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Seeds
and the Wild Birds They Attract
You
can attract colorful birds all year long by establishing
bird feeding areas in your yard. Provide two or more
feeders at different heights to allow several types
of birds to feed at the same time. Below are some popular
seeds found in backyard feeders and examples of birds
they attract:
Black
Oil Sunflower
Hands down, black oil sunflower is the most popular
seed among a wide range of birds. Both small and large
birds can easily manipulate and open its thin shell.
It is high in energy and a good source of protein.
Examples
of birds attracted: cardinals, nuthatches, finches,
grosbeaks, pine siskins, goldfinches, juncos and chickadees
Striped
Sunflower
Striped Sunflower is a high oil content food that is
appealing to larger birds because of its size and hard
shell.
Examples
of birds attracted: blue jays, woodpeckers, grosbeaks,
titmice and cardinals
Sunflower
Hearts & Chips
These shelled sunflower seeds are a good source of protein
and are high in oil. This highly nutritious food leaves
no seed hulls under the feeder. Sunflower hearts and
chips will attract a wide variety of birds.
Examples
of birds attracted: juncos, finches, cardinals, grosbeaks,
nuthatches, towhees, tufted titmice, woodpeckers and
chickadees
Thistle
Seed
Thistle seed is considered the premier seed for attracting
many varieties of finches and small songbirds. This
small seed is rich in oil and protein and is high in
nutrition.
Examples
of birds attracted: goldfinches, purple finches, redpolls,
pine siskins and indigo buntings
Millet
A good source of starch, vitamins and minerals, millet
is generally the preferred food of birds that favor
smaller seeds.
Examples
of birds attracted: juncos, towhees, buntings, sparrows,
mourning doves, chickadees, cardinals and pine siskins
Cracked
Corn
Cracked corn is a good source of oil and starch and
is an especially valuable food to feed during the winter.
It's readily consumed by a variety of popular birds.
It can also be used to attract small animals to the
feeding area.
Examples
of birds attracted: blue birds, mourning doves, juncos,
indigo buntings, bobwhites, cardinals, grosbeaks, nuthatches,
towhees, sparrows and woodpeckers
Safflower
Seed
Safflower is a high oil content seed that is very desirable
to cardinals. Because of its bitter taste, squirrels
will not eat it.
Examples
of birds attracted: cardinals, chickadees, brown thrashers,
nuthatches and evening grosbeaks
Peanuts
Peanuts are a very good source of fat and protein.
They can be offered either whole or shelled.
Examples
of birds attracted: blue jays, titmice, woodpeckers,
nuthatches, chickadees, blue birds, kinglets, mocking
birds, indigo buntings, juncos, warblers, and towhees
[Information
supplied by Kaytee Inc., of Chilton, Wisconsin].
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