What Kind of Bird Seed Attracts the Biggest Variety of Birds?

A bird spends a lot of energy flying, molting, breeding, rearing young and defending its territory. It actively searches out foods that can help it meet these needs. Birds eat more than one type of seed to help balance their nutritional requirements. Providing ample choices, protection and water will ensure many bird species are visit feeders.

To attract many types of birds, serve a variety of seeds.

Birds Require the Right Types of Seeds

Birds' beaks differ. Some, like blue jays and crows, are adept at cracking whole corn and peanuts. Others, like bluebirds and doves, have smaller, weaker beaks that can handle only more tender seeds. Providing plenty of each kind of seed makes feeders more attractive to more than one or two species of birds.

Birds Prefer Fatty Seeds and Nuts

From the foods human feed wild birds, black oil sunflower seeds are preferred because they contain more fat. If sunflower seeds are offered without their shells, more bird species will come to eat at the feeder. Many birds will eat peanuts for their fat content as well. Blue jays and crows are especially fond of them. These types of foods help birds through freezing winters and long flights. Migratory birds need all the fats they can get for the energy-sapping flights to their wintering grounds. Additional seeds to feed birds are thistle, rape, millet, milo and corn.

A High-Energy Bird Food Mix

Peanut butter rolled in black oil sunflower hearts provides an energy-rich meal for wild birds. The addition of oats to this mix will add more energy to the bird's meal. Suet is a by-product of slaughtering cattle--it is the fat around their kidneys and loins. Suet provides much-needed energy for birds, especially in the winter.

Birds that Eat Seeds

Many types of seed-eating birds can frequent people's feeders. Blue jays, sparrows, finches and doves are very common in most parts of the United States and Canada. Other birds that eat seeds are titmice, bluebirds, grackles, thrashers, sapsuckers, creepers, chickadees, woodpeckers, wrens and siskins.

How to Attract Birds to a Feeder

Position feeders away from bushes and any high brush. Birds are always alert for danger, and any obstacles in their line of sight may make feeding stations less appealing. Add water within close proximity to bird feeders. Birds can hear water dripping, and it will lure them closer to the feeders. Keep cats away from feeders because they are a natural enemy of birds. The addition of live foods such as maggots is a welcomed sight to birds such as bluebirds and song sparrows.

References

• Bird Watchers Digest