Backyard Bird-Feeding Guide for Wisconsin
by Steve Mahler

Black Oil Sunflower
Black oil sunflower is rich in fat and protein and provides twice the calories per pound when compared to other seeds. Cardinals, chickadees, finches, titmice and grosbeaks find the thin shells easy to open.

Niger (also known as thistle)
Niger/Thistle, is not the same as our native Wisconsin plant, but rather imported from overseas. This seed attracts birds with smaller beaks, such as goldfinches, house finches, purple finches, and pine siskins. This seed, when purchased alone, can be costly. Many high-quality mixes combine this seed with finely hulled sunflower seed to bring down the cost slightly.

Striped Sunflower
Striped sunflower seeds are larger and have a thicker shell than black oil sunflower seeds. Birds that prefer striped sunflower seeds master opening the thick shells. Jays, chickadees, titmice and woodpeckers find sunflower seeds very attractive.

Hulled Sunflower
Hulled sunflowers are the seed-meats without the shells. They are available in different sizes. The most common is sunflower chips. They leave no mess under the feeder and are ideal for feeding near a patio, sidewalk, balcony, or for summer feeding. Hulled sunflowers are appealing to many birds, especially finches and pine siskins.

Safflower

THE SQUIRREL PROBLEM SOLVER!!
Safflower seed is a very nourishing seed and can be a problem solver if you have squirrels or blackbirds dominating your feeder. Many birds that like sunflower seed -- such as cardinals, titmice, chickadees and finches -- also like the taste of safflower. Squirrels and blackbirds do not like it. Safflower usually costs a little more, but the savings from not feeding squirrels and blackbirds easily offsets the increased cost.

White Millet
White proso millet is the most popular seed for attracting ground-feeding birds such as juncos, doves, towhees and sparrows. Millet has a hard hull, and is high in protein.

Corn

TO ATTRACT BIRDS AND SQUIRRELS
Finely cracked corn is better for feeding backyard birds than whole corn because it is easy to crack and eat. Doves, cardinals, jays, sparrows, and blackbirds love it. It is inexpensive and should be used with some restraint so as not to attract too many undesirable birds.

Peanuts

A BIRD-FEEDING SECRET
Peanuts are high in protein and fat and can be fed to birds in a variety of forms, including shelled peanuts, peanut hearts, or peanuts in the shell. This is the No. 1 choice for jays, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers and many other birds. The price paid is well worth the reward of luring many hard-to-attract birds to your feeders.

REFERENCES

Geis A. D. 1980. Relative Attractiveness of Different Foods at Wild Bird Feeders. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Scientific Report No. 233.

Steve Mahler (personal experience).

Suggested reading for further information:

Craven, Scott R. and Robert L. Ruff. 1990. Bird Feeding: Tips for Beginners and Veterans. University of Wisconsin-Extension publication G3176. Madison, WI. (This booklet can be purchased from your local UW-Extension County Office.)

Stokes, Donald and Lillian Stokes. 1987. The Bird Feeder Book: An Easy Guide to Attracting, Identifying and Understanding Your Feeder Birds. Little, Brown and Co., Boston, MA.

Harrison, G. 1979. The Backyard Bird Watcher. Simon and Schuster, N.Y., N.Y.

(For Fun) Adler, B. 1996. Outwitting Squirrels. Chicago Review Press, Chicago, IL.

Return to the BWB-ASF library

Return to Birds Without Borders - Aves Sin Fronteras®