Ever watched a squirrel at your feeder and wondered if it might go after baby birds? Yeah, squirrels can and sometimes do eat bird eggs or nestlings if they get the chance. Still, they usually go for nuts and seeds. Nest raids mostly happen when food is hard to find or an easy opportunity pops up.
If you care about backyard birds or spot a nest nearby, you’re probably curious about whether squirrels are a real threat—and what you can actually do about it.
Let’s get into how squirrels’ diets and habits can put nests at risk. I’ll also share a few simple ways to keep eggs and chicks safer, so you can relax a little more about the birds in your yard.
Will Squirrels Eat Baby Birds?
Squirrels mostly stick to plants, but they won’t pass up eggs or nestlings if the opportunity comes along.
Here’s what you should know: when they do it, which squirrels are the main culprits, why they raid nests, and how you can tell if a squirrel is the one to blame.
How Often Squirrels Eat Baby Birds
Squirrels don’t regularly hunt baby birds. Tree squirrels like eastern gray and fox squirrels mostly eat nuts, seeds, buds, and fruit.
They’ll go for eggs or nestlings when food is running low or if a nest is just too easy to reach.
You’ll notice these incidents more often in spring and early summer. That’s when birds are nesting and squirrels might have their own young to feed.
Backyard feeders draw in both birds and squirrels, so you might see more run-ins during these seasons.
Which Squirrel Species Prey on Baby Birds
Not every squirrel acts the same way. Red squirrels and some ground squirrels get a bit more aggressive with nests in their territory.
Larger tree squirrels—think eastern gray or fox squirrels—have the size and climbing chops to reach nests in trees and shrubs.
Even smaller tree squirrels might grab an egg if they stumble on a cup nest or cavity. Keep an eye on the local squirrel crew to figure out which ones are the biggest risk.
In cities, eastern gray and fox squirrels are usually the ones you’ll spot near feeders and nests.
Why Squirrels Raid Nests
Squirrels raid nests mostly for the easy calories. Eggs and nestlings have protein and fat, which plants just don’t offer.
When spring is rough, or there’s a drought, or seed crops fail, squirrels look for animal food more often.
Territory plays a part too. Squirrels protecting their own young might take eggs from nearby nests.
Sometimes it’s just luck—a parent bird leaves, and a curious squirrel can’t resist checking out the nest. You can help by putting nest boxes out of reach and keeping feeders away from nesting shrubs.
Signs of Squirrel Predation
Look for chewed eggshells or a torn-up nest lining at the edge of the nest. Squirrels often take whole eggs or carry off nestlings, so if a nest is suddenly empty, that’s a clue.
Check for scratches on branches nearby or squirrel droppings around the nest.
If you find a bird carcass, look for small, paired bite marks on the skull or broken bones. Squirrel teeth leave a pretty recognizable mark.
Hear chattering near nests or see squirrels hanging around your feeder? That’s probably a squirrel scoping things out for a snack. For more details, check out this article about squirrels eating baby birds and eggs.
Squirrel Diet and How to Protect Baby Birds
Squirrels mostly munch on nuts, seeds, fruits, and sometimes insects or fungi. If food gets scarce or a nest is easy to reach, they’ll go after eggs or nestlings.
Taking a few targeted steps at feeders and nests can really cut down the risk.
Typical Squirrel Diet and Opportunistic Feeding
Squirrels love acorns, walnuts, seeds, and fruit. You’ll see them stashing nuts for winter or raiding your bird feeder for seed.
They also eat buds, fungi, and the occasional insect.
But when natural foods run low, or a nest is left unguarded, they won’t say no to meat, eggs, or baby birds. Red and gray squirrels both do this if the situation is right.
If your feeder empties fast or you see the same squirrel over and over, it’s probably using your feeder as a regular food stop. Cutting off easy food makes it less likely they’ll start hunting nests.
Do Squirrels Eat Bird Eggs?
Yep—squirrels will take bird eggs if they find a nest or if parents leave it alone. Eggs are packed with protein and pretty easy for them to eat.
They rarely mess with an adult bird on the nest, but if the coast is clear, they’ll move in. Ground nests and low tree nests are at higher risk since squirrels can reach them without much trouble.
You can help by placing nests somewhere squirrels can’t get to. Trim back branches so they don’t act as bridges.
Try not to leave out pet food, open compost, or spilled seed, since all of those keep squirrels hanging around.
Squirrel-Proofing Bird Feeders and Nests
Combine physical barriers with smart placement to keep feeders and nests safer. Go for squirrel-proof feeders—maybe ones with weight-sensitive perches or cages that snap shut under a squirrel’s weight.
Tube feeders with metal ports also work since squirrels can’t chew through them.
Add a squirrel baffle—those smooth metal or plastic cones—to poles or hanging lines. That’ll block them from climbing up.
Put feeders at least 10 feet from anything a squirrel can jump from—like trees, fences, or rooftops—and about 5–6 feet off the ground.
For nests, you can attach predator guards to tree trunks. Try not to put feeders too close to nesting spots.
If you find a nest in a risky spot, don’t move it unless the bird is hurt. Just focus on reducing the things that attract squirrels nearby.
Best Practices to Protect Backyard Birds
Keep your feeders clean, and try to control seed spillage as much as possible.
Use seed trays to catch debris, and sweep under the feeders every day. That way, you’ll cut down on ground foraging, which usually drags in squirrels and other unwanted visitors.
Offer foods that birds actually like, but squirrels will leave alone. Safflower seed or nyjer in thistle feeders with tiny ports usually work well.
Switch up your feeder types and move them around sometimes. Squirrels get clever if you let them, so don’t make it too easy for them to figure things out.
Trim branches within about 6–10 feet of your feeders and nest spots. Add baffles and pick out feeder designs that actually keep squirrels out.
If you use suet, toss it into enclosed suet cages or just take it down during times when squirrels are super active.
Try not to feed squirrels on purpose. If you stop making food easy for them, they’ll usually move on, and you’ll see less trouble around your birds’ nests and eggs.
Want to know more about how squirrels go after eggs and baby birds? Check out this guide on do squirrels eat baby birds.
