3 Beautiful Backyard Birds That Eat Wasps

Reddit gardeners propose using brown paper bags as fake wasp nests to deter real wasps, but a gardening expert prefers attracting birds that naturally eat wasps instead of crafting deterrents.

Meet the Birds That Eat Wasps

Reddit gardeners propose using brown paper bags as fake wasp nests to deter real wasps, but a gardening expert prefers attracting birds that naturally eat wasps instead of crafting deterrents.

1. Summer Tanager

The summer tanager, described as striking red, specializes in catching bees and wasps on the wing and raiding nests for larvae, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Summer tanagers catch flying insects in short sallies, beat prey against a perch, and eat them; they do not rely on standard seed feeders but thrive in gardens with native plants, mature trees, and fruiting shrubs.

Avoiding insecticide and fostering natural insect life supports the food sources insect-eating birds need.

2. Northern Mockingbird

The northern mockingbird, known for its singing, consumes insects including wasps during summer months, foraging around open ground and shrubby vegetation in suburban gardens.

Mockingbirds are opportunistic feeders, not wasp specialists, and prefer gardens with open lawns, fruiting trees, and shrubs while avoiding conventional bird feeders.

3. Blue Jay

Blue jays attack wasp nests to consume larvae, documented in Cornell's review of their stomach contents where insects made up 22% of their diet alongside nuts, fruits, and grains.

Blue jays are omnivores that visit bird feeders, particularly tray or hopper types, and favor peanuts, sunflower seeds, suet, birdbaths, and oak trees for acorns.

Attracting Birds to Your Yard

Encourage birds by planting native species, maintaining mature trees, adding fruiting shrubs, installing birdbaths, and offering tray feeders with unsalted peanuts.

Birds complement but do not replace proper wasp control, especially near nests close to doors or play areas where professional expertise is needed.

Kayleigh, a gardener with over a decade in media and former digital editor at Stylist magazine, designs her garden around a magnolia tree, featuring pollinator-friendly blooms, homemade bird feeders, and old logs for insects.

She cancelled weekend plans to build a mini pond when her toddler found a frog in their water barrel, prioritizing wildlife-friendly gardening.

Her garden includes berry-producing shrubs, mature trees, and bird-friendly features to attract species like blue jays that eat wasps as a bonus.

The source states no statistics, dates, prices, or additional names beyond those provided.

Kayleigh is an enthusiastic gardener who has worked in media for over a decade and previously served as digital editor at Stylist magazine.

She has written for Ideal Home, Woman & Home, Homes & Gardens, and other titles, focusing on wildlife-friendly gardening.

Her garden, centered around a magnolia tree, is filled with pollinator-friendly blooms, homemade bird feeders, and old logs for insects to nest in.

She recently cancelled weekend plans to build a mini pond when her toddler found a frog in their water barrel.

The source does not mention specific dates, prices, or statistics beyond the 22% insect diet figure for blue jays.

No table is included as no comparable figures across items exist in the source.

The article ends on the concrete detail of Kayleigh's garden featuring old logs for insects to nest in.