Providing High Quality Bird Food
Now that you have your feeder and know where to place it, let’s discuss what to fill each feeder with to provide the birds with the best, high quality food available.
Sunflower Seeds - #1 bird seed choice!
Sunflower seeds are an excellent food to provide birds with.%202.jpg "black oil sunflower seeds (Sergey Parantaev) 2")
Black Oil Sunflower seeds are the BEST food to offer birds and the most favored seed, for good reasons. Black oil sunflower seeds (pictured right) are high in nutrients and high in good fat, plus the small size and thin shell make it easy for most birds to consume. Other types of sunflower seeds include, striped sunflower seeds, which are larger and have a thicker shell and hulled sunflower seeds which have the shell removed.
Feeder types to use sunflower seeds in: platform, tube or hopper feeders, you can also sprinkle sunflower seeds on the ground.
Birds that eat sunflower seeds: As the preferred seed, almost all birds that visit your winter feeder will consumer black oil and hulled sunflower seeds. Only cardinals, jays and grosbeaks will eat the striped sunflower seeds, due to the thick shell.
Nyjer (a.k.a. Thistle)
.jpg "Nyjer Seed (Sarah Marchant )")
Nyjer seed is a preferred seed for winter finches. Like sunflower seeds, nyjer is an oily seed high in calories and fat, providing birds with effective food. Nyjer can easily spoil so make sure to replace the seed every few weeks.
There is a common mistake that nyjer is the same thing as thistle seed, they are actually two different types of seed. Nyjer seed is imported strictly from Asia and Africa and is not cultivated here in the U.S. In 1998, the seed was renamed nyjer (originally niger) to avoid any offensive mispronunciation. Thistle, which does grow in the U.S., is considered a noxious weed and capable of overtaking farm fields. The seeds are very similar in size and shape but if birds are given the choice between nyjer and thistle seed the birds will always choose nyjer because the seed is a superior source of energy and nutrients compared to thistle seed.
Feeder types to use nyjer in: mesh or sock feeders along with specifically designed finch/nyjer feeders
Birds that eat nyjer seeds: Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll, Purple Finch, House Finch, American Goldfinch
Peanuts
Peanuts are a great winter bird food choice because they are
long-lasting, will not freeze and provide a high amount of protein, calories and good fat. You may offer the peanuts whole or shelled along with offering peanut butter. Both peanuts and peanut butter are often ingredients in suet.
Feeder types to use peanuts in: specifically designed peanut feeders, platform feeders and hopper feeders, additionally peanuts can be sprinkled on the ground. You can also smear peanut butter on tree bark and pine cones or provide dabs of it in platform feeders.
Birds that eat whole peanut seeds: Blue Jay, Gray Jay, Northern Cardinal, and Evening Grosbeak
Birds that eat shelled peanut seeds: Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatch, Mourning Dove and Northern Flicker, Hairy, Downy, Red-bellied and Pileated Woodpecker
Millet
There is a wide variety of millet seed out there including red, golden, striped and the favored, white proso millet (pictured right). When offering millet stick to the white proso millet and try not to use too much. While still a good source of protein and fiber, birds tend to choose other higher quality seeds (such as sunflowers and nuts) over millet.
Feeder types to use white proso millet in: platform and hopper feeders as well as sprinkling the seed on the ground
Birds that eat millet seeds: Mourning Dove, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, House Finch, Pine Siskin
Mixed Bagged Bird Seed
When offering mixed bagged bird seed purchase the seed with caution. According to Cornell specialists, manufacturers of less-expensive pre-packaged birdseed mixes may use large amounts of golden millet, red millet and flax as fillers. Additionally, many mixes have corn added, while corn is a good seed it will attract unwanted birds such as house sparrows and blackbirds. Look instead, for mixes that offer a large amount of sunflower seeds and nuts with little millet. If you are unsure about what type of mixed seed you would like to offer refer to the Wild Bird Unlimited (WBU) store nearest you or check out their online store. WBU will offer some of the best and productive bird seed mixes.
.jpg "mixed bird seed (bad)")
%20(Debbie%20Case).jpg "mixed bird seed (good) (Debbie Case)")
Depending on the mix, the bagged bird seed will attract a wide variety of birds and can be used in platform or tube feeders.
Suet
Suet, which is actually animal fat, is easily digested and metabolized by many birds; it's a high-energy food, especially valuable in cold weather. Suet often includes corn meal, peanuts, fruits, and even dried insects and%202.jpg "Suet Cakes (Susy Morris) 2")
can be found in several different forms such as cakes, balls, and logs. There are also an abundance of suet cake recipesif you want to make your own.
Feeder types to use suet in: metal, plastic or mesh suet cages, old onion bags and pine cones
Birds that eat suet: Northern Flicker, Hairy, Downy, Red-bellied and Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped chickadee, Blue Jay, European Starling, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Tufted Titmouse
Now, that you have a good base on backyard winter bird feeding get out and create a wonderful and productive winter feeding station! And check back to learn about the birds that will now visit your feeders!
Good luck and happy birding!
Your Bird Crew,Sunflower Seeds - #1 bird seed choice!
Sunflower seeds are an excellent food to provide birds with.
Black Oil Sunflower seeds are the BEST food to offer birds and the most favored seed, for good reasons. Black oil sunflower seeds (pictured right) are high in nutrients and high in good fat, plus the small size and thin shell make it easy for most birds to consume. Other types of sunflower seeds include, striped sunflower seeds, which are larger and have a thicker shell and hulled sunflower seeds which have the shell removed.Feeder types to use sunflower seeds in: platform, tube or hopper feeders, you can also sprinkle sunflower seeds on the ground.
Birds that eat sunflower seeds: As the preferred seed, almost all birds that visit your winter feeder will consumer black oil and hulled sunflower seeds. Only cardinals, jays and grosbeaks will eat the striped sunflower seeds, due to the thick shell.
Nyjer (a.k.a. Thistle)
Nyjer seed is a preferred seed for winter finches. Like sunflower seeds, nyjer is an oily seed high in calories and fat, providing birds with effective food. Nyjer can easily spoil so make sure to replace the seed every few weeks. There is a common mistake that nyjer is the same thing as thistle seed, they are actually two different types of seed. Nyjer seed is imported strictly from Asia and Africa and is not cultivated here in the U.S. In 1998, the seed was renamed nyjer (originally niger) to avoid any offensive mispronunciation. Thistle, which does grow in the U.S., is considered a noxious weed and capable of overtaking farm fields. The seeds are very similar in size and shape but if birds are given the choice between nyjer and thistle seed the birds will always choose nyjer because the seed is a superior source of energy and nutrients compared to thistle seed.
Feeder types to use nyjer in: mesh or sock feeders along with specifically designed finch/nyjer feeders
Birds that eat nyjer seeds: Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll, Purple Finch, House Finch, American Goldfinch
Peanuts
Peanuts are a great winter bird food choice because they are
long-lasting, will not freeze and provide a high amount of protein, calories and good fat. You may offer the peanuts whole or shelled along with offering peanut butter. Both peanuts and peanut butter are often ingredients in suet.Feeder types to use peanuts in: specifically designed peanut feeders, platform feeders and hopper feeders, additionally peanuts can be sprinkled on the ground. You can also smear peanut butter on tree bark and pine cones or provide dabs of it in platform feeders.
Birds that eat whole peanut seeds: Blue Jay, Gray Jay, Northern Cardinal, and Evening Grosbeak
Birds that eat shelled peanut seeds: Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatch, Mourning Dove and Northern Flicker, Hairy, Downy, Red-bellied and Pileated Woodpecker
Millet
There is a wide variety of millet seed out there including red, golden, striped and the favored, white proso millet (pictured right). When offering millet stick to the white proso millet and try not to use too much. While still a good source of protein and fiber, birds tend to choose other higher quality seeds (such as sunflowers and nuts) over millet.Feeder types to use white proso millet in: platform and hopper feeders as well as sprinkling the seed on the ground
Birds that eat millet seeds: Mourning Dove, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, House Finch, Pine Siskin
Mixed Bagged Bird Seed
When offering mixed bagged bird seed purchase the seed with caution. According to Cornell specialists, manufacturers of less-expensive pre-packaged birdseed mixes may use large amounts of golden millet, red millet and flax as fillers. Additionally, many mixes have corn added, while corn is a good seed it will attract unwanted birds such as house sparrows and blackbirds. Look instead, for mixes that offer a large amount of sunflower seeds and nuts with little millet. If you are unsure about what type of mixed seed you would like to offer refer to the Wild Bird Unlimited (WBU) store nearest you or check out their online store. WBU will offer some of the best and productive bird seed mixes.
Suet
Suet, which is actually animal fat, is easily digested and metabolized by many birds; it's a high-energy food, especially valuable in cold weather. Suet often includes corn meal, peanuts, fruits, and even dried insects and
can be found in several different forms such as cakes, balls, and logs. There are also an abundance of suet cake recipesif you want to make your own.Feeder types to use suet in: metal, plastic or mesh suet cages, old onion bags and pine cones
Birds that eat suet: Northern Flicker, Hairy, Downy, Red-bellied and Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped chickadee, Blue Jay, European Starling, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Tufted Titmouse
Now, that you have a good base on backyard winter bird feeding get out and create a wonderful and productive winter feeding station! And check back to learn about the birds that will now visit your feeders!
Good luck and happy birding!
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