How to Choose The Best Bird Food

• Posted on 9th February 2013
• in Bird Food
• by Richard+

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When attempting to attract birds through the use of a bird feeder, the most important decision to make is the type of bird food that will be placed in the feeder. If you select the right bird food, you should have plenty of birds filling your backyard, however if you use the wrong type of seed, the only thing you’ll attract is squirrels. Today we’re going to have a look at some of the most common types of bird food and the types of birds that they tend to attract.

Sunflower Seeds – This is an excellent choice when it comes to backyard feeders, as sunflower seeds seem to be enjoyed by a large number of birds, including chickadees, jays, grosbeaks, cardinals, sparrows and more. When choosing the type of sunflower seed for your feeder, keep in mind that the seeds with thick and large shells will be more likely to attract the larger birds, while the smaller thinner shelled seeds will attract both small and large birds alike.

Nyjer – These small thin seeds are great for attracting small finches. They are great for attracting small birds, and have the nutrimental requirements that many birds require to make it through the winter. The only downside of this type of bird food is that it is small and light, making it difficult to keep in one place.

Cracked Corn – If you’re looking to go on the cheap, you may wish to choose cracked corn. This common and less expensive type of seed is suitable for many of the larger birds, including sparrows, ducks, blackbirds and quail. While it is often used as filler in common commercial bird seed mixes, it can be purchased on it’s own if desired.

Milo – This is the one type of bird food that you’re probably going to want to avoid. While it may be incredibly cheap, it is often discarded by most birds because it is too large and undesirable. Many birds are known to toss this type of food on the ground, which can result in an investigation of mice and squirrels.

Overall, the choice of bird seed entirely depends on the types of birds that you wish to attract. It is the single most important factor in determining which birds will frequent your feeders, therefore it is a choice that should be made carefully.