Birds and their Preferred Food

Birds and their Preferred Food

Based on common species and general feeding habits:

Sparrows: Seeds (millet, sunflower), grains, small insects.

Robins: Insects (beetles, worms), berries, fruits.

Hummingbirds: Nectar, small insects, sugar water (from feeders).

Cardinals: Seeds (sunflower, safflower), fruits, insects.

Blue Jays: Nuts (acorns, peanuts), seeds, insects, small vertebrates.

Woodpeckers: Insects (ants, beetles), tree sap, nuts, fruits.

Owls: Small mammals (mice, voles), birds, insects.

Eagles: Fish, small mammals, other birds, carrion.

Finches: Seeds (thistle, sunflower), small insects.

Parrots: Fruits, seeds, nuts, flowers, some insects.

Crows/Ravens: Omnivorous—fruits, insects, small animals, carrion, human food scraps.

Doves/Pigeons: Seeds, grains, occasional small insects.

Birds have varied preferred foods depending on species, but some of the most popular and widely accepted foods for many backyard and wild birds include:

Sunflower seeds (especially black oil sunflower and hulled sunflower) are the most favored seed, attracting a wide variety of birds such as finches, sparrows, woodpeckers, and chickadees. Sunflower seeds are energy-rich and easy for birds to eat or store for later.

Peanuts and peanut hearts are highly nutritious and loved by many species including jays, sparrows, finches, woodpeckers, chickadees, and bluebirds. Peanuts provide fats and proteins essential especially in cooler months and are often given in shells, hearts, or as peanut butter.

Suet, which is animal fat mixed with ingredients like peanut butter and seeds, is a high-energy food crucial for birds during fall and winter. Woodpeckers, chickadees, wrens, nuthatches, and other insectivores particularly favor suet.

Mealworms (live or dried larvae of Tenebrio beetles) are great protein-rich foods mostly for insectivorous birds such as woodpeckers, titmice, robins, wrens, and orioles. They are ideal when natural insects become scarce.

Other seeds preferred regionally or by certain birds include millet, cracked corn, safflower, Nyjer (thistle seed), and milo. These attract species like sparrows, grosbeaks, buntings, and finches.

Fruits, berries, nectar (for hummingbirds), and insects also form important parts of many birds’ diets depending on their feeding habits and seasonal availability.

Birds exhibit a wide range of dietary preferences, which are often categorized by what they primarily consume. The type of food a bird eats is closely linked to its physical characteristics, such as beak shape, as well as its habitat and seasonal availability of food sources.

Seeds and Grains

Many birds are granivores, meaning they primarily eat seeds. These birds typically have short, stout beaks perfect for cracking open shells.

Sunflower Seeds: A favorite of many species. Black oil sunflower seeds are particularly popular because they have thin shells and high fat content. Birds that love them include cardinals, finches, chickadees, grosbeaks, nuthatches, and jays.

Nyjer Seed (Thistle Seed): A tiny, oil-rich seed that attracts small finches like goldfinches, pine siskins, and redpolls. It requires a special feeder with small holes.

Millet: A common ingredient in birdseed mixes, favored by ground-feeding birds such as juncos, doves, sparrows, and quail.

Safflower Seeds: These seeds have a thick shell that squirrels and some less-desired birds often dislike, making them a good choice for attracting cardinals, grosbeaks, and chickadees.

Cracked Corn: Attracts ground-feeding birds like doves, quail, jays, and sparrows.

Insects and Other Invertebrates

Insectivorous birds rely on insects and spiders for protein. This diet is especially crucial during the breeding season when they need to feed their young.

Mealworms: A highly-coveted food source for many insectivorous birds, including robins, bluebirds, wrens, and chickadees. They can be offered live or dried.

Other Insects: Birds like flycatchers, warblers, swallows, and woodpeckers will eat a wide variety of insects, from beetles and caterpillars to spiders and ants.

Worms: Ground-foraging birds like blackbirds and robins are often seen searching for earthworms on lawns.

Nectar, Fruits, and Berries

Some birds are specialized in their consumption of sweet, sugary foods.

Nectar: Hummingbirds are famous for their nectar-based diet, which they supplement with small insects. They are attracted to red and orange tubular flowers or feeders filled with a sugar-water solution.

Fruit and Berries: Many birds, including thrushes, orioles, and waxwings, enjoy a diet rich in fruits and berries. You can attract them by offering chopped apples, oranges, grapes, raisins, and other soft fruits.

Suet: A high-energy food made from rendered beef fat, often mixed with seeds or other ingredients. Suet is especially valuable in winter when birds need extra fat to stay warm. It attracts a variety of birds, including woodpeckers, nuthatches, and jays.

Nuts: Peanuts are a favorite of many birds, including jays, crows, chickadees, and woodpeckers. They are a great source of fat and protein.

Fish: Piscivorous birds, such as osprey, terns, and penguins, have specialized beaks and talons to catch and eat fish.

Small Mammals, Birds, and Reptiles: Carnivorous birds, including raptors like hawks, eagles, and owls, hunt other animals for food. For instance, peregrine falcons prey on smaller birds, while owls typically hunt rodents.

Carrion: Vultures and some other large birds, like crows and gulls, are carrion eaters, feeding on the decaying flesh of dead animals.

Here’s a quick reference chart:

Sunflower seeds, peanuts, suet, and mealworms constitute the core foods attractive to a wide range of birds in backyard feeders, supporting diversity and nutritional needs across seasons.

If you are feeding birds in your garden, providing a mix of these foods using appropriate feeders (hopper, platform, tube, suet baskets, or hummingbird feeders) maximizes attraction to different species.

Preferences vary by species, region, and season. Many birds adapt to available food sources, like feeders with seeds or suet.