Woodpeckers and nuthatches are the primary birds that fall into this category. The name comes from the fact that they “cling” to the trunk of trees to pick out insects and larvae as their primary source of food. Since suet comes from the loins of cattle and sheep, it is a perfect substitute for insects when they are not available in the winter months. Cage birdfeeders are the best used to hold the suet and make it readily available to these birds. They cling to the suet birdfeeders and use their tail as a third leg to balance them as they eat.

You can buy natural suet meat from the local grocery store. However, it will freeze in the winter and tend to become rancid in the summer. So, most people that feed rendered suet, in a cage birdfeeder. There are two kinds of rendered suet: one for the winter and the other for the summer. The winter suet has much more fat and is an excellent source of nutrition that quickly turns into heat. Of course, heat is very important to help clinging birds survive the cold winter nights. Summer suet has much less fat so that it does not melt in the hot weather. This suet is also important to offer during the spring and summer since it provides energy for the females to lay eggs and brood the chicks. So, it’s important to offer suet in cage birdfeeders throughout the year.

Credits: C&S