Could simply be that there is plenty of other food and they will get to the rowans later.

Agree, plenty of insect food around plus potential feeders in gardens. They will as said turn to the berries in due course.

If you're lucky, you might get waxwings, especially if it gets really cold around late November time. They love the berries of rowan. Phil J

Do rowan berries need to be frosted to appeal to birds like the pyracantha here in Arizona do?

The three Rowan trees here are loaded with berries each year and the birds never touch them. I was told on here last year that its because they are too bitter?

Hmmm, not sure about that. I think they just go for colour as I don't think other senses have much part to play, especially not taste which is poor in almost all birds.

That was in answer to Tugbrethil but we answered at virtually the same time Drc.

It can get confusing Fractal! - I have just looked it up and it seems that Rowan berries are popular with thrushes, fieldfares, redwings. Which maybe the answer around here as we dont see these birds?

Our rowans are already stripped apart from the white one which the birds prefer not to touch. The berries don't need to be frosted Tugb.

Woodpigeons are the ones round here who go after the Rowan berries most, then blackbirds and starlings. They seem to wait until the berries start to drop, then they pile in.

I think they like them to be really ripe Dorjac, it is blackbirds and thrushes with us. Though I have seen a flock of waxwings on rowans - sadly not in our garden though!

I saw a flock of Waxwings in Newcastle (Upon Tyne) a few years back and they were stripping the Rowans and Swedish Whitebeams of berries right in the city centre near an old church. Made the news that day!

I bet - it is a fantastic sight!

MG, Fractal, thank you!