Bird Food

Bird food is basically food (typically seeds) that birds eat. The term is usually used for pet birds, which are fed instead of allowed to get their food from the wild.

Birds have different bird food preferences, and beginners or new pet bird owners might find it difficult to choose which of the several bird food types would suit their pets best.

Types of bird food

Black oil sunflower seeds are one of the best bird food varieties catering to tastes of several bird species. It is the safest bird food to try for new pet owners.

Some of the most common and most popular bird food among pet birds aside from black oil sun flower seeds are corn, millet, safflower, nyjer (also known as niger or thistle seed), peanuts and mixed seeds.

Corn is a favorite bird food among pigeons, jays, doves, peasants, quails and turkeys. Smaller birds such as finches, blackbirds and sparrows prefer cracked corn because thisis easier for them to eat.

Millet appeals most to juncos, sparrows, and doves. Safflower is the most appealing bird food for sparrows, grosbeaks and doves. Nyger or niger, also known as "thistle seed", is an attractive bird food to siskins, redpolls and goldfinches. Peanuts, on the other hand, are the best bird food treats for cardinals, woodpeckers, nuthatches, titmice, chickadees, jars, sparrows and Carolina Wrens. Mixed seed bird food, often containing millet, is popular among ground-feeding birds.

Alternative bird food types

Aside from birdseed, there are other types of bird food that are equally appealing and nutritious for your pet bird.

Peanut butter is a bird food favorite among feeder birds, especially among chickadees, titmice and woodpeckers. However, since it is sticky and messy, it has to be given to the birds with care so as they won't have the peanut butter splattered across their feathers.

Suet is the compact white fat that forms around the loins and kidneys of domestic cattle. This bird food alternative to birdseed is especially appealing to all regular insect-eating birds such as titmice, woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, sapsuckers, wrens, catbirds, creepers, orioles, warblers and many more.

It is important to remember, however, that liquefied suet can make birds sick. So during warm or hot weather, you must remember to take out very small suet pieces because these very small suet pieces melt and become sour.

Fruit is also a good alternative bird food. Yellow-bellied sapsuckers, pileated woodpeckers and robins love pears and apples. Thrashers, mockingbirds, wrens and catbirds like chopped and softened raisins and currants. Orioles and tanagers simply love berries, bananas, cherries and peaches.

Bird Food

Bird food is basically food (typically seeds) that birds eat. The term is usually used for pet birds, which are fed instead of allowed to get their food from the wild.

Birds have different bird food preferences, and beginners or new pet bird owners might find it difficult to choose which of the several bird food types would suit their pets best.

Types of bird food

Black oil sunflower seeds are one of the best bird food varieties catering to tastes of several bird species. It is the safest bird food to try for new pet owners.

Some of the most common and most popular bird food among pet birds aside from black oil sun flower seeds are corn, millet, safflower, nyjer (also known as niger or thistle seed), peanuts and mixed seeds.

Corn is a favorite bird food among pigeons, jays, doves, peasants, quails and turkeys. Smaller birds such as finches, blackbirds and sparrows prefer cracked corn because thisis easier for them to eat.

Millet appeals most to juncos, sparrows, and doves. Safflower is the most appealing bird food for sparrows, grosbeaks and doves. Nyger or niger, also known as "thistle seed", is an attractive bird food to siskins, redpolls and goldfinches. Peanuts, on the other hand, are the best bird food treats for cardinals, woodpeckers, nuthatches, titmice, chickadees, jars, sparrows and Carolina Wrens. Mixed seed bird food, often containing millet, is popular among ground-feeding birds.

Alternative bird food types

Aside from birdseed, there are other types of bird food that are equally appealing and nutritious for your pet bird.

Peanut butter is a bird food favorite among feeder birds, especially among chickadees, titmice and woodpeckers. However, since it is sticky and messy, it has to be given to the birds with care so as they won't have the peanut butter splattered across their feathers.

Suet is the compact white fat that forms around the loins and kidneys of domestic cattle. This bird food alternative to birdseed is especially appealing to all regular insect-eating birds such as titmice, woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, sapsuckers, wrens, catbirds, creepers, orioles, warblers and many more.

It is important to remember, however, that liquefied suet can make birds sick. So during warm or hot weather, you must remember to take out very small suet pieces because these very small suet pieces melt and become sour.

Fruit is also a good alternative bird food. Yellow-bellied sapsuckers, pileated woodpeckers and robins love pears and apples. Thrashers, mockingbirds, wrens and catbirds like chopped and softened raisins and currants. Orioles and tanagers simply love berries, bananas, cherries and peaches.