Types of Wild Bird Feeders

Food Sources for Wild Bird Feeders

Wild Birds Attracted to These Feeders

Tubular Bird Feeders - also can be Caged Feeders  to protect seed from squirrels.
Tubular Bird Feeders / Thistle (Nyjer) Bird Feeders / Mixed Seed Bird Feeders / Peanut Bird Feeders

Black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, peanut pieces, cracked corn, thistle (niger or nyjer) seeds, millet, wild bird seed mixes

Finches (house, purple), American goldfinches, pine siskins, lesser goldfinches, chickadees, nuthatches, titmouse (titmice)

Platform Bird Feeders - also called Tray Bird Feeders. Very popular as ground feeders or hanging feeders to attract different birds.
Platform Bird Feeders

Black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, peanuts, cracked corn, wild bird seed mixes, fruit, mealworms, millet, bakery goods, cheese

Bluebirds, buntings, cardinals, chickadees, doves, finches, goldfinches, grosbeaks, jays, pyrrhuloxias, orioles, quail, redpolls, robins, siskins, sparrows, tanagers, titmouse (titmice), towhees, wrens

Hopper Bird Feeders - also called Bin Feeders. Usually made of cedar, plastic or metal. Very popular feeders to attract a large variety of wild birds.
Hopper Bird Feeders / Gazebo Bird Feeders / Assorted Bird Feeders / Decorative Bird Feeders

Black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, peanuts, cracked corn, wild bird seed mixes, fruit, mealworms, millet, bakery goods, cheese

Bluebirds, buntings, cardinals, chickadees, doves, finches, goldfinches, grosbeaks, jays, pyrrhuloxias, orioles, redpolls, robins, siskins, sparrows, tanagers, titmouse (titmice), towhees, wrens

Peanut Bird Feeders - also called Caged Bird Feeders, Woodpecker Feeders.
Peanut Bird Feeders

Peanuts...depending on feeders – black oil sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, cracked corn, wild bird seed mixes

Cardinals, chickadees, finches, flickers, jays, nuthatches, titmouse (titmice), towhees, woodpeckers, wrens

Woodpecker Feeders - Attracts Woodpeckers and other clinging birds. Can also be called clinging bird feeders, peanut bird feeders, suet bird feeders, tail-prop bird feeders, upside-down hanging bird feeders.

Woodpecker Feeders

Peanuts, suet cakes, seed cakes, suet dough…depending on feeders – black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, thistle (niger or nyjer) seeds, cracked corn, and wild bird seed mixes

Cardinals, chickadees, finches, flickers, goldfinches, jays, pyrrhuloxas, nuthatches, siskins, sparrows, titmouse (titmice), towhees, woodpeckers, wrens

Clinging Bird Feeders (such as Globe Feeders or Sock Feeders) Caged squirrel-proof feeders appeal to clinging birds
Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders / Thistle Seed (Nyjer) Bird Feeders / Peanut Bird Feeders

Black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, thistle (niger or nyjer) seeds, peanuts, cracked corn, millet, wild bird seed mixes

Cardinals, chickadees, finches, goldfinches, jays, nuthatches, pyrrhuloxias, siskins, sparrows, titmouse (titmice), woodpeckers, wrens

Window Bird Feeders –  can be mounted to windowsill or attached to window by suction-cup.

In-House Bird Feeders, Windowsill Bird Feeders, Suction-Cup Window Bird Feeders.

Black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, thistle seed (niger or nyjer) peanuts, cracked corn, millet, wild bird seed mixes, suet cakes, seed cakes, suet dough, fruit, mealworms, bakery goods, cheese 

Bluebirds, buntings, cardinals, chickadees, doves, finches, goldfinches, grosbeaks, hummingbirds, jays, mockingbirds, nutchatches, pyrrhuloxias, orioles, redpolls, robins, siskins, sparrows, tanagers, titmouse (titmice), towhees, warblers, woodpeckers, wrens

Wire Mesh Bird Feeders – also called Sunflower Feeders.  All metal construction. Resistant to squirrel damage. Appealing to both clinging and perching birds.

Wire Mesh Bird Feeders

Black oil sunflower seed, safflower, peanut hearts, cracked corn

Bluebirds, buntings, cardinals, chickadees, doves, finches (house, purple), goldfinches, grosbeaks, jays, nuthatches, pyrrhuloxias, orioles, redpolls, robins, siskins, sparrows, tanagers, titmouse (titmice), towhees, wrens, nuthatches

Fruit & Jelly Bird Feeders - specialty feeders.
Fruit & Jelly Bird Feeders

Halved oranges, apples can be spiked on feeders. Jelly bowls for grape jelly.

Cardinal, mockingbird, oriole, robin

Suet Bird Feeders (can be caged feeders also to protect suet from squirrels)
Suet Bird Feeders

Suet cakes, seed cakes, suet dough work best in these feeders

Bluebirds, chickadees, flickers, gray catbirds (with raisins), jays, kinglets, mockingbirds, nuthatches, titmouse (titmice), woodpeckers, wrens

Edible Bird Feeders - handcrafted all natural edible seed wreaths, swags, sunflower medallions and edible birdhouses.

Edible Bird Feeders / Edible Seed Wreaths / Edible Birdhouses            

Black oil sunflower seeds, flax, sorghum, safflower, millet, corn, durum, wheat

Bluebirds, buntings, cardinals, chickadees, doves, finches, goldfinches, grosbeaks, jays, pyrrhuloxias, orioles, redpolls, robins, siskins, sparrows, tanagers, titmouse (titmice), towhees, wrens

Hummingbird Feeders and Oriole Feeders – choose from various styles.
Hummingbird Feeders / Blown Glass Hummingbird Feeders / Bottle Hummingbird Feeders / Dish or Saucer Hummingbird Feeders / Window Hummingbird Feeders / Oriole Feeders

Sugar water at a 4 to 1 ratio. Four parts water to one part sugar. Bring to a boil to dissolve sugar, then let cool. You can also use convenient packaged nectar mixes.

Hummingbirds, finches, woodpeckers, orioles, warblers, jays, mockingbirds, chickadees

Mealworm Feeders (also called Bluebird Feeders)
Mealworm Feeders / Stained Glass Dish Bird Feeders

Live mealworms, live waxworms,

dry mealworms, roasted mealworms, roasted waxworms

Bluebirds, chickadees, finches, goldfinches, titmouse (titmice), warblers, woodpeckers

Dish Bird Feeders (for bread, jelly and scraps)
Assorted Wild Bird Feeders / Stained Glass Dish Bird Feeders

Black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, peanuts, cracked corn, wild bird seed mixes, fruit, mealworms, millet, bakery goods, cheese

Bluebirds, cardinals, chickadees, finches, flickers, goldfinches, jays, oriole (jelly), mockingbirds (bread & fruit), robins (bread & fruit), woodpeckers, wrens, etc.