Photographing Birds: What to Feed Birds - Which Seed or Food to Feed Specific Birds
What types of seeds or food do different birds like to eat?
The variety of birds that will visit your feeding area will depend upon the types of food that you use to lure them in. A good bet for most birds is sunflower seeds - but there are different types of sunflower seed and each type will be more appealing to different birds.
You can prepare a mix of millet, sunflower, oats, wheat, flax, buckwheat seeds and milo and let the birds decide for themselves - but if you want to draw-in particular birds to photograph, putting out food that attracts them specifically is your best bet.
Here is our reference feeding chart for quick reference:
Millet: Mourning Dove, Dark-Eyed Junco, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow, House Finch, Brown-Headed Cowbird, House Finch, White-Throated Sparrow, Common Grackle, Red-Winged Blackbird, Quail, Pheasant, Pigeons
Cracked Corn: Mourning Dove, Common Grackle, Red-Winged Blackbird, Quail, Pheasant, Jays, Pigeons
Black Oil Sunflower Seeds: Tufted Titmouse, Evening Grosbeak, House Finch, Black-Capped Chickadee, Goldfinch, American Goldfinch, Brown-Headed Cowbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, White-Throated Sparrow, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Mockingbird, Red-Winged Blackbird, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, Buntings
Striped Sunflower Seeds: Bluejay
Fruit: Be inventive. Try soaking raisins or currents to plump-them-up and soften. Some birds enjoy the seeds from fruits like watermelon.
Northern Mockingbird, Orioles (particularly like oranges), Tanager
Thistle: Goldfinch, Dark-Eyed Junco, House Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Purple Finch, Buntings
Safflower: Northern Cardinal, Nuthatch, Finches, Grosbeak, Titmice
Suet: A great food to put out for insect-eating birds. Unless the suet has been processed in a certain manner for summer feeding, the hot weather can turn it rancid.
Starling, Black-Capped Chickadee, Pine Siskin, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Bushtits, Jays, Titmice
Milo: Starling, Jays, Doves, Pigeons
Peanuts: Birds enjoy them in the shell or out of the shell: Jays, Nuthatches, Woodpeckers
Nectar: Hummingbirds specifically like nectar. To prepare nectar use 3 cups water to 1 cup sugar OR 4 cups water to 1 cup of sugar. I increase the sugar amid initial feeding in the spring when the birds migrate into the area as natural nectar is sparse. As the season progresses, available nectar from flowers and plants becomes depleted and the birds need a lot of energy as they prepare for the migration - so again, I increase the sugar for extra energy.
Be sure to change the water and thoroughly clean your hummingbird feeders every three days - and no longer than five days as the liquid will ferment and can harm the birds. If left unattended too long, harmful mold will form in the feeders which causes terrible issues for the birds - which can include death. I do not recommend adding red food color to the nectar as it may be harmful to the birds. While they are drawn to color, the typical red on the feeders accomplish that.
Hang the feeders in an area where the hummingbirds feel safe to approach. If too low, cats may enjoy your feeder more than the birds. Also make it a point to check for praying mantis if you hang your feeders close to greenery. A large praying mantis can kill a hummingbird.
NIGHTHAWK
DARK-EYED JUNCO
Birds also enjoy a wide range of other foods such as popcorn without additives. It's best to pop the corn in a hot-air popper. Don't add anything after popping - including salt. Sterilized egg shells may also be enjoyed by birds. And of course, mealworms.
Keep in mind that water is equally as important as food. Birds need water for quenching thirst and for keeping their feathers clean for optimum insulation against the elements.
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