Seed Choice

The greater the variety of food you have, the more bird species you'll attract. Here are some local favorites!

Black Oil Sunflower (In Shell)

This seed is a favorite of cardinals and chickadees because they can crack those thick shells, but birds with less-specialized beaks will not be able to eat this seed.

Attracts:

  • Cardinals
  • Chickadees
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
  • Tufted Titmouse

 

Sunflower Chips

This has all the goodness of the black oil sunflower, but is accessible to many more birds because they don't have to crack open the shell.

Attracts:

  • Bluebirds
  • Goldfinches
  • House Finches
  • Song Sparrows
  • White-throated Sparrows
  • Juncos
  • Pine Siskins
  • Mourning Doves
  • Grackles
  • Cardinals
  • Chickadees
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Brown-headed Nuthatches
  • White-breasted Nuthatches
  • Red-bellied Woodpeckers
  • Red-headed Woodpeckers
  • Downy Woodpeckers
  • Hairy Woodpeckers

 

Safflower

This seed is typically used deliberately to dissuade grackles, starlings, blackbirds, and squirrels. Many other bird species are also not able to crack the safflower shell, so this seed limits which birds will come to your feeder. However, it may be worth using if grackles or squirrels are taking over your feeders.

Attracts:

  • Cardinals
  • Chickadees
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
  • Tufted Titmouse

 

Thistle/Nyjer

This seed has two names because it can come from different plant species, but it is essentially the same seed. It is a favorite of finches and siskins.

Attracts:

  • Goldfinches
  • House Finches
  • Pine Siskins

 

Peanut Splits and Tree Nuts

Woodpeckers, nuthatches, and jays love nuts, and can be seen picking through a mix of seed to find their favorites

Attracts:

  • Red-bellied Woodpeckers
  • Red-headed Woodpeckers
  • Pileated Woodpeckers
  • Downy Woodpeckers
  • Hairy Woodpeckers
  • Brown-headed Nuthatches
  • White-breasted Nuthatches