There are many types of wild bird food available. Instead of buying mixed seeds and loading your bird tables or scattering across the yard, different types of bird seed in different feeders will attract more birds to your garden. Birds tend to be quite picky about what they eat and will prefer certain types of seed over others.
Niger seed is a popular type of bird seed more commonly known as nyger seed or thistle. These seeds are imported from Africa and are used to attract sparrows and finches. Black oil sunflower has to be the most popular type of bird seed with its wide availability and wide range of bird species with preference to them. Small birds are partial to this type of seed as it is easy to break the hull with their tiny beaks to enjoy the high in energy sunflower oil. These seeds also attract finches and sparrows as well as doves and woodpeckers. The more traditional version of sunflower seeds is the striped sunflower seeds and is mostly found in seed mixes. But, it only attracts large birds with strong beaks which can break through the somewhat harder and thicker shell.
Less expensive variations of seeds such as corn, safflower seeds and peanuts also attract birds. Ground feeders such as turkeys and ducks tend to be interested in cracked corn and safflower seeds as most birds tend to toss it to the ground after deciding that they are not to their preferences. These seeds are commonly found inside mix seed packages as filler materials or as a means to attract different types of birds.
Apart from seeds, birds are also attracted by suet and fruits. Suet is often a mixture of birdseed, corn and beef fat which attracts birds such as warblers and woodpeckers. As for fruits, jays, mockingbirds and robins are the most attracted species. Suet and fruit cannot be served in the same feeders as seeds, there are specially designed feeders for suet and fruits which will hold the food safe and well away from other feeders while allowing access to targeted birds.
