Food Preference for Common Birds

For attracting particular species of birds you need to know what type of food they prefer.  This list gives some idea of the food preferences of common birds.  This list should not be taken as all inclusive, but as a guide.  Some birds eat food that is not commonly put out such as dried bread or moist raisins.  Also, Northern Cardinals have been known to eat suet, but they tend to prefer sunflower seeds.  Remember if you provide a larger variety of food you will get a larger variety of birds.

It is best not to try to find bird seed in your local grocery store.  Grocery stores have a lot to offer people, but a good bird seed mix is not one of them.  The wild bird feed offered in these stores is usually of low quality for higher price and in small packages.  These store mixes are usually full of wheat, barley and milo, a mix that most birds, especially in the east, will ignore.

For feeding birds your best bet to buying bird seed is to go to a feed store, or hardware store, or a specialty bird store that carries bird feed and birdfeeders and buy it in bulk.  Our Amazon Store offers a wide selection of bird food, bird feeders, and other accessories.