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Feeder Types
Some feeders may be more appropriate for certain birds and feeds. Use the food you wish to offer and the birds you want to attract to determine the right feeder for your yard. Use the left and right arrows to scroll through the gallery below to learn more.
Platform Feeders
These feeders are any flat, raised surface onto which food is spread. Ideally, they should have protection from the rain and plenty of drainage holes. These can also be a good alternative for ground feeding birds to get cleaner seed with greater protection from predators on the ground. They attract most species of feeder birds. Larger and smaller feeders can be used to attract larger and smaller birds, respectively. Note that since these feeders may have birds standing directly in the feed it is important to monitor for bird droppings mixed in with the food and clean accordingly to avoid the spread of disease.
Hopper Feeders
These feeders have a tray/platform at the bottom into which a central hopper of feed empties. The hopper and tray should be protected by a roof, and the tray should have drainage holes to keep seed dry. They attract most species of feeder birds. Larger and smaller feeders can be used to attract larger and smaller birds, respectively.
Cylinder Feeders
These feeders have a central long cylindrical container filled with seed and portholes, with perches along its length. The feeder's portholes should be appropriate for the size of the feed used to prevent spillage and waste. It should have a roof to keep seed dry. Some varieties may have a tray at the bottom for additional dispensing and a mesh body for certain types of seed and birds. The tray should have proper drainage holes. Seed is collected by birds perched along the cylinder. This attracts most types of feeder birds. The size of the feeder itself and the perches largely determines the types of birds that will visit the feeder.
Nectar Feeders
These feeders are made specifically to dispense liquid through small holes. They have a central carafe for the liquid attached to a housing with small dispenser holes below. Choose a feeder that is easy to take apart for cleaning. Attracts nectar feeders such as hummingbirds.
Suet Cage
These feeders are made specifically to house suet cakes. They can be a completely open metal cage with a door, or more of a solid box with an open cage on the bottom to discourage species like starlings. Note that suet can be particularly attractive to larger mammals like raccoons so be sure to secure the door of your cage and the cage itself to an object.
Feed Types
Some feeds may be more appropriate for certain birds. A basic feed like black-oil sunflower seeds may be appropriate to attract a large variety of birds at first. Later on, certain types of feed can be used to attract more specific species. Mixing seeds together can be an option to increase nutritional value. Use the left and right arrows to scroll through the gallery below to learn more.
Black-oil Sunflower Seed
This is the most common type of seed offered at North American feeders. It is high in fat for energy and has thin shells making it a good choice for a wide variety of birds. Cardinals, finches, sparrows, woodpeckers, and others favor this seed. It could be used successfully in a hopper feeder, cylinder feeder with larger portholes, or scattered on a platform feeder.
Safflower Seed
These resemble a white sunflower seed and carry the same benefits being high in fat for energy, but with a bit thicker shell. It is a good choice for large-billed birds, such as cardinals. It could be used successfully in a hopper feeder, cylinder feeder with larger portholes, or scattered on a platform feeder.
Cracked Corn
This is an inexpensive feed option that offers a good source of protein and fiber for birds. It attracts many ground feeders like doves, quail, and even wild turkey. It is also a favorite of sparrows. This works well on the ground or on a low platform feeder.
Fruit
Fruits like orange slices, grapes and raisins are great nutritious options to offer to birds. Orioles are known to favor oranges and other species like mockingbirds, catbirds, bluebirds, robins, and waxwings are all likely to feed on fruit. Be sure what you offer is free of preservatives. Also be alert for any mold that may form on the fruit and change it out accordingly, as this is harmful to birds. These work well on a platform feeder.
Meal Worms
These larvae of the mealworm beetle provide a high protein treat for many birds. Both live and dried mealworms are commercially available and readily eaten by feeder birds. Chickadees, titmice, wrens, and nuthatches love them. They are also one of the only food options that reliably attracts bluebirds. Platform feeders are the best option for these.
Millet
This is a small round grain that is common in many seed mixes. It can be a good source of magnesium, protein, and calcium for birds. It is a favorite of many small ground foragers like juncos and sparrows. Can be offered alongside other seeds or on its own in small cylinders, platforms, and hoppers.
Nyjer Seed
This seed is sometimes called thistle seed, but is not related to the North American thistle at all. It comes from an African flower. It is extremely popular due to its ability to attract finches such as the American goldfinch, pine siskin, and common redpoll. This seed requires feeders with very small feeding ports, or some sort of specialized fine wire mesh through which the seed can be grabbed. A small cylinder with either of these features works best to prevent seed waste.
Oats
This grain is commonly used for cereal and livestock feed, but many birds love it too. It provides fats and amino-acids. Preservative free oats at the grocery store work fine to attract ground feeders like doves and quail. This works best in a low platform feeder.
Peanuts/Peanut Hearts
These legumes are loved by many birds and offer good vitamins and a good source of fat. These can be offered in the shell for larger species like jays and crows, or shelled and broken up into their hearts for smaller birds like chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice. Best offered on platform feeders.
Suet Cake
Suet is usually a square of beef-kidney or similar fat. It may have seeds or berries mixed in as well. Suet is a wonderful source of fat and energy and can help many birds over the winter. It is great at attracting birds that favor insects such as bluebirds and woodpeckers. Suet can be offered in a suet cage, mesh bag such as an onion bag or simply tied to a tree with thicker twine to avoid entanglement. Note that suet can go rancid in warmer weather so be sure to check for foul smell or mold and change accordingly.
Sugar Water
Sugar water is a mixture commonly offered as supplementary feed to hummingbirds or orioles. It should consist of 4 parts boiling water to 1 part sugar, combined completely and cooled to room temperature. Red food coloring should be avoided as it may have harmful additives. Rely on the color of the feeder and environment to attract nectar feeding birds. Only use white granulated sugar. Other sweeteners like honey brown sugar and artificial sweeteners have additives or are more prone to mold and can be harmful to birds. This mixture works in a specialized nectar feeder.
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