Feed the Birds, Know the Birds
There is something quietly remarkable about watching wild birds visit your backyard. A flash of red as a cardinal lands on the feeder rail. The acrobatic hang of a chickadee plucking a sunflower seed. The drumroll of a downy woodpecker working a suet cake. Bird Feeder Food is your guide to attracting, feeding, and identifying the birds that share your neighborhood.
Bird Food by Type
Sunflower Seeds
The single best all-around bird food. Black oil sunflower seeds have thinner shells and higher oil content than striped sunflower, making them easier for small birds to crack and more nutritious in cold weather.
Birds attracted: Cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, finches, grosbeaks, jays, sparrows
Nyjer (Thistle) Seed
Tiny black seeds beloved by finches. Requires a tube feeder with small ports to prevent waste.
Birds attracted: American goldfinches, pine siskins, house finches, common redpolls
Suet
Rendered beef fat, often mixed with seeds, fruit, or insects. Essential winter food that provides high-calorie fuel for birds that overwinter in cold climates.
Birds attracted: Woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, wrens, brown creepers, starlings
Safflower Seed
A bitter-tasting white seed that cardinals and grosbeaks love but squirrels and grackles tend to avoid — a strategic choice for feeders plagued by unwanted visitors.
Birds attracted: Cardinals, grosbeaks, chickadees, house finches
Peanuts
Whole peanuts in the shell for jays; shelled peanut pieces for smaller birds. High in protein and fat.
Birds attracted: Blue jays, woodpeckers, nuthatches, titmice, chickadees
Mealworms
Dried or live mealworms attract insect-eating birds that typically ignore seed feeders.
Birds attracted: Bluebirds, robins, wrens, warblers, mockingbirds
Common Backyard Birds
| Bird | Region | Favorite Food |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Cardinal | Eastern U.S. | Sunflower, safflower |
| Black-capped Chickadee | Northern U.S. & Canada | Sunflower, peanuts, suet |
| American Goldfinch | Continent-wide | Nyjer seed |
| Downy Woodpecker | Continent-wide | Suet, peanuts |
| Blue Jay | Eastern U.S. | Peanuts, sunflower |
| Dark-eyed Junco | Continent-wide (winter) | Millet, cracked corn |
| House Finch | Continent-wide | Nyjer, sunflower |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Eastern & western U.S. | Sunflower, peanuts, suet |
Feeder Tips
- Keep feeders clean — Wash with a 10% bleach solution every two weeks to prevent disease
- Place feeders near cover — Birds feel safer with shrubs or trees within 10 feet for quick escape from predators
- Offer water — A shallow birdbath or drip fountain attracts species that may not visit feeders
- Be patient — It can take one to two weeks for birds to discover a new feeder location
- Go squirrel-proof — Baffle-equipped pole-mounted feeders save food and frustration
Why Feed Birds
- Connection to nature — A window feeder brings the natural world within arm's reach
- Conservation awareness — Watching birds builds the empathy that drives habitat protection
- Mental health — Studies show that watching birds reduces stress and improves well-being
- Citizen science — Feeder watchers contribute valuable data to projects like eBird and Project FeederWatch
Start with a tube feeder and a bag of black oil sunflower seed. The birds will take it from there.