What to Know About the Different Types of Wild Bird Food

Each type of wild bird seed attracts different species, but “it is generally best to start with a seed mix because these mixes are designed to appeal to a wide range of birds,” says Margaret Brittingham, ornithologist and wildlife ecologist with Kaytee. “Once birds find your feeder and you see which types are visiting, you can add additional food sources.” 

According to Anna Matthews, GIS coordinator at the American Bird Conservancy, these are some of the most common bird seeds to choose from: 

• Black oil sunflower seed: These nutrient-packed seeds provide healthy fat and protein for wild birds. Plus, they’re easy to crack open. Many species prefer this bird seed, including chickadees, cardinals, jays, titmice, goldfinches, nuthatches, sparrows, woodpeckers, and more. 

• Striped sunflower seed: These bigger seeds are a favorite of larger birds like cardinals, grosbeaks, jays, and red-bellied woodpeckers. 

• Safflower: This seed has a thick shell that’s difficult for most birds to crack, but cardinals love it, Matthews says. 

• Dried corn: This is a favorite of jays, doves, grackles, wild turkeys, and quail. To attract smaller birds like finches and sparrows, Matthews recommends trying cracked corn instead. 

Hopper feeders, tube feeders, and platform or tray feeders are all designed to hold bird seed.  

As a general rule, Matthews recommends placing bird feeders several feet from trees, shrubs, or brush piles and downwind from trees. 

“It’s also important to keep feeders clean to help prevent the spread of disease in wild bird populations and properly store unused seeds,” she says. 

Mealworms are a high-protein option that keeps birds like robins and bluebirds full. Plus, they’re similar to the caterpillars many birds eat and feed their young during the breeding season, Brittingham says.  

Mealworms are best served on a platform or tray feeder, or in a specially designed mealworm feeder. 

Suet is high in fat, meaning it’s a high-energy food source that is especially beneficial for wild birds during the cold winter months when other food sources are scarce. 

Cage feeders specifically designed to hold suet cakes are the best option, and you can expect birds like woodpeckers, blue jays, titmice, chickadees, wrens, and nuthatches to flock to them. 

“Seed cakes are similar to seed mixes, except they contain a substance that holds the seeds together,” Brittingham says. The birds have to work a little harder to get the seed, but less seed tends to fall to the ground, reducing the mess, she explains. 

Platform or suet cage feeders are your best bet with these, attracting different birds depending on the mix in the seed cake. However, chickadees, nuthatches, creepers, and woodpeckers are likely to flock to many types of seed cakes. 

“Nyjer seed (also often called thistle) is a high-fat, high-protein seed that primarily attracts small, clinging birds, most notably finches,” Matthews says.  

Nyjer is a small seed, so it needs to be fed in a special nyjer “sock” feeder with very small openings to avoid waste, according to Brittingham. Tube feeders or metal mesh feeders can also work in a pinch, though you might lose some seed on the ground. 

Most people know nectar as hummingbird food, though it can also attract orioles from time to time. 

When hanging hummingbird feeders, be sure to position them where predators like cats and snakes can’t reach them, Matthews says. And consider putting out more than one feeder, as hummingbirds tend to get territorial. 

You will also need to clean your hummingbird feeder every couple of days and take steps to prevent ants from getting into the nectar. 

Fresh fruit can be a nutritious option for wild birds, especially during the colder months when vegetation is harder to come by, Matthews says. She recommends trying sliced apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, or dried raisins or cranberries soaked in water on a tray or platform feeder. 

Fresh fruit doesn’t take long to spoil, which can potentially make birds sick. Brittingham recommends checking your feeders regularly and removing old fruit before it becomes moldy.