3 Types of Seeds and Feeders Birds Love Best

Maximize the traffic in your backyard with the right birdseed and bird feeders. Learn what birds eat sunflower, thistle and safflower seeds.

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If you’ve just started trying to attract birds to your backyard, you may be unsure about what kind of birdseed you should pick, and what type of bird feeder to use. Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with three most common birdseed types and the three most popular bird feeder styles. Plus, find out what birds eat sunflower seeds, safflower seeds and thistle seeds. Here’s what you need to know.

Birds That Eat Sunflower Seed

titmouse eating sunflower seedCourtesy Brian Hendrix
Tufted titmouse eating sunflower seed

This food deserves the No. 1 spot in your yard because many, many birds eat sunflower seeds. Both in the shell and out-of-shell meats, these seeds appeal to finches, chickadees, nuthatches, grosbeaks, northern cardinals, blue jays and even some woodpeckers. Because sunflower seeds attract many species, including some large undesirable bully birds and squirrels, they’re best served in tube feeders that allow only small songbirds to perch on or enter the feeding chamber.

Birds That Eat Safflower Seed

cardinal eating safflower seedChris Alcock/Shutterstock
Cardinal eating safflower seed

Safflower is a thistle-like annual with bright orange and yellow flowers that’s grown to make cooking oils. The seeds, which are high in protein and fat, are slightly smaller than sunflower seeds. A hard white shell protects the meat and has a slightly bitter flavor. That’s why fewer birds like the seed. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. And squirrels don’t like safflower seed, either. Serve safflower seed in a hopper feeder or a platform feeder for northern cardinals, grosbeaks and house finches to devour. Or sprinkle some on the ground for mourning doves to find, too.

Birds That Eat Thistle Seed

goldfinch eating nyjer seedCourtesy Susan Ferency
American goldfinch eating nyjer thistle seed.

Lure American goldfinches, pine siskins, dark-eyed juncos and chickadees with nyjer, a tiny black seed that is sometimes called thistle. Nyjer seeds come from the African yellow daisy. They have a good mix of protein, fat and fiber, so they’re a good high-calorie option for winter birds. Bonus! Bully birds like grackles, starlings and blackbirds tend to leave thistle seeds alone. Make sure the seed stays dry, and replace uneaten food every few weeks. Serve nyjer in a tube or mesh feeder hung away from other feeders, so tiny birds can feed without disruption from larger species like blue jays. Here’s how to choose a feeder for finches.

Now that you’ve picked the birdseed, it’s time to pick the right bird feeder!

Platform/Tray Bird Feeder

purple finch at a tray feederCourtesy Rosemarie Pace
Purple finch on a tray feeder

Flat or hanging platform feeders attract a variety of seed-eaters. Look for one with mesh or holes on the bottom to allow rain or snow drainage. This helps prevent mold and keeps the seed from spoiling. Check out the best bird feeders and birdseed for cardinals.

Best Platform Feeders

Tube Bird Feeder

rose-breasted grosbeak at a tube feederCourtesy Deborah Buckley
Rose-breasted grosbeak at a tube feeder

These popular feeders are shaped like cylinders with mesh or plastic-coated wire screens. Some are made of solid plastic with multiple small openings and perches. Tube feeders are great for small birds, such as finches, chickadees and nuthatches. Try these tips for squirrel-proof bird feeders.

Best Tube Bird Feeders

Hopper Bird Feeder

what birds eat sunflower seeds, cardinal at a hopper feederCourtesy Stephanie Schick
Cardinal at a hopper feeder

These feeders have an enclosed reservoir for seeds, kind of like a little house. Food slides down to the open feeding tray below. A big advantage is the seed stays dry when it rains! Woodpeckers, grosbeaks and blue jays frequent hopper feeders.

Best Hopper Bird Feeders

We Asked Readers: What Bird Food Is Most Popular in Your Yard?

what birds eat sunflower seedSteve Collender/Shutterstock
Male cardinal on a bird feeder filled with sunflower seed and safflower seed

I recommend safflower seed because the squirrels leave it alone, but cardinals, woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice and grosbeaks love it. —Susan Perry, Edgewater, Florida

Pennington Classic Wild Bird Feed is most popular in my yard. It attracts a variety of birds year-round. —Liza Peniston, Augusta, Kansas

I serve a variety of seed, but I refill my mealworm cake feeder the most. —Gail Osteen, Bronson, Florida

To keep all of the birds happy and coming back for more, I combine 50 pounds of chicken scratch with about 12 pounds of black sunflower seed. —Ginger Clardy, Pipe Creek, Texas

I mix 4 parts black oil sunflower seed, 1 part safflower, 1 part peanut culls and 1 cup of dried mealworms. About 15 bird species visit daily, and even more come during migration season! —Sheldon Schall, Waunakee, Wisconsin

Black oil sunflower seed is the favorite in my backyard. Both the birds and other wildlife stop for a snack. —Teanna DiFava, Newmanstown, Pennsylvania

Lori Vanover
Lori has 20 years of experience writing and editing home, garden, birding and lifestyle content for several publishers. As Birds & Blooms senior digital editor, she leads a team of writers and editors sharing birding tips and expert gardening advice. Since joining Trusted Media Brands 13 years ago, she has held roles in digital and print, editing magazines and books, curating special interest publications, managing social media accounts, creating digital content and newsletters, and working with the Field Editors—Birds & Blooms network of more than 50 backyard birders. Passionate about animals and nature, Lori has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural and Environmental Communications from the University of Illinois. In 2023, she became certified as a Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener, and she is a member of the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology and sits on the organization's Publications Advisory Committee. She frequently checks on her bird feeders while working from home and tests new varieties of perennials, herbs and vegetable plants in her ever-growing backyard gardens.