Are you interested in adding some colorful birds to your backyard for a low price? Many people do not realize that a variety of colorful birds can be attracted to some common grocery store products. This is a guide to the best inexpensive food options to change your backyard into a busy bird sanctuary.

1. Fresh Oranges

To draw in colorful Tanager and Baltimore Oriole birds, cut and mount oranges on platform feeders, or nail the oranges to a board. These orange feeders will be a magnet for birds in desperate need of energy-rich foods during the spring migration. Orange is an appealing color to humans and makes for a great 'breakfast bar' sign to attract and draw in birds. (source)

2. Plain Grape Jelly

You could call grape jelly bird candy! It's specially formulated to attract certain birds such as orioles, catbirds, and woodpeckers. Simply put a bit in a shallow container and/or specific oriole feeder. Remember to change the jelly daily as no one wants to eat dried, crusty jelly! Also, avoid using sugar free jelly; birds rely on the calories in the jelly to sustain their energtic lifestyle. As a bonus, you might even get to see some amazing acrobatic displays as the orioles get their purple jelly fix. (source)

3. Unsalted Peanuts

Cardinals and woodpeckers, and especially blue jays, seem to love unsalted roasted or raw peanuts. Blue jays even stuff their throats with the peanuts just like feathered chipmunks. These birds may be funny, but don’t give them moldy peanuts or else you may have a problem with sick birds at your buffet. For more entertainment value, give the birds whole peanuts. (source)

4. White Millet

**Unmatched Bird Feeder Frenzy!** *White Millet* is unmatched for attracting painted buntings and indigo buntings. White millet is ultra-cheap and can also attract cardinals and juncos. White millet is sold in bulk at grocery stores and there is a max profit return for how many birds you will attract to your yard. (source)

5. Black Oil Sunflower Seeds

Black oil sunflower seeds are like a dating app for birds where every bird matches with every seed. It is a popular choice for many birds like the goldfinch, the rose-breasted grosbeak, and cardinals. The seeds have thin shells that make it easy to crack open and the high fat content gives a birds the energy boost it needs. The next time you are out getting bird seeds, sunflower seeds are a must along with other high quality bird seeds to make birdwatching the best it can be. (source)

6. Fresh Berries

Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are birds' favorite snacks! If you see berries on sale, make sure to get extra to make a bird buffet. The birds in your neighborhood will have something to gossip about. Even slightly overripe berries are perfect for the birds, so you can waste some food! (source)

7. Dried Mealworms

You can buy dried mealworms (which are very high in protein) at pet stores and some grocery stores. Bluebirds will do little dances when they eat them, and they'll even make shy warblers become regular visitors. If you soak the mealworms in warm water for a few minutes, they will expand and become more plump and juicy. To birds, this makes the mealworms more appealing. Dried mealworms are a very important food source for parent birds during nesting season, as they need to feed their babies high-protein snacks. (source)

8. Raisins (Unsweetened)

Raisins are like little treasure chests full of surprises and mockingbirds, catbirds and robins all love them. It isn’t very nice to watch a bird try to eat a rock-hard raisin so soak them in water for 10 minutes before you scatter them on platform feeders. You can also add them to other foods to create a trail mix that will attract birds to your feeders over and over again! Be sure to avoid any sweetened or flavored varieties as birds are natural fruit lovers and prefer their fruit unadulterated.

9. Rolled Oats (Uncooked)

Plain rolled oats can be a versatile option for feeding birds, as well as feeding people. Not only can you use oats to feed other animals, such as your best friend and family, but juncos, sparrows, and mourning doves will eat them when placed in a bird feeder. And you can watch from your window. Ground feeding birds will go crazy over these oats. Birds also require extra energy in cold weather. These inexpensive, budget-friendly oats will give the birds the intake they need. That's why whole, plain, unflavored oats are the perfect option for feeding birds.

10. Fresh Grapes (Halved)

There is a juicy part of a grape that birds love, which can be seen when you cut the grape in half. The purple and green grapes drive cedar waxwings especially wild with excitement as they can hardly control themselves! The grape party attracts house finches and some woodpeckers too. Remember to cut grapes and remove the seeds to prevent choking and to keep bird feeding safe! Also, fresh grapes are better than dried grapes because birds can see and smell the juicy fruit interior.

Fun tip: Begin with two or three of these foods and slowly add more to see which foods entice the most colorful birds in your given area. Be sure to keep all offerings fresh, clean your feeders on a regular basis, and set them up where you can enjoy a wonderful display from these colorful birds!

Frequently Asked Questions

It takes time to attract colorful birds to your yard, and this may take weeks or months. You can use bird feeders, bird baths, and bird houses to improve your chances of attracting birds. Just remember, every bird will have different tastes so experimenting with feeders, food, and seeds will also be needed.

During 2-7 days, most birds find food sources. However, orioles and buntings may take 2-3 weeks! When they find and settle, you'll see daily visitors during peak seasons and they'll even bring friends.

What time of day is best to put out fresh food?

Birds like feeding during specific times. You’ll find most birds around dawn and between 2 until 4 hours before the sun sets. During these times, birds are more likely to notice food and will find it quickly. Avoid using items that can quickly go bad like fruit and jelly during the day when it’s hotter.

Can I combine these foods?

Of course! You can make your own mixes with seeds, nuts, and dried fruits. Just remember to keep anything that can get wet like jelly and fresh fruits in separate containers to keep things from spoiling. A favorite mixture is sunflower seeds, millet, and chopped peanuts for a vibrant bird trail mix.

What could be the reasons as to why colorful birds are not coming to my feeders?

When it comes to finding food, birds care about location. Vibrantly colored birds like feeders that are set up near natural cover like shrubs or trees that give them protection from predators. In addition, consider your timing. Many colorful birds are migratory and only visit certain places during certain seasons. This is why you must be patient, and persist!

Mentionable: Foods that were Close to Making the List

These grocery store finds might not have made our top 10 but we still want to recognize them for drawing colorful visitors:

• Cardinals and blue jays enjoy thawed frozen corn, while other colorful species are not as attracted to it.
• Unsweetened coconut flakes: may attract woodpeckers depending on your location.
• Rice that has been cooked (not seasoned): Although safe for birds, this will primarily attract house sparrows and pigeons.
• Most orioles will ignore the seeds in cantaloupe, but they will eat the fruit.

Seasonal Strategy: When to Offer Certain Foods

Spring (March-May)

Time to attract some migratory birds! Now is the time to put out some Orange slices, Grape Jelly, and Mealworms! Oriels and Tanagers are looking for high energy foods after their long journey. The colorful visitors are coming!

Summer (June-August)

Priority foods include fresh berries, mealworms, and sunflower seeds. Mealworms give needed protein for the growing chicks, and fresh fruit provides hydration for the family during hot weather. If it is extremely hot, please refresh the food offerings twice a day.

Fall (September-November)

Prioritized foods include peanuts, millet, and sunflower seeds. Birds are accumulating fat reserves for winter survival and migration. Obscured natural food sources make high calorie food extremely important.

Winter (December-February)

Preferred foods include: peanuts, sunflower seeds, and dried fruit. Concentrate on high-energy foods that will not freeze. While many of the colorful migrants have left, cardinals, blue jays, and other residents who stay year-round continue to offer beauty during the winter.

Storage and Handling Food for Birds

Indicators That Your Bird Seed is No Longer Good

• Mold or fuzzy growth: Discard immediately – mold can be fatal to birds
• Sour or fermented smell is especially common with fruit and jelly in hot weather
• Insects or larvae: Dispose of the contaminated food and clean all feeders thoroughly.
• Damp or clustered seeds: Excess moisture causes fast deterioration and the possible formation of toxins.

Ways to Store Food to Keep it Fresh

Seeds and nuts can be stored in airtight containers. A cool dry place is ideal. If you need to store seed for birds, place a new bag of bird food in the freezer for 48 hours first to kill any insect eggs. For perishable foods, keep a 2 week supply at most, and check the dates of jelly and dried fruit before giving them to birds.

Feeder Hygiene: 5-Minute Routine to Do Each Week

Using a 10% bleach solution, clean your feeders weekly, then rinse and air dry. A place away from droppings is best for feeders to reduce the risk of disease transmission to your visitors. Also, remove old food from the feeders every 2-3 days, especially during humid weather.

Wirtschaftliche Tipps zum Füttern von Vögeln

Creating a colorful bird paradise doesn't have to cost a fortune. If you buy seeds and nuts in bulk, you can save a lot and freeze them in portions to keep them fresh longer. Day-old plain, unsweetened bakery items can work for bigger birds, and overripe fruits from the discount rack are perfect for your feathered friends. Since bird-friendly foods often use the same ingredients at different prices, you should check multiple grocery stores as their prices can differ significantly for the same items.

How to Set Up the Ultimate Feeding Station

For different bird species, use feeders that sit at different heights. For example, ground feeders will attract sparrows and juncos, while feeders that sit 3-4 feet attract cardinals, and those that are 5-6 feet will attract finches and grosbeaks. Natural cover is preferred by birds, so place feeders (within 10 feet) close to it, but don't place them too close to cover so the birds don't get ambushed by a predator. During hot weather and winter freezes, birds will also need to hydrate often, so placing a water source nearby will increase the chance of attracting birds.