Seed choice is one of the most decisive factors in determining which bird species will regularly visit your garden. Birds differ widely in their beak size, nutritional needs, and feeding behaviors, so offering the right type of seed ensures that you attract your target species. You can also minimize waste and discourage unwanted visitors. 

• Nyjer (Thistle Seed) 

This is the Top choice for American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins. This tiny, oil-rich black seed matches their small, conical beaks. It is high in fat and calories, which are quite important during migration and winter. 

• Black-Oil Sunflower Seeds 

House Finches especially love this kind of seed. It has easy-to-crack thin shells and is high in fat and protein, thus attracting a wide variety of species beyond finches. It is also good for mixed feeding stations. 

• Sunflower Hearts/Chips (Hulled Sunflower) 

This kind of seed is preferred by both House Finches and Goldfinches. It is shell-free, which means less mess and easier for smaller finches to eat. 

However, it will spoil faster if used in a wet environment, so you’d better use it in dry weather or quick-consumption feeders. 

• Millet (White Proso) 

Less preferred than nyjer or sunflower, but House Finches and Pine Siskins will eat it, especially in ground or tray feeders. What you need to know is: it is more commonly taken by sparrows and doves, but can supplement finch diets. So if you don’t want these visitors, try to avoid using them. 

• Black-Oil Sunflower Seeds 

This is the universal favorite for all these birds. Cardinals use their strong beaks to crack them, while chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches prefer to grab a seed and fly off to eat or cache it. Jays also consume them readily. The thin shell makes them easy to crack, and the high fat and protein content provides great energy, especially in winter. 

• Safflower Seed 

Another top choice for Northern Cardinals, and is also accepted by titmice. It has a thick shell that discourages starlings and squirrels, making it a smart option. 

• Sunflower Hearts/Chips (Hulled Sunflower) 

Preferred by chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches because they are easy to handle and shell-free. Cardinals also take them, especially in platform feeders. 

• Peanuts (Shelled, Halves, or Whole in the Shell) 

Loved by chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and especially jays. These birds will eat peanuts immediately or cache them for later. Jays, in particular, prefer whole peanuts in the shell and often carry them away. Just make sure to offer peanuts in dry conditions, as moisture can lead to mold or aflatoxins. 

• Fruit Mixes / Corn 

Jays enjoy larger seed and nut blends, including cracked corn, whole corn kernels, and dried fruits. These foods provide variety and are highly attractive to Blue Jays and Stellar’s Jays. However, corn can also attract undesirable species such as pigeons and blackbirds, so use with caution. 

• White Proso Millet

This is the No.1 seed for ground-feeding birds. Its small size and thin shell make it easy to eat, even for small-billed birds. It is best offered in tray or platform feeders, or simply scattered on the ground. 

• Cracked Corn

A popular choice for mourning doves and juncos. It provides carbohydrates and is inexpensive, but it can attract less-desired birds like pigeons, starlings, and even rodents if overused. 

• Black-Oil Sunflower Seeds 

Though usually associated with cardinals and finches, ground-feeders like sparrows and doves will also eat black-oil sunflower seeds, it’s quite a classical choice 

• Milo (Sorghum)

This kind of seed is readily eaten by mourning doves and some sparrows, but often ignored by many other songbirds. Because it tends to attract more pigeons, starlings, and grackles, it’s best avoided unless you specifically want to draw in these visitors. 

• Suet

This is by far the top choice for attracting woodpeckers. Suet provides concentrated fat and calories, which are essential in winter. It is often offered in cakes or blocks, sometimes mixed with seeds, peanuts, or dried fruit. Specialized suet cages are the best feeders for this purpose. 

• Peanuts (Shelled or in the Shell)

A favorite food of many woodpecker species. Smaller woodpeckers such as Downy and Hairy prefer shelled peanuts, while larger species like the Red-bellied or Pileated can handle peanuts in the shell. High in protein and fat, peanuts are an excellent year-round option. 

• Black-Oil Sunflower Seeds

Although not as strongly preferred as suet or peanuts, many woodpeckers eat black-oil sunflower seeds. The thin shells make them easy to crack, and they are rich in oil, providing high energy. 

• Sunflower Chips / Seed Cakes

Hulled sunflower pieces and pressed seed cakes are attractive to woodpeckers because they are easy to consume and often combined with peanuts or suet. 

• Cracked Corn

Occasionally taken by larger woodpeckers such as Northern Flickers, particularly when feeding on the ground. Still, cracked corn is not a major attractant compared to suet, peanuts, and sunflower. 

• Fruits

Thrushes and robins are primarily insect and fruit-eaters. They usually do not prefer seeds at bird feeders. Instead, they are strongly drawn to: 

• Raisins, currants, grapes, apples, and berries (fresh or dried, soaked in water to soften). 
• Fruit blends in suet — suet mixed with berries or fruit chunks is a reliable attractant. 

• Mealworms (Live or Dried)

Not a seed, but one of the most effective foods for robins and thrushes. They provide the high-protein diet these birds naturally seek. 

• Sunflower Hearts / Hulled Seeds (Minor)

Occasionally, robins and thrushes will take small amounts of hulled sunflower seeds or finely chopped nuts, but only when mixed with fruits or in times of food shortage. Seeds are not a natural staple for them. 

Remember: Choose your seed based on the birds you want to attract. Seed-lovers (finches, cardinals, woodpeckers) will flock to sunflower, peanuts, and nyjer, while robins and thrushes require fruits and insects instead. 

While feeding birds is rewarding, sometimes you’ll attract less-welcome visitors such as squirrels, starlings, grackles, or even raccoons. Here are some tips to help manage them humanely: 

• What Squirrels Eat: To be honest, squirrels almost eat everything. So we can take other measures to prevent them, for more details please click on this article: 6 Ways to Keep Squirrels Away From Your Bird Feeder 
• Stick to high-quality mixes with sunflower, nyjer, and peanuts. 
• Mind the Placement: Hang feeders at least 10–12 feet away from trees, fences, or ledges that act as launch points for squirrels. Keep food off the ground to reduce visits from rodents or large flocks. 
• Clean Up Spillage: Regularly sweep seed shells and spilled grains to avoid attracting mice, rats, and unwanted ground-feeders. 
• Use Specialty Feed: Add suet with hot pepper (capsaicin) — birds can’t taste it, but squirrels and mammals dislike it. 

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/types-of-bird-seed-a-quick-guide/  

https://www.wbu.com/birds/finches/  

https://birdseedandbinoculars.com/wordpress/choosing-seed-for-backyard-birds/#h-seed-i-avoid-in-my-feeders  

https://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/attracting-birds/feeding-birds/three-seed-types-birds-love-best/  

https://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/attracting-birds/feeding-birds/three-seed-types-birds-love-best/

https://www.wbu.com/birds/woodpeckers/