An important rule of winter feeding is to be prepared. Storms can develop rapidly, making trips to the store difficult. By stocking up on premium bird seed, bird lovers can help to secure a wholesome food source for birds without having to brave stormy weather. It’s also a great idea to add suet to the diet of your outdoor pets. Not only does suet offer birds an important source of fat, but premium suet like Wild Delight’s^® Fruit N' Berry™ Smoothie™ Suet contains real fruits like dried cranberries, blueberries, cherries and raisins that birds love.

In addition to feeders, bird lovers can help birds survive through the winter by stocking their yards with plants that retain their berries, seeds or cones into the winter months. Plus, these types of natural food may attract birds like cedar waxwings that seldom visit feeders.

Feeding birds can be especially important when temperatures fall below 0°F (-18°C). Easy meals at the feeder can mean the difference between life and death. In very cold weather, birds survive by remaining very still, perching quietly with their feathers fluffed out for insulation. They do this to save energy, which can only happen if they have enough body fat to fuel them. Consequently, birds that have access to feeding stations have an easier time putting on and retaining fat.

To help ensure that birds can easily access your feeders, keep them free of ice and snow. Even adding a roof to existing feeders can make a difference. For those who live in areas frequented with heavy snowfalls, temporarily move feeders closer to the residence, so they’re easier to fill. Plus, with feeders closer to home, many bird lovers can enjoy a close-up view of their feathered friends.

Just because feeders are closer to the residence doesn’t mean that bird lovers have to put up with a mess on the ground. For those who value a clean yard, look for waste-free products, like Wild Delight^® Deck, Porch N’ Patio^®, which don’t contain filler ingredients that leave behind messy leftovers.

Just as birds need food year round, they also look for water. This can be tricky where water spends the winter as ice, but there are a number of ways that bird lovers can help out. For instance, experts say that leaving icicles on the eaves can provide a regular source of water for birds (they will drink the drops as icicles melt). In addition, a shallow basin of warm water set out daily or an electric heater for birdbaths is sure to make any yard a magnet for birds during cold winter months.

Feeding birds is becoming more and more popular every year, and while birds don’t rely solely on feeders in the winter, feeders do provide a beneficial food source that helps outdoor pets survive the colder months. No matter what the season, feeding birds is important, and feeders should be kept full year round.

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Getting to Know Finches

Everybody loves finches and what’s not to love? They capture your eye because they’re extremely colorful, ranging in color from the rosy blush of the House Finch and Purple Finch to the bright yellow hue of the popular American Goldfinch. They’re delightful to listen to as their beautiful warbling and twills ring through the air loud and often, sure to put anyone’s mind at ease. And they’re everywhere, feeding and singing throughout most of the United States. But if you thought you knew everything about finches, you may be surprised to learn that these popular little birds have a more exciting background than you may think. Here are some things you may not have known that will make you love finches even more (plus some tips to help you to take care of your lovable outdoor pets).

Finches are everywhere. In fact, finches live all over the world except Antarctica. You have the Zebra Finch and the Painted Finch in Australia, the Greenfinch in Europe, the Asian Rosy Finch and Spice Finch in Asia, the African Quail Finch and the Cordon Bleu Finch in Africa and the Saffron Finch and the Rufous Collared Finch in South America. However, right here in North America is probably the best place in the world to see finches . The Pine Siskin, Red Crossbill, Common Redpoll, Purple Finch, House Finch and the well-known American Goldfinch are just a few of the finches that make their homes in North America. So no matter where you go in the world, you can find a lovable finch to watch and feed.

Not all finches started off as the fre- flying coast-to-coast birds of color that we know and love today. The common House Finch was once a Californian bird known as the linnet, sold illegally as a caged bird to East Coast pet shops some 50 years ago (hence the domestic-sounding name). When the government stepped in, owners of these “illegal finches” began releasing them into the open sky. These House Finches adapted to their new surroundings on the East Coast and their population grew, quickly expanding westward across the plains. They have continued to flourish, and the House Finch has become one of the most common species of finches today.

Some House Finches have even “joined” a group called “winter finches” (a group that also includes Purple Finches, Pine Grosbeaks, Common Redpolls and Red Crossbills to name a few). While many finches stay in the lower 48 states year-round, these groups of nomadic finches generally make their homes in the northern boreal forests of Canada and Alaska. What makes flocks of winter finches so unique is that some winters (but not every winter) they will unexpectedly travel south (even as far as Texas) to feed and breed during the winter. Scientists refer to this phenomenon as an irruption. On special occasions, large flocks will irrupt simultaneously, treating lucky viewers to the spectacle of a Superflight, where multiple kinds of winter finches appear in masses in southern areas where they are not usually seen. Superflights or irruptions don’t occur often or in a predictable pattern, so keep your eyes open.

Most people in North America, specifically the United States, are most familiar with the American Goldfinch, primarily because of their large numbers at feeders, their continent-wide range and their bright yellow color. However, there are a few other attributes that make Goldfinches so lovable. For one, Goldfinches have great manners. A group of Goldfinches can crack seeds with great contentment with barely a flash of their wings. Goldfinches also have excellent hygiene. They are very fond of birdbaths and water features. After a storm, Goldfinches love to splash around in the newly created puddles.

Finches can build to huge numbers at feeding stations, creating quite a spectacle. They are seed eaters and their favorites are sunflower and nyger seed. Finches also like thistle, suet, fruit and berries. According to the Wild Bird Feeding Industry, a non-profit trade association for the wild bird and backyard wildlife feeding industry, it’s important to prepare the proper menu to attract finches as outdoor pets. If you provide appropriate foods year round, you will attract more of the finches you love to your yard, and you will help ensure that they have a safe and nutritious diet.

In addition, experts recommend looking for foods that are clean and feature premium nuts and seeds. Try Wild Delight’s^® Special™ Finch Food, which is a premium food for wild finches containing nyger seed and sunflower kernels. You could also try Wild Delight’s^® Deck, Porch N’ Patio^®, which is a zero-waste blend of sunflower kernels, peanuts, pistachios and pumpkin seeds. Providing finches with their preferred diet can ensure that they will keep coming back to your yard to feed.

A great time to start feeding the finches you love is during February, which is Wild Bird Feeding Month. This observance was established in 1994 by the National Bird Feeding Society because wintertime is one of the most difficult periods in much of North America for birds to survive in the wild. The National Bird Feeding Society recommends keeping feeders free of snow and ice, stamping down snow underneath feeders to help ground feeding birds, keeping feeders full so birds have a dependable supply of food during cold weather and offering suet, which is a good source of energy for backyard birds. Try Wild Delight^® Woodpecker Picnic™ Suet or Wild Delight^® Nut N’ Berry^® Parfait™ Suet to help your backyard birds (including finches) retain the energy they need. Providing food, water and shelter helps birds survive, benefits the environment and supplements wild birds’ natural diet.

Everybody loves finches, and who can blame them? Support your lovable outdoor finches and fill your feeders. You never know when a finch will do something (or sing something) that will make you love them even more.

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Landscaping For Birds

Due to rising human population and suburban sprawl, land for bird habitats is decreasing. With the ever-increasing abundance of concrete and asphalt comes the disappearance of food sources and nesting grounds for birds. The good news, however, is that you can help. Homeowners can do their part by creating a sanctuary for birds in their own backyards. By landscaping especially for our feathered friends, you can make a little bit of the world feel like home for birds.

When landscaping for birds, it helps to think like a bird. Since survival is a major concern for all birds, they are mainly thinking about where they can find food, water and a safe haven for shelter and nesting. That is also what you should think about when you begin to landscape for your backyard friends. Provide the things that birds need and want, and they will come. Food is probably the most important factor to consider. When landscaping for birds, it’s beneficial to have multiple sources of food. Feeding stations are guaranteed to attract birds to your yard. One way to satisfy birds’ appetites is by providing feeders in your yard filled with clean, wholesome seeds and real fruits and nuts. Premium products, such as Wild Delight’s^® Nut N’ Berry^®, contain foods like pistachios, peanuts, cranberries and raisins and are a great choice for your feeders. If you’re worried about the leftover mess that can occasionally occur with feeders, try using a zero-waste bird food such as Wild Delight’s^® Deck, Porch N’ Patio^® to keep your outdoor living area clean. Don’t have a bird feeder? Use a concave rock to place seed on. It creates a natural-looking feeding stop for lots of birds such as jays and tanagers.

Besides feeders and feeding stations, trees, plants and flowers all provide sources of food for birds to eat. Trees like mulberries, evergreen oaks, birches and maples not only provide seeds and fruits, but also attract and support a lot of insects that birds such as bluebirds love to snack on. Vegetable gardens also host a variety of insects for birds to eat, keeping your produce pest-free at the same time. Flowers such as sunflowers offer seeds that most birds love, making them a surefire attractant for birds. Red bee balms and impatiens are some of the flowers that supply nectar for birds such as the hummingbird. Natural vegetation provides a number of food sources for your backyard buddies, but it’s still a good idea to have multiple feeders as a guaranteed-to-be-in-stock food source.

Birds need to eat, but they also need water. Not only do water features add beauty to your yard, they serve a number of uses for your feathered friends and attract hard-to-get birds like warblers. Birdbaths and fountains can be great additions to a bird-attracting yard and provide birds with water to drink. They also offer them a place to clean up and cool down. Clean, dry feathers insulate better and assist birds with flight.

Birds flock to water. They have acute hearing, allowing them to hear a drop or ripple in the water from a great distance away. Sprinklers, drippers, misters and hoses will all have birds collecting in your yard. Remember, to ensure that the water features in your yard are safe for bathing and drinking, keep the water shallow. Birds feel safer in shallow water. It allows them to fly off quickly in the presence of danger. Use water features with rough surfaces rather than smooth ones in order to ensure secure footing for the birds. They won’t go for a dip if they don’t feel safe. In addition, keep water features clean. Usually a good jet spray with the hose will do the trick to remove algae and scum.

While food and water are essential to think about when landscaping for birds, shelter is just as crucial. It provides protection from weather and enemies, and offers a safe place to nest. Shelter also plays a huge factor in what you put in your yard and where you put it. For example, a bird feeder or birdbath placed near a hedge or hedgerow will see more action than one in the middle of the yard all by itself. Feeders and water features near shelter attract more birds because they serve as a safety outlet if an enemy should approach or bad weather closes in.

As a means of shelter, trees are one of the most important features to have in your yard. Not only do they provide food, but they offer an abundance of places for birds to nest and find shelter. Vines and shrubs like English ivy, honeysuckle and trumpet creeper provide dense growth, offering birds a great nesting area. They grow fast, providing a habitat for birds quickly. It’s also an excellent idea to put up birdhouses or nest boxes to attract birds such as chickadees, bluebirds, woodpeckers and nuthatches. One thing to remember: be diverse. Planting a lot of different trees, bushes, shrubs and hedges will attract a wider variety of birds and offer more options for shelter and nesting sites.

Ironically, one good rule for landscaping is that birds actually love a bit of clutter. A tidy yard doesn’t necessarily provide the best habitat for birds. Let your garden grow wild, and birds will flock to it. You can also allow your lawn to grow long, especially around trees and bushes. Finally, plant a lot, no matter if it’s flowers, trees, shrubs or grass – birds like thick, dense vegetation. For those who still want a well-kept-looking lawn, you don’t have to say goodbye to birds. Let your yard grow a little wild in particular areas in your yard, where a little mess might be a little less noticeable.

Landscaping may not have always been intended for birds, but now it can be. Put up feeders, plant vegetation, add water features and let your yard get a little wild. Put out the welcome mat to your feathered friends and let them know that in your yard, landscaping is definitely for the birds.

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When It Comes To Feeding Wild Birds, Less Is More!

Feeding wild birds is a popular interest of many Americans. In fact, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, around one third of Americans feed wild birds. Whether it's the enjoyment of viewing wildlife up close and personal or listening to the pleasant chirps and trills of the birds' songs, more and more Americans are being inspired to put up feeders, buy outdoor pet food and turn wild birds into lovable outdoor pets.

On the other hand, some people are hesitant to dive into the hobby of feeding wild birds because they are discouraged by the shells (and subsequent weeds) that can accumulate around a feeding station. According to research done by the Wild Bird Feeding Industry (WBFI), the number two reason why people don't feed birds is because of the mess left under their feeders. Innovative wild bird food manufacturers have taken notice of this concern, which has resulted in the creation of “waste-free” and “less mess” mixes. These formulations allow bird lovers to enjoy the best of both worlds: a yard full of colorful outdoor pets and a lawn that is neat and tidy.

Less mess products are designed to keep outdoor living areas clean because they are made without the shells of seeds. Without the shells, there is less leftover debris scattered around the feeding station. Better yet, premium mixes like Wild Delight's^® Less Mess™ line of products are specially formulated to help prevent the germination of seeds into weeds under feeders.

When trying to keep a clean yard, it's important to consider the type of seed being put out. “Basic mixes” or “economy mixes” contain many extra ingredients that birds simply sift through and push to the ground. These mixes can also attract less desirable birds, such as starlings and sparrows that typically gather in large numbers and can make quite a mess. For those who want to avoid a messy yard (and nuisance birds), look for products that are made with premium ingredients like fruits and nuts that more sought-after birds such as cardinals and finches love. Products like Wild Delight's^® new Less Mess™ Fruit N' Berry™ blend, for example, is formulated with real cherries, juniper berries, peanuts and hulled pumpkin seeds – ingredients desirable birds will gobble up without excessive sifting and leftover mess.

Another option for those who want to keep a clean yard is to place a tray underneath a feeder. Trays will help catch any spilled seeds and make cleanup much easier. Plus, they act as another level to the feeding station. What some birds pass up and toss onto the tray, others might feast on happily, creating a wide variety of feathered friends at one feeding station.

Feeding nectar and suet is another way to keep a tidy lawn. These types of food help attract many different types of sought-after birds like woodpeckers, orioles and hummingbirds, creating a beautiful spectacle of unique wildlife. There are even suet products that you can place close to your home. No-waste products such as Deck, Porch N' Patio^® Party™ Suet from Wild Delight^® don't contain filler ingredients like corn and milo that birds either toss aside or ignore completely. Plus, premium suet products are formulated so they will not melt even in temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is also important to put out multiple feeders to prevent overcrowding. When too many birds gather at one feeder, things tend to get a little hectic and messy. If birds have the option to dine at more than one feeder, there is less pushing and shoving, which may mean that more seeds are eaten instead of thrown to the ground.

Finally, spreading mulch under feeders is another easy way to keep a yard looking cleaner. Mulch will hide the seeds that may fall, and it can even dress up a feeding station. By adding a border with stones or other decorative items around the mulch, a feeding station can become a nice addition to a landscaper's design.

With the proper food and a little bit of planning, bird lovers and new bird enthusiasts alike can enjoy both the wonderful hobby of bird feeding and a well-groomed lawn at the same time. Thanks to the creation of less mess products, birds can delight in the foods they love, and bird lovers can admire their outdoor pets without the mess.

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Pick A Feeder, Any Feeder

Backyard bird feeding is an easy way to enjoy wildlife up close and personal. Feeders, and the beautiful birds that perch upon them, can brighten up any garden or yard. More important, however, is that bird feeding is very beneficial to the outdoor pets we adore so much.

There are many types of birds that have become well-adapted to taking advantage of bird feeders. In fact, according to the National Audubon Society, more than 100 species supplement their natural diets with birdseed, suet, fruit and nectar obtained from feeders. Plus, many are so widespread in their range that they'll feast almost anywhere in the United States, from California to New York.

To accommodate this wide variety of birds, there is a wide variety of feeders: hopper feeders, tube feeders, platform feeders, suet feeders – the list goes on and on. Choosing a feeder is ultimately a matter of satisfying the specific preferences of the birds you want to attract. In other words, the birds you desire to feed will determine the type of food you put out. The food, in turn, helps to determine which feeder you should use.

For example, desirable birds like cardinals, woodpeckers and chickadees are attracted to feeders filled with premium seeds and real fruit. Foods like Wild Delight^® Less Mess™ Cardinal Food work great for attracting these birds because they're made with real raisins, cranberries and cherries that sought-after birds love. As a result, feeders that accommodate large fruit pieces and seeds are necessary to attract these types of birds.

Some feeders work well for a number of different types of food. Hopper feeders and platform feeders are big and bird-friendly. They can hold almost any size seed and a lot of it, so they have to be refilled less often. Large fruit pieces and nuts, like those found in Wild Delight^® Less Mess™ Fruit N' Berry™, can easily be accessed from either of these feeders.

Tube feeders are extremely popular and come with feeding ports (the holes where the birds access the food) of varying sizes in order to accommodate different types of food. A tube feeder with large holes will let sunflower seeds and fruit pieces through, while others with small holes should be used for small seeds like Nyjer^®. Tube feeders are ideal for smaller birds like finches and pine siskins because they have small perches that large perching birds like starlings can't grip.

Suet feeders, which are wire cages specifically made to hold suet, are an excellent way to offer your outdoor pets a variety of dining options. Suet is the hard, white fat on the kidneys and loins of cattle and other animals, and is a favorite of many birds. Some suet products, like Wild Delight^® Deck, Porch N' Patio^® Suet, are even mixed with nuts like pistachios. If it were up to the birds, they would take the entire piece of suet away with them. Thankfully, the suet feeder cage design only allows small chunks to be eaten at a time, which means that desirable birds such as woodpeckers and nuthatches visit more often – so you get more time to enjoy watching them.

Yet another type of feeder is the mesh feeder. This kind of feeder is used for dispensing larger seeds such as black oil sunflower seeds. Mesh feeders, somewhat similar to tube feeders, are meant to attract birds that cling because other birds cannot perch on them. This helps to keep starlings and other nuisance birds away. More significant is that they're designed to resist squirrel damage. Squirrels can use these feeders, but will be frustrated because they can only pick one seed at a time.

Very similar to the mesh feeders are finch sock feeders, which are mesh bags that allow finches to cling to them and discourage other birds from stealing seed. Products like the Wild Delight^® Finch Sock Feeder come already stocked with premium Nyjer^® seed, creating a convenient, all-in-one feed and feeder combination.

There are a number of helpful resources today that can help you pick out the appropriate types of food needed to attract desirable birds, and the feeders that suit them best. In fact, web sites such as www.wilddelight.com are becoming a popular reference point for outdoor pet lovers.

Finally, remember that no matter what feeder appears to best suit a particular situation or yard, the key is really the type of food you put in it. Want better birds? Feed them premium food. Want to make it easy for birds to eat the premium food? Make sure you put it in the right type of feeder. With all the different types and styles of feeders available today, there have never been more opportunities to enjoy outdoor pets and the entertaining hobby of backyard bird feeding.

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Premium Feeding: Attracting High-Quality Birds With High-Quality Food

Feeding birds is a hobby shared by roughly 63 million people around the world. With bird feeding becoming even more popular, so has the enthusiasm to attract an elite group of birds. Birds such as cardinals, finches and woodpeckers are considered by many to be more desirable birds and are welcomed by bird lovers. Whereas these birds are known for being attractive and interesting to watch, they are also known for being somewhat fussy eaters. The key to attracting these high-quality birds is offering high-quality food.

Even though an expansive amount of bird food choices exists, not all seed mixes are created equal. To ensure that you’re feeding your outdoor pets premium products, there are a number of things to look for. It’s important to examine the bags and seeds, read the labels and inspect the ingredients. Check to see if the bag has the Wild Bird Feeding Industry (WBFI) Quality Standards logo. This means that it meets the stringent requirements set forth by the industry to ensure that the ingredients have met the WBFI’s standards of seed quality and cleanliness. You can learn more about the WBFI’s seed standards on its web site at www.wbfi.org.

You should also look for food that contains added vitamins and minerals, which help to contribute to the health of wild birds. Specifically, these added nutrients can aid in coloring, feathering, reproduction, bone development and even eggshell quality.

Another way to identify premium foods is by looking for waste-free mixes. Products like Deck, Porch N’ Patio^® from Wild Delight^® not only keep your feeding areas neat and clean, but preferred birds adore them because they don’t have to work to enjoy the seeds they like. Birds don’t have to waste their time picking through filler ingredients such as cracked corn, millet, milo and wheat, and you don’t have to waste your time picking filler ingredients off your deck or yard.

Filling feeders with premium food and seeds will increase the desirability of your feeding station, attracting appealing birds. For instance, cardinals are a welcome presence at any feeding station, and a food favorite of theirs is fruit. A great way to attract these crimson birds to your yard is by filling your feeders with foods that contain real fruit, such as Wild Delight’s^® Cardinal Food, which contains real cherries and raisins, rather than just artificial flavorings or imitation ingredients. One thing to keep in mind is that birds look for food with their keen sense of sight. This means that real fruit is the best way to attract cardinals and other fruit-eating, sought-after birds.

Besides real fruit, real nuts entice hard-to-attract birds as well. Superior-quality products contain real nuts and clean, wholesome seeds, making them very appealing to desirable birds. For example, Wild Delight’s^® Woodpecker, Nuthatch N' Chickadee™ Food contains a high-quality blend of hulled seeds and real nuts, and is a great choice for attracting woodpeckers, grosbeaks, nuthatches and chickadees.

Nyjer^® is another food that will have sought-after birds stopping in your yard to feed. Nyjer^® seed is a favorite for finches, attracting goldfinches without fail. When purchasing Nyjer^® seed, look for a cleaned, premium-grade product that has been sterilized to prevent germination. A great example of this is Wild Delight’s^® Nyjer^® Seed.

Birds have their preferences in what they seek out for food, and high-quality birds are attracted to high-quality food. Not only are premium foods a great avenue to attract desirable birds, but they help to ensure that these birds are receiving a wholesome diet so they can continue to flourish and enhance backyards everywhere.

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Bird Lovers Can Go Nuts For Squirrels Too!

The battle begins every time a feeder goes up; homeowner versus squirrel, and it's usually the squirrel who wins. For many outdoor pet lovers it seems nearly impossible to keep these cunning rapscallions from raiding their bird feeders. They've tried the squirrel-proof feeders, which, through great leaps and bounds, the relentless squirrels manage to tackle. Placing feeders out of squirrels' reach also seems like a logical solution, but it is much easier said than done.

Although a victory over the squirrels appears to be an impossible feat to capture, there is a way to feed your beloved birds without the disturbance caused by these crafty creatures. Ever heard of the phrase, “If you can't beat 'em, join 'em”? It's the perfect solution to a pesky relationship with furry backyard foes, and one that will soon have homeowners putting squirrels into the category of outdoor pets.

Squirrels are hearty eaters, so why not offer them a feast all their own? Outdoor pet food producers such as Wild Delight^® make mixes specially designed for squirrels (such as Wild Delight^® Squirrel Food) that contain corn, sunflower seed and whole peanuts – things that squirrels love to munch on. It is typically offered in a platform feeder or fed on the ground, but however the food is put out, the trick is to keep it away from bird feeders. When squirrels are offered their own food, they are much less likely to bother with your bird feeders.

Squirrels also love corn that is still on the cob. This “ear corn” can easily be affixed to a tree to keep squirrels on tree trunks and away from bird feeders. To prevent a mess, go with a premium brand like Wild Delight^® Corn On The Cob that has a low moisture content to help prevent molding.

Along with offering squirrels their own dining experience, bird watchers can also fill their feeders with seeds that squirrels are indifferent toward. Nyjer^® is great for all types of finches, but squirrels ignore it. If feeders are going to be filled with Nyjer^®, it's a good idea to go with a product such as Nyjer^® Seed from Wild Delight^®, which has been sterilized to help prevent fallen seeds from germinating into weeds. Generic brands don't usually offer this protection.

Safflower seed, which cardinals and chickadees love, is another good choice to deter squirrels. It has a bitter taste that squirrels (as well as nuisance birds like grackles and starlings) will avoid.

Suet is another option. Lovable birds such as nuthatches and woodpeckers enjoy suet very much, but squirrels typically ignore it. Brands like Wild Delight^® even offer different kinds of suet flavors to attract different kinds of desirable birds. Some examples include Deck, Porch N' Patio^® Picnic™ and Fruit N' Berry™ Smoothie™.

If your squirrel conflict calls for drastic measures, capsaicin, the burning chemical of hot peppers, is effective at repelling squirrels from bird food. It has the same effect on them that it does on humans – fiery mouth, watering eyes, etc. However, birds are virtually unresponsive to it. Whereas this method of warfare on squirrels has been successful, homeowners might want to think twice before deploying this, especially if they have small children and pets who could be irritated by it. Offering squirrels their own food and place to eat in the yard is safer and more convenient (plus, you don't have to wear gloves!).

By offering squirrels a place all their own in the backyard, homeowners will be able to enjoy their feathered friends at the same time as they enjoy the antics of their furry new pals. Their acrobatics, playful nature and surprising tameness will have squirrels joining wild birds as outdoor pets that homeowners love.

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Wild Bird Foods That Fit The Bill

Many bird lovers visit pet stores or hardware stores to purchase specialty bird seed mixes to attract specific types of birds. They buy cardinal food to attract cardinals and special finch food to lure finches. Many people understand that certain birds like particular types of food, but what most don’t know is that the food a bird prefers has a lot to do with its bill (also referred to as a bird’s beak).

The bill is one of the most significant and defining characteristics of a bird’s appearance. Like feathers, bills are unique to birds, and their shape and size are often used by bird watchers to identify them. The bill serves a number of purposes, from communicating and cleaning to mating and gathering nesting materials. More importantly, it’s a highly useful tool used to accomplish a bird’s most important function – feeding.

Birds use their bills as dinner utensils to crush, crack and snap shells off of seeds. They chisel, peck, poke and drill tree bark for insects, and they sip, suck and probe flowers for nectar. The kind of bill a bird has usually allows it to utilize a particular food source and is a very good clue to its diet. Many birds have a specialized bill which limits the food it can eat. That’s why specialty mixes exist. Mixes like Wild Delight’s^® Cardinal Food contain premium nuts and seeds that cardinals’ bills were designed for.

Birds’ bills come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Conical bills, like those found on cardinals, finches and grosbeaks, are thick and sturdy – great for cracking and shelling seeds like Nyjer^® and safflower seeds. In fact, these birds have bills that are strong enough to crack seeds as hard as cherry pits. However, not all conical bills are the same. Some are more slender, as on the goldfinch and pine siskin, which allows them to probe deep to extract seeds. Crossbills have the most specialized bill of all the finches. Their “crossed-over” bill allows these birds to remove seeds from cones, pry bark from trees to uncover hidden insects and split open fruit to extract the seeds. In fact, the red- and white-winged crossbills are the only two birds in North America to have crossed bills.

Other birds such as woodpeckers have strong bills that taper to a tip and are ideal for chiseling through wood for insects or sap. The downy woodpecker has bristles around its bill, protecting its nostrils from sawdust, while the yellow-bellied sapsucker drills holes in trees to access the internal river of sap. Besides insects and sap, woodpeckers prefer fruit and tree seeds. Specialty mixes like Wild Delight’s^® Woodpecker, Nuthatch N' Chickadee™ Food contain real fruits such as cranberries, apples and juniper berries, and a premium blend of hulled seeds that are great for woodpeckers as well as chickadees and nuthatches.

Birds like warblers have thin, slender beaks to pick insects off of leaves, twigs and bark. Tiny bills, like those on black-capped chickadees, are able to get into small places to eat insects that are hiding. Chickadees also open seeds by jamming them into tree crevices and then hammering the seeds with their bills. They even break open seeds by holding them in their feet, pecking their bills against them.

Generally, birds are quite practical. They will choose the best food available within the limits of their bill size and shape. Waste-free mixes like Wild Delight’s^® Deck Porch N’ Patio^® contain seeds that are already shelled, making it a great choice for feeders because birds with a variety of bill sizes and shapes can eat it – and it keeps outdoor living areas free from shells and leftovers.

Birds’ bills come in all shapes and sizes, just like the birds themselves. In one way or another, what they eat simply depends on what they can eat. By providing food like specialty mixes that are made to include nuts and seeds that fit the bill, bird enthusiasts can better attract and enjoy their favorite outdoor pets.

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