Attract the Right Birds with the Right Seed
Would you like to know what food to provide in your yard to attract your favorite birds? Mix and match the following types of winter birdfeed to attract, or deter, birds and other animals to your feeding stations.
In short, sunflower seed is the most versatile; stay away from fillers such as red or golden millet.
Striped and Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
Striped and Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower Seed; black oil and striped
Grosbeaks, Nuthatches, Tufted titmouse, Chickadee, Cardinal Goldfinch, House finch, Purple finch, Mourning dove, Pine siskin, Junco, Woodpeckers
Safflower seeds
Safflower seeds
Safflower seed
Cardinal, Chickadee, Grosbeaks, Mourning dove, Native sparrows, Tufted titmouse, Purple finch
Fortunately, some of our less desired species such as house sparrow, European starling, and squirrel don’t like safflower seed, but recently, some have acquired a taste for it.
White Millet seed
White Millet seed
White Proso Millet
This small seed is a favorite for ground feeding birds such as Mourning Dove, Native American sparrows, Quail, Towhee, Junco, Cardinal, Indigo bunting. Unfortunately, it is also enjoyed by the Cowbird, Blackbirds and House sparrow.
Whole kernel corn
Whole kernel corn
Corn, whole and cracked
Grouse, Pheasant, Turkey, Quai,l Cardinal, Grosbeaks, Crow, Raven, Jay, Dove, Ducks
Unfortunately corn is also eaten by house sparrows, cowbirds, starlings, geese, bears, raccoons, deer and more. Corn can easily harbor aflatoxins, which are naturally occurring toxins produced by a fungus affecting a variety of crops. It is harmful even in low doses. Therefore, don’t let the corn get wet. Put out only enough that can be eaten in a day in wet or humid conditions and rake up old corn.
Peanuts
Peanuts
Peanuts
Jay, Crow, Chickadee, Woodpeckers, Tufted Titmouse, Nuthatches
This high fat food is also a favorite of squirrels, bears, raccoons, and others that you don’t want to supplement with feed. Keep peanuts dry as they also may contain aflatoxins and put out only that which can be eaten within the day.
Rapeseed
Rapeseed
Rapeseed
Quails, Mourning dove, Goldfinch, House finch, Purple finch, Juncos
Nyjer seed
Nyjer seed
Niger or Nyjer ® (also incorrectly called thistle seed)
Goldfinch, House finch, Purple finch, Indigo bunting, Mourning Dove, Dark-eyed junco, Pine siskin
Suet
Suet
Suet
Chickadee, Nuthatches, Tufted titmouse, Carolina wren, Woodpeckers
Mealworms
Mealworms
Waxworms & Mealworms
A favorite of insect-eating birds such as:
Bluebirds, Flickers, Woodpeckers
Tangerine
Tangerine
Fruit
Baltimore Oriole, Eastern Bluebird
Do not provide
Red millet, Golden millet, or Flax. These are fillers. None of our birds prefer them, and in fact discard them for more preferable seed. If left on the ground they get moldy and harbor disease-producing organisms such as fungi and bacteria.
Get a new hobby by joining Project FeederWatch, a bird counting program through Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Count birds that come to your feeder or water source November to April. Novice to expert bird watchers can participate. Its not too late to sign up. Go to Project FeederWatch for more information and to sign up.
Sources:
National Bird-feeding Society
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Tags: bird diet, bird feeder, bird food, bird seed, birdseed, black oil sunflower, cardinal, chickadee, corn, crow, dove, feeder, finch, goldfinch, grosbeak, jay, junco, mealworms, millet, mourning dove, niger, nuthatch, nyjer, oriole, peanuts, pine siskin, rapeseed, safflower, sparrow, squirrel, striped sunflower seed, suet, sunflower seed, thistle seed, tufted titmouse, turkey, waxworms, winter birdfeeding, woodpecker
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