What do small birds eat when no seed or grain is available?

A blue tit tucks into seeds at a bird feeder. Photograph: Joe Houghton/Getty Images

Many small birds – finches, for example – specialise in eating seeds and grain. Apart from in bird feeders, seeds and grain are only available for a relatively short part of the year, so what do these birds eat the rest of the time?

Chris Evans, Earby, Lancashire

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