Top 10 seeds to attract birds

Transforming your backyard into a bustling bird sanctuary is easier than you think—it all comes down to what you put in your feeders. Not all seeds are created equal, and some are far more effective at inviting colorful visitors than others.

Here are the top 10 bird seeds and foods for attracting the widest variety of birds, based on nutritional value and popularity among feathered friends.

1. Black Oil Sunflower Seed

Best for: Everyone! Chickadees, cardinals, nuthatches, finches, and woodpeckers.
The absolute #1 seed for your feeder. It has a high-fat content and thin shells that are easy for small birds to crack.

2. Safflower Seed

Best for: Cardinals, chickadees, titmice, and grosbeaks.
Cardinals love it, but squirrels typically do not. It’s the perfect choice to keep gray “feeder hogs” away.

3. Nyjer (Thistle) Seed

Best for: Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, and Redpolls.
A tiny, high-energy seed that requires special mesh feeders or “thistle socks” to prevent waste.

4. White Proso Millet

Best for: Ground feeders like Sparrows, Doves, Juncos, and Towhees.
If you prefer a mix, ensure it is high in white millet. It is often wasted by perching birds but beloved by those that feed on the ground.

5. Shelled/Hulled Sunflower Seeds

Best for: A wide variety of birds (and for reducing mess).
Because there is no shell to crack, a greater variety of birds can eat this, and it leaves zero mess under the feeder. Note: It spoils faster than shelled seed.

6. Peanuts (Shelled or Unshelled)

Best for: Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Chickadees, and Titmice.
Packed with protein and fat. Blue Jays love peanuts in the shell, while shelled peanuts are great for smaller birds.

7. Suet

Best for: Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Chickadees, and Wrens.
Suet is beef fat, providing necessary energy, especially in winter. It attracts insect-eating birds that might not visit a standard seed feeder.

8. Cracked Corn

Best for: Doves, Jays, Quail, and Sparrows.
Inexpensive and popular, but it must be kept dry or it will mold quickly.

9. Mealworms

Best for: Bluebirds, Robins, Chickadees, and Cardinals.
Not a seed, but one of the best ways to attract birds that don’t eat seeds, such as bluebirds.

10. Striped Sunflower Seed

Best for: Larger birds like Cardinals and Blue Jays.
These have a thicker shell than black oil sunflower, making them harder for small birds to crack but perfect for bigger beaks.

Tips for Success

Avoid “Filler” Seeds: Avoid cheap blends that contain high amounts of milo, wheat, or rapeseed. Birds often discard these, leading to wasted money and a mess in your yard.
Use Proper Feeders: Use tube feeders for sunflower, mesh socks for thistle, and suet cages for suet.
Clean Up: To prevent attracting rodents, clean up discarded hulls regularly or switch to hulled seeds.