Wild Bird Food

Contents [Hide] 1 Overview 2 Types of Bird Seed 3 Types of Seed Mix 4 Other Foods 5 Related Products 6 External Links

Overview

Birdfeeding is said to be one of the most popular activities in the U.S., probably because it's so easy and so easily rewarded. It's the perfect hobby for children, the elderly, and bird-loving adults -- which means just about everyone

• Nutritional Pros and Cons of Birdfeeding
• Pro: Sunflower seeds, peanuts, and beef fat are a feast for wild birds-- and often make the difference between life and death during a cold winter.
• Seeds make the best high-fat, high-protein meals for birds, who have high metabolisms and want calories, always more calories.
• Con: Seeds can, however, create a dependence on unnatural foods (and promote the infiltration of unwanted species in a balanced environment).

• Birds of a Feather...Eat together? Different seeds attract different species of birds. This has led to the development of oriole feeders, hummingbird feeders, and many magnificently helpful charts that tell you how to lure, for example, goldfinches (niger seed) or mockingbirds (apples).

Types of Bird Seed

Black Oil Sunflower Seed
	Black Oil Sunflower  is one of the most versatile seeds you can offer. Versatile. Thin-shelled. High calorie. Thin shells make it good choice for small birds. Attracts: Cardinals, sparrows, chickadees, finches, woodpeckers, among many others.

Striped Sunflower
	Striped Sunflower  is less expensive, but also less versatile. Larger and thicker-shelled. Found in many commercial mixes. Good for large birds. Attracts: Cardinals, grosbeaks, nuthatches, finches, jays, woodpeckers, and others.

Millet
	Millet  is as popular with wild birds as with pet canaries. Good all-around seed. Eaten by many ground foragers. Offered alone or in commercial mixes (as base ingredient). Inexpensive. Available in bags of seed or in "spray" form (still on the plant, pictured). Attracts: Sparrows, juncos, and doves.

Corn
	Corn  is popular with many larger birds, particularly game birds. Inexpensive. Easy to eat. Available separately or as part of a mix. Attracts (in whole form): Large birds, such as ducks, turkeys, and pheasants. Attracts (in cracked form): Quail, doves, and sparrows.

Safflower
	Safflower  is usually found in mixes, but can also be found on its own. Rich in oils. Large seeds. Good for birds with large bills. Not terribly versatile; best used in combination with other seeds. Attracts: Cardinals, grosbeaks, and other large-billed birds.

Niger

Niger  is a special kind of food used only in goldfinch feeders. Tiny. Also known as nyjer or thistle seed. Preferred food of goldfinches. Use in goldfinch feeders if you only want to feed goldfinches and pine siskins. Expensive; the "black gold" of birdseed. Attracts: Most kinds of finches, and some house finches that figure out how to eat upside down from a goldfinch feeder. Also attracts siskins and redpolls.

Milo
	Milo  is another common component of mixed seeds. A red, round grain. Sold alone or in commercial mixes (pictured). Eaten by western birds but not eastern birds. Attracts: Jays and doves.

Peanuts and Peanut Butter

Peanuts  are a popular choice year-round. Often found in mixes, but can also be used on their own, in or out of the shell; a papery peanut shell is no match for a woodpecker's bill! You can look for special peanut feeders  that will attract woodpeckers, nutchatches and ambitious chickadees. Like suet, peanuts are high in fat and make a great winter treat. Just be sure to put them where the squirrels can't reach! Shelled peanuts are almost mess-free. You can also try organic, unsalted peanut butter. (Just make sure there's nothing in it but peanuts!) Attracts: in the shell, woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, jays; out of the shell or as peanut butter, almost anything will eat them.

Types of Seed Mix

Basic Bird Food  Versatile. Bases: Millet, cracked corn, and sunflower seeds. Other ingredients: Peanuts, milo, or other seeds. Mixes high in black-oil sunflower seed  are a sure-fire hit. Avoid millet and red milo mixes if you're outside the western US.	"No-Waste" Mixes  All the hulls are removed. Bird visitors have no hulls to litter all over your lawn or deck. More expensive, but better value: You get more seed for a given weight of food.	Species-Specific Mixes  Claim to attract one particular group of birds. You will still get other kinds of birds; for example, a "finch mix"  will still attract sparrows, doves, among others.	Woodpecker/Nuthatch Mix  Rich in peanuts and sunflower seeds. No millet or corn. Unlike other species-specific claims, this will actually work.

Other Foods

Suet

Bloodless: Pre-formed blocks of suet  are a great choice if you want to use suet to feed wild birds, but feel a bit squeamish about getting it fresh from the butcher. (Suet is mostly beef kidney fat.) Ingredients: Include seeds, nuts, fruit, and flavorings to entice birds. Squirrel deterrent: Some are specially formulated with chili pepper  -- birds can't taste it, but squirrels can, and they hate it. Storage: Can be easily stored in blocks in the refrigerator or freezer -- no rodents, no mess, no mold. Seasonal: Best used in the winter, when it will not spoil quickly or melt in the heat. Feeder: You'll want a suet cage (pictured) or other feeder to protect the cake. Attracts: woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice.

Related Products

Bird Feeders	Seed Scoops	Storage Bins	Bird Baths

External Links

• Birding Guide -- For those who don't know their finches from their siskins.
• eBirdseed (retail site) -- Detailed articles about different forms of feed.
• Project Feederwatch -- Cornell University site with considerable feeding information.
• Wild Feeders -- Bare bones guide that nonetheless covers some non-commercial feeding alternatives (oranges for orioles, etc.)