What Do Birds Eat? A Backyard Bird Feeding Chart
Find your favorite backyard birds below to see what they eat and which feeder they prefer. Then pick the food to bring them in.
Three rules that attract the most birds
Offer variety
Different birds eat in different ways. A tube feeder, a platform and a suet feeder together cover almost every common backyard bird.
Add water
A shallow bird bath brings in robins, bluebirds and others that rarely visit feeders. Keep it open in winter with a heated bath.
Give them cover
Birds feel safer with shrubs or trees nearby. Place feeders about 10 to 15 feet from cover.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best all-round bird food?
Black-oil sunflower seed. It's eaten by more backyard birds than any other food.
What attracts cardinals?
Safflower and sunflower seed on a platform, hopper or a tube feeder with a ring perch. Cardinals like to feed near shrubs.
What do birds eat in winter?
High-fat foods help most: suet, sunflower and peanuts. Fresh, unfrozen water matters just as much.
Not sure which feeder fits your yard?
Answer three quick questions and we'll match you with the right setup.