What Do Garden Birds Like to Eat?

The Ultimate Guide to Feeding Wild Birds

 

 

What do Garden Birds Like to Eat?

Peanuts - These are rich in fat and are popular with tits, greenfinches, house sparrows, nuthatches, great spotted woodpeckers and siskins. Peanut granules will attract Robins, Dunnocks and Wrens. Our Peanuts are free from aflatoxin

Sunflower Seeds - These are an excellent year-round bird food, in many areas more popular than peanuts. The oil content is higher in black than striped ones, Sunflower Hearts are a popular no-mess food.

Wild Bird Mixes - Choose a mix to suit the type of birds you wish to feed. Brinvale Standard Wild Bird is great value, however it contains wheat which will also attract pheasants, doves and pigeons. Brinvale Supreme Wild Bird or Finch Mix contains small seeds such as millet, this will attract house sparrows, dunnocks, finches, reed buntings, pinhead oatmeal is excellent for many birds. Brinvale Nice n Clean Mix is a high energy no mess mix, this is suitable for all garden birds.

Special Mixes - Such as Robin Insect Mix, a combination of a Robin's favourite food, ie. peanut grains and mealworms. Brinvale Blackbird/Thrush Mix contains Fruit (raisins and apple) plus appled suet pellets.

Nyjer Seed - These are small and black with a high oil content, a favourite food of goldfinches and siskins. This seed can be purchased separately on our site, our Supreme Wild Bird Mix also contains some Nyjer seed.

Suet Products - Fat Balls, Suet Feasts, Suet Pellets are all excellent winter foods and popular with most species.

Mealworms - are relished by Robins and Blue Tits, may also attract other insect eating birds such as Pied Wagtails. 

 


How to Attract Birds to Your Feeder

Find a suitable place for your feeding station or table. Ensure clear flight paths for the birds. Try to place the bird food somewhere where it won't be eaten by cats, rats, mice, squirrels, and other garden animals. 

Should I provide water for birds also?

Yes, if you can, provide water for both drinking (from a drinker) and bathing (from a bird bath).  

Hygiene Tips?

Keep your table clean, ensure feeders have good drainage, damp seed will go mouldy. Store your wild bird food somewhere cool and dry, and out of reach for mice and rats. Not only could the birds get ill eating from dirty feeders but they are likely to turn those nose up at mouldly looking food. 

How often should I feed wild birds?

Birds will soon get used to visiting your feeders, wasting a lot of energy if they are empty, so all year round feeding is now approved. 

We hope the above will help you decide which wild bird food to purchase. Brinvale also sells a wide variety of seeds to enable you to create your own wild bird food if your prefer.

 

 

Looking To Feed a Particular Bird?

We have a section dedicated to different bird species including facts and what they eat. You can find it all by visiting our Shop By Bird Section here.

 

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