Bird Feeders: A species by species guide
"Its easy to assume that all birds enjoy every single bird feeder type, but this is not the case!"
Birds will use the feeders in your garden if they cannot find enough natural foods like bugs, worms and seeds. But each bird has their preferred way of feeding and not all feeders are suited to this. By providing a wide range of bird feeders in your garden you can welcome many feathered friends to a bite to eat.
But what bird likes which bird feeder? Don’t worry, we’re here to help you out.
Ground or Table Feeders
Robins, wrens and blackbirds are notoriously ground feeding birds. Having a ground or table bird feeder invites this species to eat where they feel most comfortable. Ensure feeders aren’t too close to hedges or places where cats could get an unsuspecting bird! Robins will also use elevated table feeders, but will most often be seen bobbing along the floor looking for lunch.
Wire Mesh Feeders
Woodpeckers, nuthatches and garden tits love to cling onto mesh feeders. Filled with delicious peanuts or suet treats, the wire mesh is perfect for these clinging species to comfortably hang on and feed. Make sure whole peanuts are only ever fed in mesh feeders to reduce the likeliness of small birds choking on them.
Seed Bird Feeders
The most versatile and popular feeders! Sparrows, garden tits, finches and siskins love tube seed feeders and will happily perch and reach in for their supper. Our Apollo, Adventurer and Defender bird feeders have specialist ergonomic perching rings so birds can eat comfortably in a natural face-forward position, simply top them up with your favourite bird seed mixes or kibbled sunflower hearts.
Nyjer Seed for the Finches!
Sometimes known as thistle feeders, the finches’ favourites! Goldfinches, chaffinches and more will flock to get a taste of delicious nyjer seed. Nyjer seed bird feeders are specially designed to keep the seed fresh, so if you would like to feed your birds nyjer seed, we recommend the Defender Nyjer Seed Feeder.
Keep it clean!
It is vital we are keeping our bird feeders, nest boxes and water dishes clean. This not only protects our birds from eating gross, bacteria riddled foods – it also helps prevent disease which can wipe out our garden bird species.
