What types of food will attract birds to my garden during the winter months?
Black-Oil Sunflower Seeds are a great choice for your winter feeder. They are very nutritious and a source of high quality protein. The seeds have a high percentage of meat and contain oil (important for birds during the winter). Their small size and thin shell make it easy for birds to crack open. Look for Finches, Sparrows, Buntings, Chickadees, Titmice, and Cardinals feasting on these seeds.
Suet is a high calorie, energy-packed food for birds. You can buy it from your favorite bird supply store or make you own. Watch for Woodpeckers, Jays, Titmice, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Wrens, Bluebirds, Tanagers, and Finches sampling your suet.
Millet is small round seed about the size of the head of a pin. It comes in different types including white (most popular with birds), red, and golden. Millet is often found as part of seed mixes which are best for hanging tub feeders or hopper feeders. Millet will attract Finches, Sparrows, Buntings, Towhees, Juncos, Cardinals, Mockingbirds, Wrens, and Doves.
Thistle seed, also know as Nyjer seed is a popular seed for Finches. The seeds are small and resemble grains of wild rice. Thistle is highly desired for its high fat and protein content. Don’t let the name surprise you because this seed is not really a thistle at all, but the seed of the Nyjer plant native to Ethiopia. You might find that it is a little expensive when compare to other seeds, but it is well worth it for the Finches you will attract.
Raw, unsalted peanuts (whole or shelled) are a great treat for many birds. Shelled peanuts work best in a tube feeder made of wire mesh and whole peanuts can be placed on a tray or platform feeder. Blue Jays, Tufted Titmice, Chickadees, White-Breasted Nuthatches, Woodpeckers (Hairy, Downy, or Red-bellied) are known to visit peanut feeders.
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