Beginner guide
Bird feeders: what to buy and where to put it
A single well-placed feeder with the right seed brings birds within sight in days, not weeks.
Start with the right seed
- Black-oil sunflower seed: the most widely recommended all-rounder. Thin shells and high fat attract chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, cardinals and finches.
- Nyjer (thistle) in a tube with small ports: a favorite of goldfinches and other small finches.
- Suet: high-energy fat cakes for woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees, especially in cold months.
- Nectar for hummingbirds: 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water, no red dye. Change it every few days, more often in heat.
- Cheap mixes heavy in red milo or filler often get kicked to the ground.
Pick a feeder
- Tube feeders suit small perching birds.
- Hopper and platform feeders serve larger birds like cardinals, jays and doves.
- Suet cages attract woodpeckers such as the Downy Woodpecker.
Place it safely
Window collisions kill huge numbers of birds. A common rule of thumb is to put feeders either closer than about 1 meter (3 feet) from a window, so birds cannot build up speed, or farther than about 9 meters (30 feet). Window decals or screens help too. Put feeders near shrubs for cover, but not where cats can hide.
Keep it clean
Dirty feeders spread disease. Scrub them every couple of weeks with hot soapy water or a dilute bleach solution, rinse well, let them dry, and rake up old seed below.
Questions people ask
What bird seed attracts the most birds?
Black-oil sunflower seed attracts the widest range of feeder birds, including chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, cardinals and finches.
How do you make hummingbird nectar?
Mix 1 part white table sugar with 4 parts water, dissolve, cool, and skip red dye. Replace it every few days.
How far should a bird feeder be from a window?
Either within about 3 feet (1 m) or farther than about 30 feet (9 m), which reduces deadly window strikes.
How often should I clean my bird feeder?
About every two weeks, and more often in wet or hot weather or if you see sick birds.
Further reading: Cornell Lab Project FeederWatch: common feeder birds and foods · National Audubon Society: how to make hummingbird nectar