New Hampshire’s diverse range of habitats – from the White Mountains to coastal wetlands – support over 300 species of birds. Providing the right kinds of food is crucial for attracting and sustaining healthy backyard bird populations throughout the year. Here are some key questions and answers to help determine the best bird food for New Hampshire:
What are the most common backyard birds in New Hampshire?
According to the New Hampshire Audubon Society, some of the most common backyard birds in New Hampshire include:
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Downy Woodpecker
- Blue Jay
- Tufted Titmouse
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Northern Cardinal
- Song Sparrow
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Mourning Dove
- American Goldfinch
Providing food that meets the dietary needs of chickadees, woodpeckers, juncos, nuthatches, jays, cardinals, doves, sparrows, and finches will help attract and sustain a diversity of bird species throughout the year.
What types of food do common backyard birds eat?
Different birds have adapted to eat different types of food:
- Insect-eaters like chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers rely heavily on insects and will benefit from suet feeders.
- Seed-eaters like juncos, sparrows, doves, and finches prefer seeds from grasses, flowers, vegetables, and trees.
- Fruit-eaters like blue jays and cardinals enjoy berries and fruits from trees and shrubs.
Providing a mixture of foods will help meet the dietary needs of the many different backyard birds found in New Hampshire.
What are the best bird food types to offer in New Hampshire?
Here are some of the top-rated bird foods to offer in New Hampshire:
Seeds
- Sunflower seeds – This oily seed is relished by cardinals, chickadees, finches, nuthatches, sparrows, jays, and doves. Black-oil sunflower seeds have thin shells and high fat content.
- Nyjer seeds – Small, black, and full of oil, nyjer seeds are a favorite of finches like American Goldfinches.
- Safflower seeds – Cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, and titmouse favor these white seeds with tough shells. Squirrels tend to avoid them.
- Cracked corn – Appreciated by jays, doves, sparrows, and cardinals. More likely to attract squirrels.
- Millet – The small, round white and red seeds are enjoyed by sparrows, juncos and doves.
Suet
- Suet cakes or kernels – High-fat suet provides much-needed energy and fat reserves for insect-eating birds like chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers. Offer in mesh suet feeders.
- Mealworms – Live or dried mealworms are relished by bluebirds, wrens, and robins in the spring and summer months when they are feeding their young.
Fruit
- Chopped raisins, currants, or cranberries – These dried fruits provide a burst of energy and are enjoyed by jays, woodpeckers, chickadees, and thrushes.
- Apple chunks – Fresh apple pieces attract orioles, bluebirds, thrushes, and cardinals.
- Orange halves – Orioles, tanagers, and grosbeaks will come to eat fresh orange halves.
Nutritious blends
- Woodpecker food – Mix of nuts, seeds, and fruit relished by woodpeckers, nuthatches, jays and thrushes.
- Finch food – Nyjer thistle and fine hulled sunflower seeds preferred by goldfinches and other finches.
- Dove food – A blend of millet, milo, cracked corn, safflower, sunflower chips, and peanut hearts that attracts doves.
- Songbird food – Mixed seeds, nuts and fruits to attract a diversity of backyard birds.
What are the best bird feeders to use?
Using a variety of feeder styles helps meet the feeding preferences of different backyard birds in New Hampshire:
Feeder Type | Recommended Foods | Birds Attracted |
---|---|---|
Hopper or house feeder | Sunflower seeds, blends | Cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, grosbeaks, finches |
Tube feeder | Sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds | Finches, chickadees, titmice |
Platform feeder | All seed types, hulls acceptable | Jays, doves, sparrows, juncos, cardinals |
Suet feeder | Suet cakes, kernels, insect larvae | Woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees |
Fruit feeder | Halved fruits, raisins, cranberries | Orioles, tanagers, thrushes, woodpeckers |
Ground feeder | Mixed seeds, scratch grains | Juncos, doves, sparrows |
Position feeders at different heights and in different locations to attract the most diversity of birds.
When and how often should I put out bird food?
Feeding birds year-round provides essential energy reserves for overwintering and migrating birds. Here are some tips:
- Begin feeding in late fall before winter weather arrives so birds become accustomed to feeders.
- Offer foods year-round, replenishing emptied feeders daily.
- Provide fresh water for drinking and bathing. Heated birdbaths help provide liquid water in winter.
- Clean feeders regularly with a diluted bleach solution to prevent spread of disease.
- Shift feeder locations periodically to avoid buildup of waste.
What kind of bird food should I offer in winter vs summer?
Birds need higher calorie foods in winter to survive cold nights and Migration. In summer, birds focus more on feeding their young protein-rich foods.
For winter feeding
- Black oil sunflower seeds
- Suet
- Peanut kernels
- Nyjer seeds
- Dried fruit like raisins, cranberries and currants
For summer feeding
- Live mealworms
- Dried insects like beetle bits
- Fruits like orange halves, apple chunks, bananas
- Nuts, including chopped peanuts and hazelnuts
- Sunflower seeds and nyjer seeds for finches raising young
What kind of bird food should I avoid?
Some foods that seem appealing can actually harm birds. Avoid:
- Moldy or spoiled food that could cause illness
- Foods with bacterial or fungal growth
- Poor quality seed mixes with lots of filler seeds
- Dyed seeds or suet
- Fatty foods like bacon fat in hot months that could spoil
- Unsalted peanuts which can be toxic
- Chocolate or sugary foods
Stick to high quality, fresh foods designed for bird feeding for best results.
Conclusion
Attracting a diversity of backyard birds in New Hampshire requires providing a variety of foods and feeder types to match their dietary needs. Opt for high-quality black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer, suet, fruit, and nutritious blends. Use hopper feeders, tube feeders, platform feeders, suet feeders, fruit feeders, and ground feeders to attract the most species. Feed year-round, offering high fat foods in winter and high protein foods in summer. With a little trial and error, you can determine the best bird feeding setup to bring vibrant and lively birds to your New Hampshire backyard!