When it comes to feeding backyard birds, having a quality all-around bird food can help attract a wide variety of species to your yard. With so many bird food options on the market, it can be tricky to determine what the best choice is for your feathered friends. In this article, we’ll explore what makes a good general bird food, factors to consider when selecting one, and provide some recommendations for top-rated all-purpose bird feeds. Having a go-to food that meets the needs of many common backyard birds can make your bird feeding station a popular stopover spot for your local avian residents.
What Makes a Good All-Around Bird Food?
An all-around or general bird food is one designed to appeal to the largest number of backyard bird species possible. To attract diverse birds, a quality multi-purpose bird food should contain:
Variety of Ingredients
Offering a mix of seeds, nuts, fruits and insects will interest the most species. Birds have differed diets and preferences, so providing options caters to many.
High-Quality Ingredients
The best foods contain premium, human-grade ingredients that are nutritionally sound. This includes varieties of seeds, nuts, fruits, non-filler grains and real dried mealworms or fruit. Low quality fillers like milo and wheat should be avoided.
Varied Seed Types and Sizes
A range of oil-rich seeds appeals to many birds. Incorporating several types like millet, sunflower seeds (black oil preferred), safflower, peanuts (shelled or pieces) and nyjer attracts more species. A mix of sizes, from fine nyjer to large peanuts, also draws various birds.
Minimal Mess
The food shouldn’t be overly loose and crumbly, so it doesn’t get scattered across the ground. Some filler is fine to bind it, but avoid excessive grains that birds won’t consume. Tidy foods keep feeding areas cleaner.
Year-Round Formula
Look for foods labeled for year-round feeding so nutritional balance won’t be lacking in any season. Or foods can be mixed and matched by season if needed.
Factors in Choosing an All-Around Bird Food
When selecting a general bird food, take into account the following factors:
Your Location
Consider your region and the types of birds common to your area. Northeastern, Southeastern, Southwestern and Northwestern blends cater to popular species in those areas.
Time of Year
Seeds and fruits favored by birds can vary by season. Offer more oily, fat-rich seeds in colder months and fruits/insects in warmer months when energy needs differ.
Your Budget
Higher quality all-around blends usually cost more than basic mixes. But they also deliver superior nutrition and less waste. Determine how much you can spend to strike the right balance.
Food Freshness
Check packaging dates and buy newly stocked food. Seeds and nuts can go rancid, reducing birds’ interest. Use food before expiration dates.
Your Bird Population and Activity
Note how quickly your feeder empties to gauge if you need standard or high-energy (more fat/protein) options. Buy larger amounts for frequent bird activity.
Feeder Type
Pick a blend suitable for your feeder type, like tube feeders, hopper or platform feeders and suet feeders. Consider seed sizes and textures.
Special Dietary Needs
If trying to attract certain species like finches or woodpeckers, choose foods catering to their preferences. Specific needs can be met while still offering general appeal.
Top-Rated All-Purpose Bird Foods
Here are some top picks for quality all-around birdseed blends to try:
Brand | Blend Name | Key Features |
---|---|---|
Wagner’s | Four Season Wild Bird Food | – Features top-rated black oil sunflower, bird favorite |
– No cheap fillers | ||
– Shelled peanuts for extra protein | ||
– Contains fruit like raisins, cranberries and cherries | ||
Pennington | Cardinal Blend Birdseed | – Designed for cardinals but attracts various species |
– No filler seeds | ||
– High sunflower content | ||
– Peanuts add fat and protein | ||
Audubon Park | Premium Blend Birdseed | – Provides carbohydrates, protein and fat for nutrition |
– Contains 15 seed types | ||
– Peanuts and tree nuts add protein | ||
– Dried fruit and corn appeal to various species |
Choosing Bird Food by Feeder Type
Some all-purpose blends are better suited for certain feeder types depending on seed sizes, textures and formats.
Tube Feeders
Tube feeders accommodate smaller seeds that can flow through their openings. Blends with millet, nyjer, safflower and fine, shelled sunflower pieces work best. Mixes with whole peanuts may get stuck.
Hopper Feeders
Hopper feeders can handle mixes with larger seeds, nuts and dried fruit. Look for foods with black oil sunflower, peanuts, millet, cracked corn and similar ingredients tailored to these feeders.
Platform Feeders
Platform feeders give access to all birds so they can accommodate any food type. Choose blends with ingredients preferred by ground-feeding birds like fruit, nuts and coarse sunflower seeds.
Suet Feeders
Suet feeders hold suet cakes or plugs made of animal fat and seeds like sunflower and millet embedded for cling-feeding birds. Select cakes with nuts, berries and insects too.
Meeting Special Dietary Needs
You can cater to birds with particular food preferences while still offering broad appeal by choosing mixes that contain:
Nyjer
Finches crave nyjer, so blends with these tiny, thistle-like black seeds attract them. But other birds enjoy nyjer too in moderation.
Fruit and Berries
Robins, waxwings and mockingbirds relish dried fruit like raisins, cranberries and cherries. Seek mixtures with both fruit and birdseed.
Peanuts
Many birds including woodpeckers, chickadees and titmice flock to peanuts. Blends with shelled or crushed nuts satisfy these birds.
No-Mess Options
Clean gobblers like mourning doves prefer low-mess seeds like shelled sunflower and safflower. No-waste mixes reduce cleanup.
Insect Add-Ins
Dried mealworms attract insect-loving birds like bluebirds and woodpeckers. Suet with insect larvae also appeals.
Conclusion
Choosing a versatile, all-around bird food allows you to easily feed a diverse range of feathered visitors all year. Seek top quality blends with variety, minimal filler and ingredients to meet birds’ dietary needs. Tailor your choice to your feeder type, regional birds and budget. With a little research, you can find a great general birdseed to become your feeder’s staple food and delight both common and special diet birds in your yard. Offering an all-purpose food eliminates the guesswork so you can spend more time enjoying the bird show!