A Guide to Bird Food: Understanding the Dietary Preferences of Various Species

Birds are diverse creatures with varied dietary preferences, influenced by their species, environment, and natural instincts. Understanding what different birds eat is key to providing them with the proper nutrition, especially if you aim to attract specific species to your garden or care for pet birds.

1. Songbirds: A Love for Seeds and Fruits 

Songbirds, such as robins, sparrows, and finches, are some of the most common species found in gardens. These birds primarily eat seeds, berries, and insects. Their small size means they prefer smaller, easily digestible foods. A mix of sunflower seeds (especially black oil sunflower seeds), millet, and cracked corn is ideal for attracting finches and sparrows.

In addition to seeds, songbirds are also fond of fruits like apples, pears, and berries. Offering fresh fruits in your garden or on a bird feeder will attract species like robins and thrushes. While many songbirds enjoy insects, such as worms and caterpillars, they also rely on these fruits as a source of vitamins and hydration.

2. Woodpeckers: Lovers of Nuts and Suet

Woodpeckers, including species like the great spotted woodpecker, have unique dietary preferences compared to songbirds. They mainly consume insects found in tree bark and wood but enjoy nuts, seeds, and fruits. Suet can complement a woodpecker’s diet, providing a high-energy source that helps them thrive, particularly in winter months.

Suet blocks are available in many varieties, often mixed with seeds, fruits, and even mealworms to appeal to woodpeckers. Additionally, whole peanuts in the shell are another excellent food option for these birds. The shells offer a challenge for the birds to crack open, which can entertain them and keep them engaged.

3. Pigeons and Doves: A Preference for Grains and Seeds

Pigeons and doves are ground feeders, often seen foraging in parks and urban environments. These birds primarily eat seeds and grains, with their favourite foods including corn, wheat, barley, and millet. They also consume small fruits and, occasionally, even insects. If you are trying to attract pigeons or doves to your garden, mixing various grains will suit their feeding habits.

These birds can be quite messy, so it’s best to scatter the food in open areas or use ground feeders. Unlike other birds, pigeons and doves may prefer not to feed from elevated feeders, instead opting for food on the ground. Adding a sprinkle of dried corn or small seed mixes in these areas will encourage them to visit.

4. Raptors: Carnivores with a Taste for Meat

Unlike seed-eating birds, raptors, such as hawks, eagles, and owls, are carnivorous and have different dietary needs. They prey on small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Raptors have sharp talons and beaks, which help them catch and tear apart their prey. As such, they do not rely on bird feeders, but their food sources can be supplemented by providing carcasses of small animals, like rabbits or rodents, in areas where they frequent.

While feeding raptors in the wild is generally discouraged due to their independent hunting habits, birdwatchers may notice them feeding on dead animals or scavenging remains from other predators. The best way to support these magnificent birds is to create a safe, natural environment that encourages small animal populations.

5. Hummingbirds: Nectar and Insects for Energy

Hummingbirds are unique in that they primarily consume nectar but supplement their diet with insects and spiders for protein. The sugary nectar from flowers provides them with the quick energy they need, while the insects help to supply essential amino acids. If you want to attract hummingbirds to your garden, planting nectar-rich flowers like bee balm, trumpet vine, and fuchsia will be highly attractive to them.

Additionally, offering a sugar-water mix in a hummingbird feeder effectively supports their high-energy needs. Maintaining the correct ratio of sugar to water (around 1 part sugar to 4 parts water) is important to mimic the natural nectar found in flowers.

6. Seabirds: A Taste for Fish and Shellfish

Seabirds, such as seagulls, puffins, and pelicans, feed predominantly on fish and other marine life. They are often seen scavenging along coastlines or diving into the sea for fish. While they primarily hunt for fish, some seabirds consume crustaceans, molluscs, and seaweed.

If you want to support seabirds, providing fish scraps or seafood near coastal habitats may attract them. However, be mindful not to encourage feeding too heavily, as wild seabirds prefer to hunt for food. Instead, creating a balanced environment that promotes healthy fish populations or marine life can be the most beneficial.

7. Parrots and Cockatoos: A Nutty Diet

Pet birds such as parrots, cockatoos, and budgerigars have very specific dietary needs, typically including seeds, nuts, and fruits. Parrots, for example, are known for their love of seeds, especially sunflower seeds and other foods like pine nuts, almonds, and walnuts. They also thrive on fresh fruits like bananas, apples, and berries.

However, it is important to avoid overfeeding nuts, as they are high in fat. A varied diet with fruits, vegetables (such as carrots and sweet potatoes), and seeds will help maintain a balanced diet for pet birds. Be sure also always to provide them with clean, fresh water.