Seed blocks are a popular food source put out in gardens to attract and feed birds. They come in a variety of recipes but typically contain seeds, nuts, dried fruit, suet and mealworms. Many different bird species will visit seed blocks for an easy, high energy meal.
What are seed blocks?
Seed blocks, also known as bird blocks or bird seed cakes, are a compressed or solid block containing a mixture of seeds, nuts, dried fruit, suet and mealworms. The ingredients are bound together with suet or vegetable fat. They can be bought ready-made from shops or made at home. Seed blocks are usually hung up on bird feeders, attached to trees or fences, or placed on bird tables for birds to feast on.
The most common seeds used are black sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, millet, oats, wheat, maize, pinhead oatmeal and flaked barley. Nuts include peanut granules, chopped peanuts and hazelnuts. Dried fruit like raisins, sultanas, currants and chopped apple are included for extra energy. Suet provides fat which birds need for energy and insulation in winter. Mealworms add an extra protein kick.
The combination of ingredients in seed blocks provides a nutritious, high energy food source that attracts a wide variety of garden birds. The compressed block shape and solid consistency prevents much of the seed being scattered on the ground where it is wasted and can attract rats.
What birds eat from seed blocks?
A wide variety of common garden birds will feed from seed blocks including:
- Tits (Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit)
- Finches (Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin)
- Sparrows (House sparrow, Tree sparrow)
- Buntings (Reed bunting, Yellowhammer)
- Thrushes (Blackbird, Song thrush, Mistle thrush, Redwing)
- Robins
- Wrens
- Dunnocks
- Woodpeckers (Great spotted woodpecker, Green woodpecker)
- Nuthatches
- Jackdaws
- Doves and pigeons (Collared dove, Woodpigeon, Stock dove)
- Starlings
Some birds that like seed blocks include:
Tits
Small acrobatic birds like blue tits, great tits, coal tits and marsh tits will clinging onto the blocks and peck away at the surface. They will keep returning throughout the day to feed in quick bursts.
Finches
Seed eating finches thrive off the variety of small seeds in the blocks. Chaffinches, greenfinches, goldfinches and siskins will all feed from them.
Sparrows
Both house sparrows and tree sparrows will enjoy the seed mix in blocks. House sparrows in particular gather in small flocks and can get through a block quickly.
Woodpeckers
Woodpeckers like the great spotted woodpecker and green woodpecker will also feed from the blocks, normally early mornings and late afternoons. They will use their strong beaks to break into and excavate the blocks.
Thrushes
Thrushes including blackbirds, song thrushes and redwings feed from blocks, eating the fruit along with the seeds and mealworms.
Other birds
Smaller birds that will feed from seed blocks include robins, wrens, dunnocks, jackdaws, doves and starlings. Nuthatches and treecreepers may also pick at them.
Benefits of seed blocks
There are several benefits of using seed blocks:
- They attract a wide range of birds as they contain a variety of ingredients like seeds, fruit, nuts and protein.
- The hard block shape means seeds stay in place and aren’t scattered on the ground.
- Squirrels and large birds find it harder to monopolize blocks.
- They can be placed where birds naturally gather such as bird tables or feeders.
- Blocks provide high energy food through the winter when natural food is scarce.
- Suet helps provide fat and calories birds need to survive cold temperatures.
- Mealworms provide essential protein for breeding birds.
- They are very easy to use – just hang up and birds will come.
What seeds do birds like best in blocks?
The most popular seeds that attract birds to blocks are:
Sunflower seeds
The small black sunflower seeds with their high oil and calorie content are relished by seed-eating garden birds. They will attract house sparrows, finches, tits and greenfinches to feed.
Nyjer seeds
The tiny black nyjer seeds are loved by finches like goldfinches and siskins. They are packed with nutrition.
Millet
Small white millet seeds will bring in house sparrows. Millet is high in carbohydrates and protein.
Pinhead oatmeal
Pinhead oatmeal is excellent food for robins and thrushes who will consume the oats along with dried fruit within blocks.
Sultanas and raisins
Dried fruit like sultanas and raisins add natural sweetness and extra energy. Blackbirds and thrushes will seek them out in blocks.
Peanuts
Chopped peanuts and peanut granules appeal to tits, woodpeckers and house sparrows. Peanuts have high fat and protein.
Mixing multiple seed types creates a nutritious, energy dense food source. This encourages different bird species to feed from the same block.
Do birds prefer seed blocks or loose seed?
Both seed blocks and loose seed mixes have their advantages. Here is comparison:
Seed blocks | Loose mixed seed |
---|---|
Hard block stays put, less wastage | Seeds more easily scattered on ground |
Discourages large birds | Allows larger birds like pigeons to feed |
Concentrated food source | Requires bird table or seed feeder |
Higher suet and nut content | More choice of individual seeds |
Seed blocks are more suitable if you want to deter large bird species or cannot fit feeders. Loose seed gives more control over the seed mixture. Offering both seed blocks and loose seeds covers all choices.
What birds don’t eat seed blocks?
Some birds are not attracted to seed blocks. These include:
- Soft-billed birds like blackcaps and warblers who prefer insects and fruit.
- Reed buntings who prefer softer green seeds from grasses.
- Birds with weak beaks like blue tits who can access insect feeders easier.
- Larger pigeons who feed better from scatter feeds on the ground.
- Crows who are omnivores and eat beetles, worms, fruit and small animals.
- Birds of prey like sparrowhawks who hunt small mammals and birds.
However, the majority of common garden birds in the UK will be attracted to feed from seed blocks, especially in winter when natural food is in short supply.
Where to position seed blocks for birds?
Good places to position seed blocks include:
- Hanging from trees or bird feeder poles at around head height.
- Attached to or nailed onto bird tables.
- Wedged in fences.
- Slotted into old logs with holes drilled into them.
- Speared onto the top of metal rods sunk into the ground.
- Placed on flat surfaces like patio slabs or garden benches.
Aim for sheltered positions out of the wind and rain. Near trees or bushes allows small birds to dart in and out for cover. Place blocks where natural bird activity occurs such as near fruit trees or established feeders. Avoid locations too near low cover for cats to stalk from.
How to make your own seed blocks?
It is easy to make homemade seed blocks using just a few ingredients:
Ingredients
- Bird seed mix such as sunflower hearts, nyjer seeds, millet, oats
- Chopped peanuts or sultanas
- Mealworms
- Suet or lard
- Mixing bowl
- Seed block tin or small yoghurt pot with string
Method
- Melt the fat like suet or lard in a pan or microwave.
- Mix the dry ingredients like seeds, nuts, dried fruit in a bowl.
- Pour the melted fat into the dry mix and stir together thoroughly. Add mealworms.
- Spoon the seed mixture into a seed block tin or yoghurt pots.
- Push down and smooth off the surface before leaving to set.
- Turn out the solid blocks and hang outside for birds to enjoy.
Customize your own seed block recipes with your favourite ingredients. Make them throughout autumn and winter when birds need them most.
Conclusion
Seed blocks provide an excellent high energy food source for over 20 species of common garden birds. Smaller birds like tits, finches and sparrows can access the nutritious seeds, fruit and insects within the blocks. They attract birds through the winter when natural food is scarce. Position blocks where birds naturally gather for ease of feeding. Make your own seed block recipes to attract birds and keep them thriving.