Feeders & Food
Which Bird Seed Attracts Which Birds? A Feeder Food Guide
Black-oil sunflower, nyjer, safflower, millet, suet, peanuts and more: which backyard birds each food attracts, which feeder it needs, and how to avoid paying for seed birds kick to the ground.
Walk down the bird food aisle and you will find dozens of bags promising to bring in cardinals, finches or "wild birds" in general. Most of those mixes are built from the same handful of ingredients. Learn what each one does, and you can buy exactly what your visitors eat instead of paying for filler that ends up on the ground.
This guide is based on the food recommendations from Project FeederWatch, the long-running feeder survey run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada.
The quick-reference table
| Food | Birds it attracts | Best feeder | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black-oil sunflower | Cardinals, chickadees, finches, sparrows and many more | Tube, hopper or platform | Shells pile up under feeders |
| Hulled sunflower | Same birds as sunflower in the shell | Tube, hopper or platform | Spoils faster; keep it dry |
| Nyjer ("thistle") | American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll | Feeder with very small ports | Wasted if mixed with other seed |
| Safflower | Cardinals and other big-billed birds | Hopper or platform | Many birds still prefer sunflower |
| Millet | Juncos, sparrows and other small ground feeders | Ground or low platform | Often filler in cheap mixes |
| Cracked corn | Doves, quail, sparrows | Ground or platform | Can draw large flocks and mammals |
| Suet | Woodpeckers and other insect-eating birds | Suet cage | Can go rancid in summer heat |
| Peanuts | Jays (in shell); chickadees, nuthatches, titmice (shelled) | Platform or peanut feeder | Never salted or flavored |
| Mealworms | Chickadees, titmice, wrens, nuthatches, bluebirds | Flat tray or mealworm feeder | Higher cost per serving |
| Fruit | Orioles, mockingbirds, catbirds, robins, waxwings | Platform or fruit spike | Remove before it molds |
Black-oil sunflower: the one seed to start with
If you buy only one food, make it black-oil sunflower. FeederWatch calls it the most common seed offered at feeders in North America and explains why: the seeds are high in energy and have thin shells that small-billed birds can crack easily. It lists cardinals, chickadees, finches and sparrows among the birds that favor it.
Black-oil sunflower works in nearly every feeder style. The main downside is the pile of empty shells beneath the feeder, which you will need to rake up regularly.
Hulled sunflower (sometimes sold as "no mess" or sunflower hearts) is the same seed without the shell. FeederWatch notes that many birds prefer this easy meal and that it reduces the chaff under feeders, but it spoils faster than seed in the shell, so keep it dry and buy smaller amounts.
Nyjer for finches
Nyjer is often called thistle, but FeederWatch points out that it comes from Guizotia abyssinica, a plant native to Africa, and is not related to North American thistles. It is a strong draw for American Goldfinches, Pine Siskins and Common Redpolls.
Nyjer seed is tiny, so it needs a feeder with very small ports or a mesh "finch sock." FeederWatch recommends offering it by itself rather than in a mix to prevent waste. Keep it dry and replace it if it clumps or smells musty.
Safflower for cardinals
Safflower looks like a small white sunflower seed. FeederWatch says it attracts cardinals and other big-billed birds, while adding that most birds prefer sunflower in its experience. Some people use safflower because it is less popular with certain birds and animals, but treat that as something to test in your own yard rather than a guarantee.
Millet, corn and oats for ground feeders
Not every bird likes to perch at a hanging feeder. Juncos, many sparrows, doves and quail prefer to feed on the ground.
- White proso millet is a small, round grain that FeederWatch describes as a favored food of many smaller, ground-foraging birds. A handful scattered on the ground or a low platform keeps juncos and sparrows busy.
- Cracked corn attracts doves, quail and sparrows, and FeederWatch suggests mixing it with millet on the ground or a platform.
- Oats are rarely in modern mixes but can attract doves and quail.
Ground feeding attracts mammals too, so put out only what birds will finish in a day and clean up leftovers.
Milo and other mix fillers
Milo is the reddish, round grain common in inexpensive mixes. FeederWatch notes that western birds tend to eat milo more than eastern birds. If you live in the East and see red seeds piling up uneaten under your feeder, that is a sign to switch to a mix with more sunflower and less filler.
Read the ingredient list on any mix. The first ingredient is usually the largest by weight.
Suet, peanuts and mealworms for insect-eaters
Birds that eat insects in summer still visit feeders, but they want high-fat or high-protein food.
- Suet is a good choice for insect-eating birds such as woodpeckers. FeederWatch warns that suet that has not been specially processed can turn rancid in hot weather, so choose "no-melt" cakes in summer or offer suet mainly in cold months.
- Peanuts can be offered in or out of the shell. Jays will carry off whole peanuts to store, while chickadees, nuthatches and titmice do better with shelled peanuts. Avoid salted or flavored peanuts.
- Mealworms, dried or live, appeal to chickadees, titmice, wrens and nuthatches, and FeederWatch says they are one of the only foods that reliably attract bluebirds.
Fruit and nectar
Orioles will come to oranges cut in half, and mockingbirds, catbirds, bluebirds, robins and waxwings may eat fruit such as grapes and raisins without preservatives. Remove fruit before it molds.
For hummingbirds, FeederWatch's recipe is one part white sugar to four parts boiling water, cooled before filling. It suggests a slightly more diluted mix — one part sugar to six parts water — for orioles. See our guide on cleaning feeders for how often to replace nectar.
How to avoid wasting seed
- Match the food to the birds you actually see
- Offer nyjer on its own in a small-port feeder
- Buy mixes with sunflower as the first ingredient
- Keep seed in a sealed, dry container
- Put out amounts birds will finish in a few days
- Rake up hulls and uneaten seed under feeders
Frequently asked questions
What is the best bird seed for attracting the most birds?
Black-oil sunflower seed. Project FeederWatch describes it as the most commonly offered feeder seed in North America and a favorite of many species, including cardinals, chickadees, finches and sparrows.
Why are birds throwing seed out of my feeder?
Birds often sort through mixes to find the seeds they like and kick the rest out. Switching to a single food such as black-oil sunflower, or a mix with less filler, usually reduces the waste.
Is it safe to feed birds bread or kitchen scraps?
Bread fills birds up without providing much nutrition. Stick with seed, suet, unsalted peanuts and fresh fruit, and avoid anything salted, seasoned or moldy.
Sources
Related entries
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