You don’t need specialty birdseed blends or expensive equipment to turn your backyard into a bird haven. Some of the best bird foods are already sitting in your pantry right now. From sunflower seeds to peanut butter, these everyday kitchen staples can attract a surprising variety of colorful, fascinating species to your yard year-round.
Northern Cardinals With Sunflower Seeds
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Check PriceNorthern Cardinals are among the most striking backyard visitors, and they’re not shy about showing up when sunflower seeds are on offer. These bold red birds prefer black oil sunflower seeds because of their high fat content and thin shells, which are easy to crack with their strong, conical beaks. Cardinals are ground feeders by nature, so they’ll appreciate seeds scattered on a platform feeder or directly on the ground in a clean area. They’re most active during early morning and late afternoon, often visiting in pairs. Keep your feeders stocked consistently, especially during winter months when natural food sources become scarce. If you have sunflower seeds in your kitchen—whether for snacking or baking—you’ve already got what it takes to bring these brilliant birds into your yard.
Black-Capped Chickadees With Peanuts
Black-capped Chickadees are energetic little acrobats that absolutely love peanuts. These small, social birds are year-round residents across much of North America and will readily visit feeders offering shelled or chopped peanuts. They have a fascinating habit of caching food, grabbing a peanut piece and flying off to hide it in tree bark for later. This behavior makes them regular, repeat visitors to your feeding station. Chickadees prefer smaller pieces they can handle easily, so chop whole peanuts into halves or quarters. Unsalted, raw peanuts are best—skip the roasted or flavored varieties meant for human consumption. Offer them in a hopper feeder, platform feeder, or even scattered on a tree stump. With their curious nature and cheerful calls, chickadees will quickly become daily visitors once they discover your peanut supply.
Woodpeckers With Suet
Woodpeckers are powerfully built birds that need high-energy foods to fuel their constant hammering and foraging. Suet—the raw fat from around beef or mutton kidneys—is an ideal source of that energy, especially during cold months. Many grocery stores carry suet in the meat section, or you can save beef fat trimmings from cooking. Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers are all common suet enthusiasts. Place suet in a wire cage feeder attached to a tree trunk or hang it from a sturdy branch. Woodpeckers will cling to the feeder with their strong feet and chisel-like bills while feeding. During warmer weather, suet can melt and spoil, so it’s best offered in fall and winter. The rhythmic drumming and striking plumage of woodpeckers make them rewarding guests worth attracting.
Blue Jays With Unshelled Peanuts
Blue Jays are intelligent, bold birds with a particular fondness for peanuts still in the shell. Watching a Blue Jay work to crack open a peanut is entertaining—they’ll hold it with their feet and hammer it open with their powerful beak. These large, vibrant birds are also hoarders, often carrying off multiple peanuts to cache for later use. Offer whole, unsalted peanuts in the shell on platform feeders or scattered on the ground. Blue Jays will dominate feeding areas when present, but their striking blue plumage and complex social behaviors make them fascinating to observe. They’re year-round residents in much of the eastern and central United States. If you buy peanuts for snacking or cooking, save a handful for your backyard jays. They’ll quickly learn your feeding schedule and become regular, vocal visitors.
Purple Finches With Crushed Peanuts
Purple Finches are beautiful, raspberry-hued songbirds that appreciate finely crushed peanuts at backyard feeders. These smaller finches can’t handle whole or large peanut pieces as easily as jays or woodpeckers, so crushing or chopping peanuts into small bits makes them accessible. Purple Finches are most common in northern and western regions, with some populations migrating south in winter. They often travel in small flocks and prefer feeders with perches where they can sit comfortably while eating. Tube feeders or hopper feeders work well for offering crushed peanuts. These birds also enjoy sunflower seeds, but the addition of peanut pieces adds protein and fat variety to their diet. Don’t confuse them with the more common House Finch—Purple Finches have more extensive rosy coloring and a slightly stockier build. With the right food, you can attract these lovely finches during their seasonal visits.
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White-Breasted Nuthatches With Sunflower Seeds
White-breasted Nuthatches are charming, upside-down foragers that love black oil sunflower seeds. These compact birds have the unique ability to walk headfirst down tree trunks, searching bark crevices for insects and cached seeds. They’re year-round residents across most of the United States and are frequent feeder visitors. Like chickadees, nuthatches will often grab a sunflower seed and fly to a nearby branch to wedge it into bark and hammer it open—a behavior that’s delightful to watch. They prefer feeders mounted on trees or posts, and they’re comfortable on hopper, platform, or suet feeders. Nuthatches are also fond of peanuts and suet, but sunflower seeds are a reliable staple that brings them in consistently. Their nasal, repetitive calls announce their presence, and their acrobatic feeding style adds movement and interest to any backyard bird-watching setup.
Mourning Doves With Bread Crumbs
Mourning Doves are gentle, ground-feeding birds that will happily visit yards offering bread crumbs. While bread isn’t the most nutritious option for birds and should only be offered occasionally, it can attract these soft-voiced doves when used sparingly. Mourning Doves prefer to feed on the ground or on low platform feeders, picking up seeds and crumbs with their small beaks. They often feed in pairs or small groups and are found across North America year-round. If you do offer bread, make sure it’s whole grain, broken into small pieces, and only in limited amounts. Better alternatives include cracked corn or millet, which provide more nutrition. Mourning Doves are peaceful, slow-moving birds with a distinctive, mournful cooing call. They’re a calming presence in the backyard and are easy to attract with the right foods offered at ground level where they feel most comfortable feeding.
Chickadees and Wrens With Dried Mealworms
Dried mealworms might sound unusual, but they’re a protein-packed treat that chickadees and wrens can’t resist. You can often find dried mealworms in the pet section of grocery stores or online, and they’re shelf-stable and easy to store in your pantry. Both Black-capped Chickadees and Carolina Wrens are insect eaters by nature, so mealworms mimic their natural diet perfectly. Offer them in a small dish on a platform feeder or in a specialized mealworm feeder. Wrens are particularly fond of these protein-rich morsels, especially during breeding season when they’re feeding hungry nestlings. Chickadees will grab them one at a time and carry them off to eat or cache. Rehydrating dried mealworms in warm water for a few minutes makes them even more appealing. This simple kitchen item can bring active, entertaining birds right to your window, especially species that might otherwise skip seed feeders.
Bluebirds With Dried Fruit
Eastern Bluebirds are beloved for their brilliant blue plumage and gentle demeanor, and they’re surprisingly fond of dried fruit. Raisins, dried cranberries, and chopped dried apples are all excellent options that you likely already have in your kitchen. Bluebirds are primarily insect eaters but turn to fruit, especially in winter when insects are scarce. Soak dried fruit in water for a few minutes to soften it and make it easier for bluebirds to eat. Offer it in a shallow dish on a platform feeder or in a specialized bluebird feeder. These birds are cavity nesters and appreciate open areas with scattered trees—perfect suburban and rural yards. Combining dried fruit with mealworms creates an irresistible buffet. Bluebirds often travel in small family groups and are most active during migration and winter months. Watching them visit your feeder is a true backyard birding highlight.
Sparrows With Cornmeal
Sparrows, including House Sparrows and native species like Song Sparrows and White-throated Sparrows, are ground feeders that enjoy cornmeal. This common kitchen ingredient is inexpensive, easy to scatter, and provides carbohydrates and some protein. Sprinkle cornmeal on the ground in a clean, open area or on a low platform feeder. Sparrows are small, busy birds that forage in flocks and are constantly on the move. They’ll appreciate the fine texture of cornmeal, which is easy for their small beaks to handle. While House Sparrows are non-native and can be aggressive, many native sparrow species are wonderful backyard visitors with beautiful, subtle plumage and lovely songs. Cornmeal can also attract doves, juncos, and towhees. Mix it with cracked corn or millet for added variety. It’s a simple, budget-friendly way to support ground-feeding birds, especially during migration seasons when food sources are critical.
Nuthatches With Peanut Butter Suet
White-breasted Nuthatches and Red-breasted Nuthatches are both enthusiastic fans of homemade peanut butter suet. You can make this bird-friendly treat by mixing natural, unsalted peanut butter with cornmeal or oats to create a firm, spreadable consistency that won’t stick in birds’ throats. Smear it into the crevices of a suet feeder, spread it on tree bark, or pack it into pine cones. Nuthatches love clinging to vertical surfaces and will spend time pecking away at this high-energy food. The combination of fat and protein is ideal for fueling their active lifestyles, especially in colder months. This DIY suet is also popular with chickadees, titmice, and woodpeckers. Avoid using peanut butter with added sugar, salt, or oils. Store any extra mixture in the refrigerator and refresh feeders regularly to prevent spoilage. It’s an easy, affordable way to provide premium nutrition using ingredients you already have.
Jays and Woodpeckers With Peanut Butter Pinecones
Peanut butter-smeared pinecones are a classic DIY bird feeder that attracts jays, woodpeckers, and other larger, energetic species. Simply collect pinecones from your yard or a local park, spread natural, unsalted peanut butter into the gaps between the scales, and roll them in birdseed, crushed peanuts, or cornmeal. Hang them from tree branches using string or wire. Blue Jays and Downy Woodpeckers are especially drawn to these feeders because they can cling easily while feeding. This activity is also great for kids and makes bird feeding interactive and fun. The peanut butter provides essential fats, while the added seeds or grains offer carbohydrates. Refresh the pinecones every few days or as needed, especially in warmer weather when peanut butter can turn rancid. It’s a simple, creative way to use common kitchen ingredients to create an attractive, effective feeding station that brings bold, beautiful birds right to your backyard.
Multiple Species With Zick Dough
Zick Dough is a homemade high-energy bird food that attracts an impressive variety of species, from bluebirds and chickadees to woodpeckers and warblers. The recipe combines rendered suet or lard, peanut butter, cornmeal, and flour into a dough-like consistency that’s easy to shape and offer. Many birders also add oats, raisins, or mealworms for extra nutrition. This mixture is rich in fats and proteins, making it especially valuable during migration and winter. Spread it into suet feeders, pack it into holes drilled in logs, or mold it into cakes. Zick Dough is named after naturalist Julie Zickefoose, who popularized the recipe for attracting insect-eating birds. It’s shelf-stable when refrigerated and can be made in batches. The beauty of Zick Dough is its versatility—you can customize it with whatever bird-friendly ingredients you have on hand. It’s a fantastic all-purpose food that turns your kitchen staples into a gourmet feast for dozens of bird species.