Choosing Bird Food
With
such a variety of bird foods on the market it's often hard to choose
which is best. Here we'll help you select the right type of food for
the birds you want to attract. Feeder style is important too, so take a
look at our Feeder Types page as well.
In most areas, black-oil sunflower seed attracts the greatest variety
of birds. It has a high meat-to-shell ratio and a high fat content.
It's small and thin-shelled, making it easy for small birds, such as
the Tufted Titmouse at right, to handle and crack. Striped sunflower
seeds are larger with thicker seed coats.
Although sunflower seeds are the all-round favorite, particularly for
tree-dwelling birds, some birds prefer different foods. Blackbirds
relish corn, for instance, whereas doves, like many ground-feeding
birds, prefer white millet or red milo. Certain species may even have
different food preferences in different parts of their range.
Beware of commercial seed mixes. They're often a blend of sunflower
seeds plus a high proportion of less appealing "filler" such as millet,
oats, wheat, flax, buckwheat seeds, and red milo. These mixes can be
wasteful because the birds pick out the prized sunflower seeds and
leave the rest. Instead, try making your own birdseed mix. Pour about
25 pounds of black-oil sunflower seed, 10-pounds of white proso millet,
and 10 pounds of cracked corn into a clean trash can. Then use a broom
handle to mix it up.
Store your bird food carefully. If you buy a lot of seed, keep it in a
dry, cool place, in a rodent-proof, metal can. Check the seed often for
mold. Throw out any seed that is questionable.
Follow the links below for more details about food for wild birds:
Food Preferences of Common Feeder Birds
A quick guide to some common feeder visitors and their favorite foods,
based on Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Seed Preference Test.
Seed Types
Different types of birdseed and the birds they'll attract.
Hummingbirds and Nectar
The care and feeding of hummingbirds, sugar solution recipe included.
Other Bird Foods
Suet, fruit, and other bird foods.