Should You Keep Your Nectar Feeder Out in Winter? Yes

TūīBird FeedingNative BirdsWinter Feeding

Jun 23

*Winter is when your nectar feeder matters most to your garden birds*.

It's a question we get asked a lot this time of year. The kōwhai has long finished flowering, the days are short and grey, and it's tempting to not top up your nectar feeder. But here's the thing, winter is one of the most important times to keep it topped up to support your birds. Its also a great time to encourage more birds to become regular visitors to your garden.

The Silvereye are so tiny they find it hard to maintain their body temperature and many perish in the cold weather.

What’s happening in your garden right now?

In spring and summer, New Zealand's nectar eaters, Tūī, Bellbirds and Silvereyes, are spoiled for choice. Kōwhai, harakeke, pohutukawa and bottlebrush, with their nectar-rich flowers, are everywhere. But right now, in the winter months, they aren't flowering, so the birds' natural food sources are few and far between. And at the same time as their food is getting harder to find, the cold is making them work harder just to stay warm. Birds burn significantly more energy in winter just to keep their body temperature up. In a real cold snap, a reliable, clean food source isn't just a nice bonus for your garden birds, it can genuinely support their survival and it's one of the easiest things you can do to help.

Like Tūī, the beautiful Bellbird has a long curved beak and a brush-like tongue to collect nectar with.

Once they find you, they'll keep coming back

Birds have an excellent memory for food sources. Once your Tūī, Silvereyes or Bellbirds know that your garden has reliable, good-quality nectar, they'll return again and again. They'll factor you into their daily routine. That's why consistency matters more than quantity. A feeder that's always there, even if you're only topping it up every couple of days, is worth so much more to your birds than one that's sometimes full and sometimes empty. Winter is actually a brilliant time to build that relationship, because the birds are actively looking for dependable sources. Get it right now, and you'll have regular visitors well into spring.

A few things to keep on top of in the cold

Refresh the nectar every 2–3 days.

You might think the cold slows fermentation down, and it does, a little. But old nectar still grows bacteria and mould, and that's harmful to your birds. If it looks cloudy or smells off, change it. Fresh is always better.

Keep your feeder clean.

It's easy to let this slip in winter, but regular feeder cleaning is just as important now as any other time of year. A quick scrub with a 5% disinfectant solution, a good rinse, and you're done. Do it every time you top up and it becomes second nature.

Find a sheltered spot.

If your feeder is exposed to wind and rain, the nectar won't last as long and your birds will be less comfortable visiting. Chose a spot with a bit of shelter, near a fence, hedge or under the eaves will make a real difference. Not sure where to put it? Our guide on where to place your bird feeder has everything you need.

Don't forget fresh water.

Your garden birds need clean drinking water all year round. If you have a birdbath, keep it topped up and check it on cold mornings; if it’s really cold, it can ice over overnight.

What to put in your nectar feeder?

The Kohab Bird Feeder is perfect for the large Tūī and they love Kohab Bird Nectar too.

Kohab Bird Nectar is glucose-based and enriched with organic beetroot powder, that's what gives it that beautiful deep red colour that the birds are naturally drawn to. The beetroot also adds antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to help them thrive. You just mix it with water. Simple as that.

If you want to make sure your feeder is up to the job too, the Kohab Bird Feeder was designed specifically with NZ birds in mind and is big and sturdy enough for a Tūī to land comfortably, easy to keep clean, and versatile enough to use for fruit as well as nectar.

And if you're just getting set up, the Kohab Native Bird Nectar Starter Kit has everything you need in one place.

So don't pack your nectar feeder away for winter. Your Tūī, Silvereyes and Bellbirds need it now more than ever — and keeping it clean and topped up is one of the simplest, most satisfying things you can do for the birds you kohabit with. Keep it going. They'll thank you for it.