Food for Birds

Here’s a practical guide to the most common bird feeder foods, along with a general preference rating (1–5) based on how widely they’re accepted by backyard birds in North America.

🌻 1. Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
Preference: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 – Highest overall favorite)

Thin shells, high oil content

Attracts cardinals, chickadees, finches, nuthatches, woodpeckers, jays

Excellent all-around choice

Works in most feeder types

👉 If you offer only one seed, make it this one.

🥜 2. Sunflower Hearts/Chips
Preference: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 – Extremely popular)

No shells = less mess

Easier for smaller birds

Attracts finches, sparrows, cardinals, titmice

Slightly more expensive

👉 Great for patios where you want minimal cleanup.

🌰 3. Peanuts (Shelled or In-Shell)
Preference: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)

High protein and fat

Loved by jays, woodpeckers, nuthatches, titmice

Use unsalted, raw peanuts only

👉 Excellent in winter for extra energy.

🧈 4. Suet
Preference: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5 – Seasonal favorite)

Animal fat mixed with seeds or fruit

Best in cold months

Attracts woodpeckers, wrens, chickadees

👉 Can melt in summer unless using no-melt varieties.

🌾 5. Nyjer (Thistle) Seed
Preference: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5 – Finch specialist)

Tiny seeds

Goldfinches and siskins love it

Requires special feeder

👉 Won’t attract a wide variety, but finches go crazy for it.

🌽 6. Cracked Corn
Preference: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)

Inexpensive

Attracts doves, sparrows, blackbirds

Can also attract squirrels and unwanted species

👉 Best used sparingly or in ground feeders.

🌾 7. Mixed Seed Blends
Preference: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ to ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (Varies widely)

Quality depends on ingredients

Cheaper mixes often contain fillers (millet, milo)

Birds may toss unwanted seeds

👉 Look for mixes with sunflower as the main ingredient.

There are all kinds of food and food mixes you can buy for birds, but there are a lot of substitutes as well. Poultry food, dog food, cat food, and lots of other foodstuffs can be used. But storebought wild bird seed is probably the safest,

 

No-No Foods

Bread (fresh or stale): provides no real nutritional value for birds, and moldy bread can harm birds
Chocolate: toxic to birds, just as it is to dogs and cats (it contains theobromine)
Table scraps: some may not be safe or healthy for birds, and most table scraps will attract mice or rats

Add Water

To get more birds to your feeder, provide water — especially during drought or when the temperature stays below freezing for several days. 

Add a bird bath to your yard. Replace the water every day or two to keep the water fresh and clean. Birds often leave feces or feathers in the water, which can grow bacteria that can spread to other birds. Wash the bird bath every week or two with a weak vinegar-water solution (nine parts water to one part vinegar). To keep water from freezing in winter, you can get a heater to place in the bird bath or find affordable heated bird baths.

Maintenance

Wash feeders regularly to prevent the spread of diseases between birds.

Hummingbird feeders should be washed every week or two to keep mold and bacteria from building up. During hot, humid summer weeks, wash feeders every 2–3 days — and replace the sugar water just as frequently. It is especially important to check the small openings through which the hummingbirds drink to make sure there is no black mold.

Don't let seeds accumulate on the ground. Although some birds might feed there, a pile of seeds is attractive to mice, rats, squirrels, and even bears. And you'll be growing a lot of weeds in the spring.