Backyard Birds and their Favorite Foods

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• American Goldfinch: Niger thistle seeds, broken sunflower hearts, oil-type sunflower seeds.

• Northern Cardinal: Sunflower seeds of all types, safflower, cracked corn, millet, other seeds, unsalted nutmeats, raisins.

• Black-capped Chickadee: Oil-type sunflower seeds, cracked unsalted nutmeats, safflower, suet.

• Dark-eyed Junco: Millet, finely cracked corn, oil-type sunflower seed, unsalted nutmeats.

• Mourning Dove: Oil-type sunflower seeds, millet, safflower, cracked corn, wheat, other seeds.

• Native Sparrows: Red or white proso millet, oil-type sunflower seeds, cracked corn, some safflower.

• Woodpeckers: Suet, unsalted nutmeats, sunflower seeds, cracked corn.

• Nuthatches: Sunflower seeds, nuts and suet

• Blue Jays: Peanuts, corn and seeds.

 

Seeds and their Value to Birds

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• Sunflower – High in protein and fats

• Black Sunflower – High in oil.

• Sunflower Kernel – High in energy.

• Cracked Corn – Carbohydrates, grit to grind seeds.

• Safflower – High in oils, but only specific birds will eat it.

• Peanut Kernels – High in fat and calories

• Thistle (Nyger) -  High in oil.

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Suet

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Suet is especially attractive to insect-eaters such as woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches and is a good winter energy source. Feed your birds suet during cool weather and winter months. Discontinue use when high temperatures reach 70 degrees.