ground. Insects and worms make up the majority of their diets. The birds eat fruit, too, but mainly opt for berries when there aren’t any bugs to munch on. Other than a birdbath, you can add mealworms to your yard’s ecosystem or honeysuckle berries to draw more of this family.
Bluebirds
Danita Delimont/Shutterstock
Last but not least are bluebirds. Spiders are just one of the delectable insects on this predator’s list — they also enjoy grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and mealworms. Bluebirds like to eye prey from a perch, so consider adding places for them to sit in your garden. Native berry shrubs or trees are another good option. American bittersweet vine, staghorn sumac, black gum, and dogwoods are plants you and the bluebirds might enjoy.
