When it comes to feeding birds in your backyard, attracting a wide variety of different bird species can be a fun challenge. The type of bird seed you offer can play a major role in determining which birds visit your feeders. Some seeds attract common backyard birds like sparrows and doves, while other seeds appeal more to finicky feeders like chickadees and nuthatches. The variety of birds that show up will also depend on where you live and the native species in your area. By experimenting with different bird seed mixes and carefully observing the visitors to your feeders, you can figure out the optimal seed blend to bring in the greatest diversity of feathered friends!
What Types of Bird Seed Are There?
There are several major categories of bird seed that are readily available at pet stores and wildlife specialty shops. These include:
– Black oil sunflower seeds – Small, oil-rich seeds with thin shells. These are attractive to many birds and a good general-purpose offering. Chickadees, nuthatches, cardinals, woodpeckers, doves, jays, and grosbeaks may stop by for these nutritious seeds.
– Sunflower kernels – The inner kernel of the sunflower seed. Even easier for small birds to open and eat than black oil seeds. Chickadees prefer these.
– Safflower – Small white seeds that cardinals, titmice, finches, and chickadees enjoy. Squirrels dislike safflower, so it can help discourage them at feeders.
– Millet – Tiny, round white and yellow seeds. An affordable option that attracts ground-feeding birds like juncos, towhees, sparrows, and quail. Dove and sparrow favorites.
– Nyjer seed – Small, thin black seeds rich in oils. Particularly loved by finches like goldfinches, pine siskins, and common redpolls. Squirrels don’t like nyjer either.
– Peanuts – Offered whole or chopped. Woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, and jays will seek these out. Can attract squirrels as well.
– Cracked corn – A cheap seed option that jays, doves, pheasants, quail, and other medium-large bird species will readily eat. Sparrows enjoy it too. Can quickly spoil when wet.
– Mixed bird seed – A pre-made blend of several seed types like millet, sunflower, safflower, cracked corn, and more. Provides variety to appeal to different bird preferences. Check ingredients carefully for filler seeds.
– Suet – High-fat seed cakes made from rendered animal fat, seeds, and grains. Offered in cages or mesh bags. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, and wrens relish suet.
What Are the Most Popular Bird Seeds?
Based on widespread bird feeding wisdom, some seeds seem to attract a larger breadth of backyard birds than others. Here are some of the most popular bird seed choices for a diverse flock:
Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
Arguably the overall favorite bird seed, black oil sunflower seeds attract over 40 species of birds including cardinal, chickadees, finches, nuthatches, sparrows, mourning doves, blue jays, and woodpeckers. They have thin shells and high fat and protein content appealing to many small-beaked birds. Offer these seeds in tubular feeders, hopper feeders, or platform feeders. Scatter some on the ground for ground-feeding birds too.
Nyjer Seed
Nyjer’s small size and rich oil content earned its popularity with dainty finches like American goldfinches, pine siskins, and redpolls. Few other birds can handle nyjer’s tiny size. It’s usually offered in specialty tube feeders with small ports. The oil content can stain, so position nyjer feeders over non-porous surfaces if possible.
Suet
Suet is beloved by insect-eating birds thanks to its fat and protein. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, wrens, and chickadees relish suet. Make sure to offer suet in specialized suet cages to prevent access by larger animals and keep it from melting in warm weather. Insect-eating migrants like warblers may visit suet feeders in spring and fall for extra energy.
Peanuts
Offer peanuts in or out of the shell – cardinals, jays, chickadees, titmice, and woodpeckers love them! Sparrows and finches will also feed on bits of peanut. Just be aware, peanuts also attract squirrels and they can choke hazards for small birds if not offered carefully.
What Are the Best Bird Seed Blends to Try?
Picking a pre-made seed blend can take some guess work out of seed selection. You can sempreiment later by adding more specialized seeds as needed. Here are some pre-made mixes that provide good general nutrition:
– Songbird or wild bird mixes – These mixes contain primarily black oil sunflower, with cracked corn, millet, safflower, and sometimes peanuts. Avoid blends with a lot of filler grains like wheat, oats, and barley which birds don’t prefer.
– Premium or gourmet mixes – Pricier but higher quality blends without cheap filler grains. Will include more variety like sunflower kernels, dried fruit, peas, nuts, and shredded coconut. Often have more protein-packed seeds overall.
– No-mess mixes – These exclude messy hulls and shells like sunflower seed shells. May contain just sunflower kernels, nuts, fruit, and cracked corn. Easy for birds to eat and less mess below feeders but more expensive.
– Suet mixes – Combine suet with seeds, nuts, dried fruit and insects to attract the most insect-loving birds. Woodpeckers like combinations with nuts and fruit. Chickadees and nuthatches prefer insect-enriched suet cakes.
– Hummingbird mixes – Made of tiny nyjer seed and sometimes diced fruit. Designed to fit through teeny hummingbird feeder ports to attract these special birds.
How Do I Attract Specific Bird Species?
If you’re hoping to draw in certain star bird visitors, consider offering their favorite foods. Here are some tips to attract sought-after backyard species:
Northern cardinals – Cardinals relish safflower and sunflower seeds. They also like peanuts, fruit pieces, and suet. Offer seeds in open feeders or platforms.
Blue jays – These flashy birds enjoy sunflower seeds and peanuts but also like suet and cracked corn. Platforms, hoppers, and tray feeders suit them well.
Woodpeckers – Specialize with suet feeders stocked with suet blends high in nuts, seeds, and fruit. They also like black oil sunflower and peanuts.
Goldfinches – Nyjer seed in specialty finch feeders is the goldfinch favorite. They’ll also use thistle socks and thistle feeders.
Chickadees and nuthatches – Both love black oil sunflowers, nyjer, and suet. Offer smaller seeds in tube feeders they can easily perch on.
Doves and quail – These ground birds want millet, safflower, cracked corn, and black oil sunflower scattered on platforms or the ground.
Hummingbirds – Draw them in with a nectar feeder filled with sugary hummingbird food/nectar. Switch to nyjer seed in fall/winter.
Sparrows and juncos – Mixed seeds on platform feeders or on the ground make these ground foragers happy, especially millet and black oil sunflower.
Crows – In the corvid family with jays, crows are attracted to peanuts, sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and soft suet.
What Are Some Bird Seed Tips to Maximize Variety?
Follow these handy tips when offering bird seed:
– Experiment with different seeds and blends to see what your local birds like. Their preferences may surprise you! Observe to note their favorites.
– Use a variety of different feeder types like tubes, hoppers, ground platforms, suet feeders, and specialty feeders to accommodate different birds’ feeding styles.
– Rotate seed offerings so birds don’t get bored with the same old mix.
– Consider shells and hulls in your feeder placement. Birds drop them below feeders as they eat, so place feeders above non-porous surfaces if possible for easier cleaning.
– Add fruit slices, mealworms, crushed eggshells, oats, and other tasty morsels to your seed buffet for diversity. Fruit attracts robins, bluebirds, mockingbirds, and orioles.
– Clean feeders regularly to prevent moldy seed which can harm birds. Discard old seed soaked by rain or snow.
– Observe feeding times to note when your yard is busiest. Plan refills and maintenance for off-peak hours.
– Squirrel-proof feeders allow seed-loving birds access while blocking greedy squirrels. Close feeder ports, use weight mechanisms, employ cages, or install baffles above feeders to foil squirrels.
– Position feeders to provide birds cover and protection from predators while feeding. Near trees and shrubs is ideal.
Conclusion
Attracting a large variety of bird species to your yard requires offering several different types of bird seed and feeders. Come up with a diversity strategy based on the birds common to your location. Sunflower seeds, nyjer, suet, peanuts, and mixed blends provide a good starting point. Then continue adding specialty seeds, fruits, feeder styles, and feeding locations to maximize the number of winged visitors who stop by your backyard buffet! With time, attention, and patience, you can create an enticing birdwatching haven right outside your window.