Ever seen a squirrel darting along a branch and wondered if it might go after a bird or eggs? Yep—squirrels will sometimes eat eggs and nestlings, though they mostly stick to nuts, seeds, and fruit. Attacks on adult birds? Pretty rare. Let’s look at when and why squirrels go after animal food, and what situations make birds more at risk.
Season, food shortages, and easy access all shape how squirrels behave. Certain squirrel types are bigger threats than others.
Keep reading for some simple, practical steps you can use to help protect nests in your yard.
Do Squirrels Eat Birds? Understanding When and Why
Squirrels mostly eat plant foods, but sometimes they’ll grab eggs or young birds if the opportunity pops up. Let’s break down what squirrels usually eat, which bird stages are most at risk, and why squirrels sometimes raid nests.
Squirrels’ Typical Diet Versus Opportunistic Eating
Most days, squirrels munch on nuts, seeds, fruits, fungi, and buds. These foods are packed with fat and carbs, which they need to get through winter. You’ll spot them burying acorns or stripping seeds off cones.
But squirrels are omnivores. They’ll eat insects, small frogs, and occasionally eggs or meat—especially when plant foods run low. They don’t hunt birds, but if they stumble on a nest or a carcass, they’ll take the easy protein. This happens more often in late winter and early spring, when stored food is nearly gone and new plants haven’t shown up yet.
If you feed birds, spilled seed can draw more squirrels into the area. That extra traffic ups the odds a squirrel will find a nest, egg, or fledgling nearby.
Eggs, Nestlings, and Vulnerable Birds: What Squirrels Target Most
Eggs and nestlings are what squirrels go for most often. Eggs are easy to break and eat, and nestlings can’t escape or fight back. Squirrels usually pick open-cup nests in shrubs or low branches because they’re easy to reach.
Cavity nests are safer if the entrance is small. But a wide entrance or a nest on a low ledge? Still at risk. Ground nests are also vulnerable to ground squirrels or other mammals.
You might find smashed eggshells under a nest or notice a brood that’s suddenly quiet. If a squirrel keeps using the same branch, it might be heading for nearby nests.
Do Squirrels Eat Adult Birds?
Squirrels almost never eat healthy adult birds. Adults can fly off, fight back, or sound the alarm, so they’re not easy prey. Sometimes, squirrels will scavenge an adult bird if it’s already dead, injured, or stuck in a trap.
Occasionally, a squirrel might harass a nesting adult and cause it to abandon its young, but actually killing a grown bird is pretty rare. If you’re worried about adult birds at feeders, focus on things like preventing collisions, trimming perches, and blocking the easy routes that let squirrels sneak up on nests.
Why Squirrels Raid Nests: Protein, Scarcity, and Opportunity
Squirrels raid nests mainly for protein and calories when plant foods run out. Eggs and young birds give them fat and protein, which help during breeding season or lean months. You’ll notice more raids in late winter and early spring.
Opportunity plays a big role too. Squirrels are great climbers and use “highways” of branches, wires, and fences to get around. If a nest sits near these routes, a squirrel will definitely check it. Human stuff makes it easier—feeders close together, low nest boxes, or branches touching a roof all make raids more likely.
Types of Squirrels and Their Risk to Birds
Some squirrels raid nests more often, while others stick to seeds. Certain behaviors also make eggs or nestlings more at risk.
Gray Squirrels
Gray squirrels show up everywhere—yards, parks, you name it. You’ll see them at feeders and in trees. They’re opportunistic omnivores, so while they mostly eat nuts and seeds, they’ll grab eggs or nestlings if they find an easy nest. This makes gray squirrels a moderate risk for cavity-nesting birds and shallow cup nests in mid-height branches.
If you have bird feeders or nest boxes, gray squirrels can climb poles or nearby trees to get to them. Try using baffles, moving feeders away from “launch points,” and fitting nest boxes with predator guards to cut down on raids. Gray squirrels almost never attack adult birds, but they’ll eat dead birds and small chicks if they get the chance.
Red Squirrels
Red squirrels defend their territory and food stores more aggressively than grays. You can expect red squirrels to raid nests for eggs and nestlings, especially in conifer woods where they share space with small songbirds. Their smaller size and boldness let them use narrow branches and cavities that might keep bigger predators out.
If your yard borders mixed woodland, keep an eye out for red squirrels near nest boxes and conifer branches. Putting up nest boxes with predator guards and placing them where reds can’t easily reach helps reduce raids. Red squirrels also go after birdseed and suet, so cutting off easy food can make your yard less appealing to them.
Flying Squirrels
Flying squirrels mostly come out at night and spend their days tucked away in tree cavities.
You probably won’t spot them often, but these sneaky creatures will raid nests after dark. If they get the chance, they’ll eat eggs or even nestlings.
They usually steer clear of adult birds and bigger species. Instead, they target nests that no one’s watching or eggs left alone.
Since flying squirrels use tree cavities, you can protect birds by putting up nest boxes with small entrance holes and internal baffles.
Want to cut down on risk? Don’t leave pet food or spilled seed out overnight, and trim any branches that might give them an easy glide to the nests.
Flying squirrels don’t show up at feeders as much as red or gray squirrels, but honestly, they’re still a threat to nests in wooded yards.
