Finches and sparrows are two of the most common backyard birds that visit bird feeders. Choosing the right type of bird seed can help attract more of these small songbirds to your yard. The best bird seeds for finches and sparrows are those that match their natural diets and meet their nutritional needs.
What do finches and sparrows eat?
Finches and sparrows are primarily seed-eating birds. In the wild, their diets consist mainly of small, hard seeds from grasses, weeds, and other plants. Some common seeds they consume include:
- Millet
- Nyjer
- Safflower
- Sunflower
- Oats
- Cracked corn
They use their strong, cone-shaped bills to crack open these seeds to access the inner seed kernel, which provides them energy and nutrients. Finches and sparrows also supplement their seed diets with insects, especially during nesting season when they need extra protein.
Best bird seed for finches
When it comes to bird seed for finches specifically, look for mixes that contain:
- Nyjer – Also called thistle, nyjer is a tiny, black oilseed that is a finch favorite. The small size allows finches to easily crack and eat it.
- Niger – This red-brown seed is high in fat and protein, providing finches energy.
- Millet – Various types of millet are enjoyed by finches, including white proso, red, and golden millet.
- Safflower – Finches like the small, white safflower seeds. Go for hulled safflower so the tough outer shell is removed.
- Canary seed – Another small seed finches prefer.
- Hemp – Hemp seed is packed with nutrition, so a little goes a long way.
- Flax – High in fat, flax seeds are an energy-dense treat.
- Oats – Whole or crushed oats appeal to finches.
Avoid cheaper “filler” seeds like milo and wheat that finches don’t eat as readily. Go for finch-specific mixes without a lot of sunflower seeds, which are favored by larger birds. Look for mixes with at least 25% nyjer seed. Offer nyjer in a special nyjer feeder with smaller ports since it’s expensive.
Best overall finch seed
Wagner’s Greatest Variety Blend for Finches has a mix of nyjer, niger, millet, safflower, canary, and more.
Best nyjer-based finch seed
Pennington Finch Blend has a 50/50 mix of nyjer and sunflower chips.
Best no-mess finch seed
Kaytee Supreme Finch Blend uses hulled seeds to reduce hulls and waste.
Best bird seed for sparrows
To attract sparrows, look for bird seed mixes with:
- Millet – Sparrows readily eat white proso and red millet.
- Cracked corn – Sparrows like the large pieces of cracked corn.
- Sunflower seeds – Go for black oil sunflower seeds, favored over striped.
- Safflower – Sparrows will eat hulled safflower seeds.
- Milo – This cheap grain is a good filler seed for sparrows.
- Wheat – Cracked or whole wheat attracts sparrows.
- Oats – Rolled or crushed oats appeal to sparrows.
Avoid nyjer seed, which is too small for sparrows. Choose mixes with at least 20% millet and corn. Offer separately from finch feeders to reduce waste.
Best overall sparrow seed
Wagner’s Greatest Variety Blend for Songbirds has a mix of millet, corn, sunflower, safflower, and more.
Best budget sparrow seed
Kaytee Supreme Daily Blend uses lots of millet, milo, and corn to keep costs low.
Best no-mess sparrow seed
Specialty Sparrow Mix by Lyric has mostly hulled seeds to reduce mess.
Important considerations
Here are some tips for selecting the best bird seed for attracting finches and sparrows:
- Go for blends over single seed types which lack nutritional variety.
- Choose seeds tailored to the birds you want to attract.
- Buy small quantities and replenish often for freshness.
- Select organic, non-GMO seeds when possible.
- Avoid seeds with artificial colors and preservatives.
- For finches, skip cheap “filler” seeds and choose higher nyjer content.
- For sparrows, pick mixes with more millet, corn, and sunflower.
- Consider hulled seeds to reduce mess from seed hulls.
- Offer thistle/nyjer seed in specialty feeders to reduce waste.
- Separate sparrow and finch feeders to minimize wasted uneaten seeds.
Following these tips will help you provide quality bird seed to attract more finches and sparrows to your yard. Monitor which seeds they prefer and adjust feeder offerings accordingly. Be sure to provide separate feeders for larger, more aggressive birds to prevent bullying. Offer fresh water for drinking and bathing as well. With the right bird seed, you’ll have lots of lively finches and sparrows feasting happily at your feeders.
Conclusion
Finches and sparrows thrive on small, nutrient-dense seeds that match their natural diets. The best bird seeds will be rich in millet, nyjer, safflower, sunflower, corn, and other small seeds and grains. Tailor seed mixes to the specific birds you want to attract. For finches, choose blends with higher amounts of nyjer and niger seed. For sparrows, pick mixes with more millet, cracked corn, and sunflower. Avoid filler seeds and go for human-grade, organic seeds when possible. Buy small amounts frequently for freshness. Offer the specialized seeds in tailored feeders to reduce waste. With a quality bird seed blend, you’ll attract a lively flock of feasting finches and sparrows to your backyard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of bird seed do finches eat?
Finches primarily eat small, hard seeds like nyjer, niger, millet, safflower, flax, hemp, and canary seed. Good finch seed mixes will contain at least 25% nyjer seed.
What bird seed do sparrows prefer?
Sparrows enjoy millet, cracked corn, sunflower seeds, safflower, milo, wheat, and oats. Choosing mixes with at least 20% millet and corn will help attract sparrows.
How much bird seed do finches eat?
Finches have very small stomachs so they eat small amounts frequently. Provide ample feeders and offer new seed daily. Finches may eat a couple teaspoons of seed per day.
How often should I put out bird seed?
Put out small amounts of bird seed each day, especially in hot weather when seeds spoil quickly. Refill empty feeders rather than letting them overflow. Change seed if it gets wet or moldy.
What kind of bird seed is best for the most birds?
A mix of black oil sunflower seeds, millet, safflower, cracked corn, nyjer, and peanuts will attract the widest variety of common feeder birds. Tailor blends to your target birds.
Types of Bird Seed
There are many types of bird seed available for feeding backyard birds. Here are some of the most common:
Sunflower Seeds
- Black oil sunflower – Smaller seeds with thin shells, high in fat and protein. Attracts wide range of birds.
- Striped sunflower – Larger seeds with thick shells. Less preferred by birds.
- Hulled sunflower – Sunflower kernels without the shell. Reduces mess.
- Sunflower chips – Chips of sunflower kernel. Finch favorite.
Safflower Seeds
- Small white seeds high in fat. Cardinals, chickadees, finches eat these.
- Offer hulled to reduce mess from shells.
Millet
- Tiny, round white and red seeds. Attracts ground-feeding birds.
- Types include white proso, red, golden, browntop.
Nyjer Seed
- Also called thistle seed. Tiny and black. Finch favorite.
- Offer in specialty feeder with small ports.
Niger Seed
- Red-brown, high fat and protein. Choice of finches.
Canary Seed
- Small, tan seed. Enjoyed by finches.
Cracked Corn
- Dried, cracked corn kernels. Low cost seed.
- Attracts sparrows, jays, doves, ducks.
Milo
- Reddish grains used as filler seed. Sparrows and quail eat it.
Oats
- Whole oats or crushed oats appeal to ground-feeding birds.
Wheat
- Cracked wheat attracts sparrows, jays, quail.
Peanuts
- Whole peanuts still in the shell. Enjoyed by jays and woodpeckers.
These are some of the main types of seeds used in bird feed mixes. Tailor blends to your target species.
Bird Feeders for Finches and Sparrows
To help attract finches and sparrows, offer seed in feeders tailored to their feeding habits:
Finch Feeders
- Tube feeders with small perches and ports for tiny seeds
- Nyjer feeders to offer thistle seed
- Hopper or house feeders minimize waste
- Platform feeders for ground-feeding birds
Sparrow Feeders
- Platform or tray feeders for ground feeding
- Hoppers to cut down on seed scattering
- Tube feeders with large mixed seed
- Ground feeders on a patio or ground
Feeder Tips
- Use wire mesh guards to keep out larger bullies
- Separate finch and sparrow feeders
- Clean feeders regularly to prevent mold
- Use quality feeders that keep seed dry
- Offer water in a bird bath or waterer
With specialized feeders filled with their favorite seeds, finches and sparrows will flock to your backyard.
Benefits of Feeding Finches and Sparrows
Attracting finches and sparrows to your yard by feeding them quality bird seed offers many benefits:
Enjoy Watching Birds
Having a diversity of birds visit your yard provides endless entertainment. Watching the feeding and social antics of finches and sparrows is educational and relaxing.
Learn Bird Behavior and Sounds
You can learn to identify different finch and sparrow species by sight and sound as they frequent your yard. Observe their interesting behaviors.
Attract Insect-Eating Birds
Finches and sparrows will help control insect pests as they eat insects to supplement their seed diets, especially in spring and summer.
Help Birds Survive
Supplemental feeding provides essential nutrition to help wild birds survive cold winters and dry seasons when natural food is scarce.
Provide Nesting Material
Finches use soft plant fibers to build their nests. Leave some natural materials like pet fur or cotton batting out for them to collect.
Create a Backyard Habitat
Feeders, bird houses, birdbaths, and native plants help turn your yard into a small ecosystem for birds to thrive.
The joy of watching feasting, chirping finches and sparrows is reward enough for providing them with quality bird seed.
Setting Up Your Feeders
Follow these tips for setting up great finch and sparrow feeding stations:
- Place feeders in sheltered spots near trees or shrubs.
- Elevate feeders on poles or hang from trees to deter predators.
- Separate nyjer and open tray feeders to reduce wasted seeds.
- Use feeders tailored for small birds with wire mesh guards.
- Position feeders to provide easy viewing without disturbing birds.
- Clean and disinfect feeders regularly to keep birds healthy.
- Offer fresh water in a birdbath, fountain, or ground dish.
- Sit quietly and observe to get to know the bird personalities.
- Keep binoculars and a bird guide handy for identifying species.
- Refill when feeders get low to continually attract birds.
With ideal feeder placement using the right seeds, you’ll have lots of busy, hungry finches and sparrows flocking to your backyard. Listening to their cheerful chirping while you watch them flutter and feed makes for an entertaining backyard experience.
Conclusion
Finches and sparrows thrive when provided with bird seed that matches their natural diets. Choose quality seeds like nyjer, niger, millet, safflower, and sunflower tailored specifically for finches. For sparrows, select mixes with corn, millet, sunflower, and other larger seeds they prefer. Buy fresh seed in small amounts and avoid cheap filler seeds. Use feeders designed for small birds and separate different seeds to minimize waste. With excellent bird seed and well-placed feeders, you’ll be rewarded with active flocks of gorgeous finches and lively sparrows brightening up your backyard. Their beauty, antics, and songs will be a source of joy.