For wild birds, the ideal food includes popular seeds, nuts, berries and rendered animal fat. You should avoid seed mixes that contain fillers like milo, wheat and oats which most birds won’t eat and will instead dump on the ground attracting unwanted pests.
Choose black oil sunflower seeds over their striped counterparts as the latter have thinner shells that most bird species can open easily while those of some species may struggle with breaking open thicker striped shells.
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Sunflower Seed
Sunflower seeds are an essential food source for birds, making them easy to find in most seed mixes. When selecting one that contains more sunflower seeds than fillers like milo, cracked corn or wheat. Sunflower seeds offer both protein and fat for birds’ dietary needs – these tasty treats make a wonderful snack option!
If you want to attract finches to your feeders, try mixing in nyjer thistle seeds. These daisy-shaped seeds are beloved among goldfinches, other finches, juncos and indigo buntings; best served in feeders designed to hold thin oily seeds without them germinating into sprouting seeds.
Peanuts in their shells are another bird food option that appeals to all sorts of birds, whether served in a platform feeder or scattered directly on the ground for jays and woodpeckers. Peanuts provide both fat and protein while providing essential zinc and folate. While this food source can get messy quickly, it’s much simpler than cleaning up after more sandier seeds like oats or millet.
Nyjer Seed
Nyjer seeds from Guizotia abyssinica African Yellow Daisy flowers, commonly referred to as Nyjer, are packed with oil and calories and provide birds a source of energy during breeding and molting seasons. American goldfinches, pine siskins and dark-eyed juncos typically feed on Nyjer, also often called “niger”.
Dependent upon crop yields, import prices and retailer options, this may be one of the more costly forms of bird food. Still, it leaves little waste under your feeder (unlike striped sunflower seeds) and attracts finches like goldfinches in droves.
Alternatively, thistle and finch sock feeders work great! Nyjer has thin shells which quickly spoil when exposed to moisture; providing it with food sources like peanuts is key!
Millet
Ground feeding species such as juncos, sparrows, towhees and cardinals love this small round seed that’s enjoyed by ground feeders such as juncos, sparrows, towhees and cardinals alike. Also included as filler in commercial bird mixes. Unfortunately, blackbirds and house sparrows tend to flock toward it instead – something milo (commonly referred to as sorghum) might do without.
Since both seeds contain high levels of fat, it should not be the main food source for backyard birds. Instead, try offering a seed mix with more sunflower and millet kernels to attract wild species that feed from feeders. Doing this encourages birds to forage independently as it breaks up monotony of feeding at one location and strengthens health during molting, weaning, or breeding season.
Oatmeal
Birds enjoy oatmeal because it is easily chewable for them to consume. A good source of both proteins and carbohydrates, oatmeal can provide ample nutrition at an economical price point. Some experts advise combining oatmeal with other food sources like black oil sunflower seeds or nyjer thistle seeds in feeders in order to attract as many birds possible.
Avoid cheap mixes containing milo or cracked corn that many birds won’t consume, instead opt for ones containing black oil sunflower seed and nyjer thistle seeds in high proportions – low percentage filler seeds will increase both cost and effectiveness of your mix.
Suet (beef fat) is another high energy food to help birds survive winter. This delicacy attracts woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches and titmice alike and can be put out using special suet feeders or put in net onion bags inside holes drilled in logs or pine cone crevices for distribution. When offering suet in hot weather it should be given cautiously because dripping fat may compromise feather waterproofing processes that help waterproof feathers from wet environments.
