Outdoor Furniture Plus' Blog

Having one of more bird feeders in your yard attracts beautiful and mesmerizing wildlife while lending a hand to Mother Nature. In winter, bird feeders can be a lifesaver to non-migratory birds, while in Spring and Summer the colorful feeding and mating shows can be breathtaking. One of the main considerations you should take into account when buying a bird feeders is the type of feed you plan on purchasing, as this will dictate what species of bird you’ll attract. Some birds like fruit, others seed. Here are the most popular food choices, some of which you can find at your local grocery store, others that are available at Nature and pet stores.

Suet
Carolina Wrens
Red-Bellied Woodpeckers
Hairy Woodpeckers
Downy Woodpeckers
Red-breasted Nuthatches
White-breasted Nuthatches
Chickadees
Bluebirds

What exactly is suet?
Suet is great for birds because it provides high-energy, pure fat nourishment for them. It can be enjoyed throughout the year but is especially useful in winter when a bird’s natural food sources, like insects, become harder to find. The extra calories keep birds warmer and healthier through the coldest months. When buying suet, make sure it’s what is called “rendered,” meaning that it has been refined to remove any impurities that would cause it to spoil over time.

Nectar
Hummingbirds

Fruit
Carolina Wrens
Robins

Peanuts/Peanut Butter
Carolina Wrens
Red-breasted Nuthatches
White-breasted Nuthatches
Chickadees

Seeds
Carolina Wrens
Tufted Titmice (sunflower)
Sparrows (sunflower)
Red-winged Blackbirds
Red-breasted Nuthatches (sunflower)
White-breasted Nuthatches (sunflower)
Chickadees (sunflower)
Cardinals (sunflower and safflower)
Bluebirds (sunflower chips)

Grains
Red-winged Blackbirds

Millet
Sparrows

Mealworms
Robins
Bluebirds

A lot of birds are attracted to fruit. Northern Mockingbirds, Cedar Waxwings and Bluebirds prefer raisins, while in the Eastern part of the country raisins are popular with Gray Catbirds as well.

Grapes are popular with the following birds:
In the East: Northern Mockingbirds, Towhees, Eastern Bluebirds, Robins, Cedar Waxwings, House Finches, Gray Catbirds, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Scarlet Tanagers.

In the West: Acorn Woodpeckers, Robins, Western Bluebirds, Towhees, Western Tanagers, House Finches and Black-headed Grosbeaks.

Finally, there are those species that are attracted to pieces of orange. They include the following species: Tanagers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Gray Catbirds, Northern Mockingbirds, Orioles, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

A lot of birds prefer a mix of two or more types of feed, so take that into consideration depending on which species you want to attract.

Most birds are especially attracted to feeders that also contain a water source from which they can drink and bathe.

Some feeders, like those for hummingbirds and Jays, are designed specially for those birds or what they feed on, and normally will only work to attract those species.

Of course, the types of bird your feeder will attract is also dependent on where you live and what types of bird are native to your area. There is no point buying a specific kind of feed for a bird that isn’t in your area, so consult with area feed stores and wildlife resources beforehand.

A few last tips for a successful bird feeding experience:

-Some birds like to feed on the ground, while others prefer elevated feeders, and yet others like both. Having multiple feeders placed at varying heights or with different types of feed will greatly increase the number and variety of birds you’re likely to see.

-Feeders should be placed in an area that’s visible to birds, which find their food based on sight. At the same time, squirrels and other pests can find feeders, so explore your options in keeping unwanted visitors at bay. Cats and other predators will also be attracted to the activity. By placing feeders near a tree or shrub allows birds to easily escape and hide when attacked.