Which Feeders and Seeds To Attract Backyard Birds

It’s great to feed and care for birds in your backyard and its a great way to get your kids involved in nature. Here are some helpful resources and ideas for making sure your backyard birds get what they need and you reap the benefits of a safe feeding station and the right food — lots of birds to watch!

Wondering what feeders and bird seed will attract the birds you want to see? 

The US Fish and Wildlife Service recommends the following feeders and seeds to attract specific birds:

TUBE FEEDER WITH BLACK OIL SUNFLOWER SEEDS                                           
goldfinches                                           chickadees
woodpeckers                                        nuthatches
titmice                                                     redpolls

pine siskins

ADDING A TRAY TO THE TUBE FEEDER WILL ALSO ATTRACT
cardinals                                                jays
crossbills                                               purple finches
white-throated sparrow                       house finches
white-crowned sparrows

TRAY OR PLATFORM FEEDER — WITH MILLET
doves                                                      house sparrows
blackbirds                                              juncos
cowbirds                                                towhees
white-throated sparrows                    tree sparrows
white-crowned sparrows                   chipping sparrows

TRAY OR PLATFORM FEEDER — WITH CORN
starlings                                                house sparrows
grackles                                                jays
juncos                                                   bobwhite quail
doves                                                     ring-necked pheasants
white-throated sparrows

PLATFORM FEEDER OR TUBE FEEDER AND TRAY — with PEANUTS
cardinals                                               chickadees
grackles                                                 house finches
titmice                                                    house sparrows
sparrows                                               starlings
mourning doves                                   white-throated sparrows
jays                                                         juncos

NIGER THISTLE FEEDER WITH TRAY
goldfinches                                         house finches
purple finches                                    redpolls
pine siskins                                       doves
chickadees                                         song sparrows
dark-eyed juncos                               white-throated sparrows

NECTAR FEEDER
hummingbirds                                    orioles
cardinals                                              tanagers
woodpeckers                                       finches
thrushes

FRUIT
orioles                                                    tanagers
mockingbirds                                        bluebirds
thrashers                                               cardinals
woodpeckers                                         jays
starlings                                                 thrushes
cedar waxwings                                    yellow-breasted chats

HANGING SUET FEEDER
woodpeckers                                        wrens
chickadees                                            nuthatches
kinglets                                                   thrashers
creepers                                                 cardinals
starlings


PEANUT BUTTER SUET

woodpeckers                                        goldfinches
juncos                                                    cardinals
thrushes                                                jays
kinglets                                                  bluebirds
wrens                                                    starlings

HANGING PEANUT FEEDER
woodpeckers
chickadees
titmice

 

Information from the US Fish and Wildlife Service

 

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