The Best Bird Seed for Backyard Birds

If you’re new to backyard bird feeding, choosing the right seed can feel a little overwhelming. There are SO many blends, seed types, and feeder options that it can be hard to know where to start. The good news is that you only need a few core seed ingredients to attract a surprisingly wide variety of birds.

This guide keeps everything simple so you know exactly what to put in your feeders, which birds you’ll attract, and which seed blends are worth buying.

Table of Contents: 1. Black Oil Sunflower 2. Sunflower Hearts and Chips 3. Nyjer 4. Safflower 5. Peanuts 6. Millet 7. Dried Fruit 8. A Simple Seed Plan for Beginners

Black Oil Sunflower, The Everyday Favorite

Black oil sunflower is the most universally loved seed. It’s high in fat, easy for small birds to crack, and draws in a huge variety of backyard species.

Attracts:

• Chickadees

• Cardinals

• Finches

• Nuthatches

• Titmice

• Woodpeckers

• Grosbeaks

• Sparrows

• Blue jays

Best for: Hopper feeders, tube feeders, tray feeders

Blends That Include Black Oil Sunflower

• COOL BIRDS Cardinal & Crew

• COOL BIRDS All Birds

• COOL BIRDS Nut & Fruit

• Audubon Park Nut & Fruit

• Audubon Park Cardinal

• Audubon Park Songbird Supreme

• Lyric Supreme

• Royal Wing Black Oil Sunflower Seeds

• Royal Wing Fruit & Nut

Sunflower Hearts and Chips, The No Mess Option

Sunflower hearts are hulled, meaning no shells and almost no cleanup. They’re a great choice if your feeder is near a patio or walkway.

Attracts:

• Chickadees

• Cardinals

• Finches

• Nuthatches

• Titmice

• Woodpeckers

• Grosbeaks

• Sparrows

• Blue jays

• Doves

• Juncos

  
  

Best for: Tube feeders, tray feeders, covered hoppers

Blends That Include Sunflower Hearts

• COOL BIRDS Hearts on Fire

• COOL BIRDS No Mess Sad Squirrels

• COOL BIRDS No Mess

• COOL BIRDS Safflower, Nuts, & Hearts 

• Lyric Fine Tunes No Waste

• Lyric Delite

• Lyric Woodpecker No Waste

• Audubon Park Sunflower Hearts

• Audubon Park Nut & Fruit

• Audubon Park Songbird Supreme

• Royal Wing Fruit & Nut

• Royal Wing Shell Free Mix

• Royal Wing No Waste Big Bites

Nyjer, The Goldfinch Magnet

Nyjer, often called thistle, is a tiny black seed packed with oil. It’s the absolute favorite of finches and a must have if you want bright pops of yellow at your feeders.

Attracts:

• American Goldfinches

• Pine Siskins

• Purple Finches

• House Finches

Best for: Finch tube feeders or mesh socks

Blends That Include Nyjer

• Audubon Park Nyjer Sock Feeder

• Royal Wing Nyjer Seed

Safflower, Great for Cardinals

Safflower has a tough shell that cardinals crack easily while many bully birds ignore it. It’s a fantastic option if you want cardinals without inviting starlings or grackles.

Attracts:

• Northern Cardinals

• Chickadees

• Nuthatches

• Grosbeaks

• House finches

  
  

Best for: Hopper feeders or tube feeders with large ports

Blends That Include Safflower

• COOL BIRDS Safflower, Nuts, & Hearts

• COOL BIRDS Cardinal & Crew

• COOL BIRDS All Birds

• COOL BIRDS Nut & Fruit

• Audubon Park Cardinal

• Royal Wing Fruit & Nut

  
  

Peanuts, High Energy and Great for Woodpeckers

Peanuts offer protein and fat that keep birds energized, especially during cold months. They also bring in some of the most charismatic backyard visitors.

Attracts:

• Woodpeckers

• Blue jays

• Titmice

• Chickadees

• Nuthatches

  
  

Best for: Mesh peanut feeders, suet cages, platform feeders

Blends That Include Peanuts

• Lyric Peanut Pieces

• Lyric Fine Tunes No Waste

• Lyric Woodpecker No Waste

• COOL BIRDS Nut & Fruit

• COOL BIRDS Safflower, Nuts, & Hearts 

• COOL BIRDS No Mess 

• COOL BIRDS All Birds

• Audubon Park Nut & Fruit

• Royal Wing No Waste Big Bites

• Royal Wing Fruit & Nut

• Royal Wing Shell Free Mix

Millet, A Favorite for Ground Feeding Birds

White proso millet is excellent for birds that naturally forage on the ground. It’s also a staple ingredient in many high quality blends.

Attracts:

• Juncos

• Sparrows

• Mourning doves

• Towhees

  
  

Best for: Platform feeders, ground trays, or scattered lightly on the ground

Blends That Include Millet

• COOL BIRDS All Birds

• Audubon Park Songbird Supreme

• Audubon Park Nut & Fruit

• Lyric Supreme

• Royal Wing Fruit & Nut

• Royal Wing Shell Free Mix

Dried Fruit, A Sweet Bonus for a Wider Variety of Birds

Dried fruit adds natural sweetness and energy to seed mixes. It’s especially loved by birds that enjoy berries and soft foods in the wild. Common dried fruits in mixes: Cranberries, raisins, and papaya.

Attracts:

• Robins

• Cardinals

• Woodpeckers

• Bluebirds

• Chickadees

• Nuthatches

• Grosbeaks

• Orioles

Best for: Tray feeders, platform feeders, hopper feeders

Blends That Include Dried Fruit

• COOL BIRDS Nut & Fruit

• COOL BIRDS No Mess 

• Audubon Park Nut & Fruit

• Lyric Woodpecker No Waste

• Royal Wing No Waste Big Bites

• Royal Wing Fruit & Nut

A Simple Seed Plan for Beginners

If you want a zero stress setup that still attracts tons of birds, here’s my fail-proof tips for beginners:

1. Begin with black oil sunflower seed

   It’s the gold standard for backyard birds. Almost every species loves it, and you’ll see steady activity right away. Just keep in mind that it does leave shells under the feeder, so place it somewhere easy to sweep or rake.

   
   

2. Use a shell-free or no mess blend for patios and decks

   If you want all the bird activity without the cleanup, choose a blend made with sunflower hearts. These mixes disappear completely and are perfect for feeders close to your home or outdoor seating.

   
   

3. Offer a Nut and Fruit blend to bring in woodpeckers and cardinals

   These richer mixes include peanuts, sunflower, and dried fruit, which attract some of the most exciting visitors. They’re especially good in winter and early spring when birds need extra energy.

   
   

4. Include a millet based option for doves and juncos

   Millet gets a bad reputation because many low quality blends are loaded with it, sometimes making up 50% of the bag. But high quality blends that use just a small amount of millet are fantastic for doves, juncos, towhees, and native sparrows. It’s one of the easiest ways to bring in ground feeding birds.

   
   

5. Use more than one feeder style

   Tube feeders, hopper feeders, platform feeders, and finch feeders all appeal to different birds. A variety of feeders paired with a variety of seeds brings the most activity.

   
   

This simple mix of seeds and feeder types creates a colorful, lively backyard with almost no effort and works beautifully in every season.

Affiliate Disclaimer - Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them. This helps support my work at no extra cost to you. Thank you for feeding the birds with me.

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