Bird watching is a popular hobby for many people. It provides enjoyment and relaxation to watch colorful, feathered friends visiting your backyard. A key element to attracting a diversity of bird species is providing the right seeds and grains in your feeders. But with so many birdseed mixes on the market, it can be confusing to determine what is best.
The type of bird species commonly found in your area will be the biggest factor in deciding which birdseed is optimal. The seeds and grains that appeal to different birds vary. There are also birdseed options specifically tailored to attract certain birds. Understanding the dietary preferences of birds you wish to draw to your yard is helpful in selecting birdseed.
What Bird Species are in My Area?
Before choosing birdseed, spend time observing and identifying what types of birds frequent your region. Some seed eaters like finches and sparrows are widespread across North America. While other species like hummingbirds may only be seasonal in certain locations. Backyard bird watching guides and mobile apps can aid in recognizing birds in your environment.
Common backyard birds attracted to bird feeders in the United States include:
- Chickadees
- Nuthatches
- Titmouse
- Cardinals
- Finches
- Sparrows
- Doves
- Jays
- Woodpeckers
- Orioles
- Warblers
- Wrens
The varieties most attracted to birdseed are seed and grain eating songbirds. But you may also spot insect-eating birds like woodpeckers, jays, and chickadees enjoying seed too. Orioles, tanagers, and grosbeaks will feed on fruit, nectar, and jelly feeders.
What Foods Attract Birds?
Many birds are naturally seed eaters and grain comprises the mainstay diet for most species attracted to feeders. Birds have preferences for certain seeds over others. Knowing what birdseed ingredients are favored by birds can help narrow choices.
Here are the most popular seeds to attract backyard birds:
- Black oil sunflower seeds – Enjoyed by over 25 bird species like cardinals, finches, nuthatches, titmouse, chickadees, and doves.
- Sunflower chips – Smaller fragments appealing to small beaked birds.
- Nyjer seed – A tiny black seed loved by finches like goldfinches and pine siskins.
- Safflower – Cardinals, chickadees, titmouse, nuthatches, and doves eat these white seeds.
- Millet – Attracts ground-feeding birds like juncos, towhees, and sparrows.
- Cracked corn – Doves, crows, ducks, sparrows, jays and other large birds will consume.
- Peanuts – Woodpeckers, chickadees, titmouse, and jays will gorge on these.
Mixes that combine several favored seeds tend to attract the most species. Sunflower and safflower seeds are bird favorites. Nyjer and peanuts also entice birds like finches and woodpeckers that prefer tiny morsels.
Types of Birdseed
With a variety of birdseed types available, you can select mixtures suited to the birds in your habitat. Here are some common options:
- General purpose mix – Contain 5+ seed types to attract diverse birds.
- Premium/gourmet mixes – Higher amounts of preferred sunflower seeds and nuts.
- No-mess mixes – Mostly shelled seeds to reduce hulls.
- Nyjer seed – Pure nyjer for finches.
- Suet mixes – Seeds, nuts, fruit, and suet formed into cakes.
- Fruit and berry mixes – Cranberries, raisins, cherries for thrushes and mockingbirds.
- Specialty mixes – Tailored to species like woodpeckers, doves, quail, etc.
Homemade birdseed mixes are an alternative so you can control the ingredients. Recipes allow combining favored seeds of birds in your yard.
Important Birdseed Considerations
Beyond the seed ingredients, a few other factors contribute to choosing the best birdseed that will satisfy your neighborhood flock.
Type of Feeder
Match the seed or mix to the feeder type. Larger seeds work better in hopper, tray, or platform feeders. Nyjer and hulled seeds are suited for tube feeders which small birds access through ports. Suet mixes go in cage feeders.
Seed Size
Different birds have different sized beaks. Smaller seeds like nyjer or hulled sunflowers cater to birds with tiny beaks like finches. Larger seeds appeal to big beaked birds such as cardinals and grosbeaks. A variety of seed sizes in mixes provides options for more species.
Nutritional Content
High oil content sunflower seeds offer more calories for energy. Suet mixes provide fat and protein bird diets need. Having a feeder with nutritious, high-fat fare is especially helpful for birds in winter.
Freshness
Birdseed, particularly mixes with fruit, needs occasional replacement to avoid spoiling. Dump old seed to eliminate fungus, bacteria, or insects spreading disease. Date and store unused birdseed in rodent-proof containers.
Mess and Waste
Birdseed hulls dropped below feeders can accumulate. Opt for no mess mixes or use tray feeders to catch debris. Rotating multiple feeder locations allows resting grass areas.
Cost
Seed prices fluctuate with sunflower crops. Buying in bulk bags saves money for frequent bird feeders. Try mixing budget seeds like millet or cracked corn with premium sunflower and nuts to reduce costs.
Top-Rated Birdseed Mixes
With a multitude of birdseed products on the market, it helps to have expert guidance on quality mixes birds love. Here are top picks based on wild bird store recommendations and feedback from experienced birders.
Wagner’s Greatest Exclusives No Mess Blend
This blend of shelled sunflower chips, kernels, safflower, peanuts, and tree nuts appeals to a wide variety of birds. The no-mess formula attracts birds, but reduces wasted hulls.
Lyric Ultimate Blend
Black oil sunflower, sunflower chips, peanuts, and suet are the all-stars in this mix designed to entice the greatest number of birds.
Pennington Cardinal Blend
A mix enriched with safflower seeds to target cardinals also satisfies chickadees, finches, woodpeckers, and titmouse.
Kaytee Supreme Mix
Combining peanuts, sunflower seeds, corn, millet, and cereals attracts scrub jays and stellar jays in western states.
Brown’s Squirrel Buster Blend
Minimizes waste from squirrels with ingredients birds love like sunflower chips, peanuts, raisins, and dried mealworms.
Morning Song Birdwatcher’s Blend
This budget-friendly mix uses black oil sunflower, cracked corn, proso millet and oats to draw in chickadees, sparrows, juncos and more.
Birdseed Mix | Key Ingredients | Birds Attracted |
---|---|---|
Wagner’s Greatest Exclusives No Mess Blend | Shelled sunflower, safflower, peanuts, tree nuts | Cardinals, woodpeckers, titmouse, chickadees, finches |
Lyric Ultimate Blend | Black oil sunflower, sunflower chips, peanuts, suet | Wide variety including cardinals, woodpeckers, sparrows, jays |
Pennington Cardinal Blend | Safflower, sunflower, peanuts | Cardinals, chickadees, finches, woodpeckers, titmouse |
Kaytee Supreme Mix | Peanuts, corn, millet, cereals | Jays, woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches |
Brown’s Squirrel Buster Blend | Sunflower chips, peanuts, raisins, dried mealworms | Finches, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers |
Morning Song Birdwatcher’s Blend | Black oil sunflower, cracked corn, proso millet, oats | Sparrows, juncos, towhees, chickadees |
Choosing a Birdseed Mix
With an abundance of birdseed options, narrowing down the ideal mix may seem complicated. Follow these tips when selecting birdseed:
- Identify your common yard birds and research their favorite foods.
- Look for mixes with a variety of premium seeds liked by the most species.
- Consider nutrient-dense seeds like black oil sunflower and safflower for energy.
- Select a mix suited to your feeder type – tube, hopper, platform, etc.
- Check expiration dates and buy smaller amounts if the seed won’t be used quickly.
- Be willing to experiment with different mixes to find the best formula for your birds.
Providing quality birdseed will keep your feeders full of happy, feasting birds. Watching the colorful parade of feathered visitors rewarding your efforts with beauty and songs will brighten any day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall best birdseed?
Black oil sunflower seeds are the number one choice to attract the greatest variety of bird species. Sunflower seeds have a high fat and protein content for energy and nutrition. Over 25 types of birds enjoy sunflower seeds such as cardinals, chickadees, finches, woodpeckers, titmouse, nuthatches, and blue jays.
Should I get a birdseed mix or single seed?
Birdseed mixes allow you to cater to more species with different seed favorites. Combining sunflower, safflower, millet, cracked corn, and peanut pieces will appease more types of birds. Offering single seeds like nyjer or safflower can target specific birds, but excludes others.
What birdseed is best for winter?
High fat birdseeds like sunflower and peanuts are ideal for winter when birds need more calories to maintain energy and body heat. Suet and seed mixes with suet offer fat and protein. Avoid inexpensive fillers like milo and wheat that lack nutrition.
What is the best birdseed for cardinals?
Cardinals enjoy sunflower seeds and also readily eat safflower. A mix that contains both sunflower and safflower will reliably draw in cardinals. Adding some cracked corn, peanuts, and fruit will please cardinals too.
What birdseed is best for finches?
Finches dine almost exclusively on nyjer seed, also called thistle seed. The tiny size suits finches’ small beaks. Offering pure nyjer seed in specialized finch feeders will satisfy goldfinches, purple finches, and more.
What kind of birdseed attracts the most birds?
Black oil sunflower seeds attract the widest variety of birds. Over 25 species are sunflower fans, including blue jays, woodpeckers, titmouse, sparrows, finches, and cardinals. Combining sunflower with other favorites like safflower, peanuts, suet, millet, and corn pleases the most birds.
What birdseed should I avoid?
Cheap fillers like milo, oats, rice, and wheat have almost no nutritional value for birds. They lack fat and protein energy sources birds need. Avoid birdseed with artificial colors or preservatives which can harm birds. Stale seed can also grow mold.