How to attract birds to the backyard? I keep my camera and zoom by the kitchen window to capture birds by the feeders. Unfortunately, I just get grey, boring sparrows. Any tips on how...

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

I keep my camera and zoom by the kitchen window to capture birds by the feeders.
Unfortunately, I just get grey, boring sparrows.
Any tips on how to get colorful birds to show up?
I just switched to black sunflowers seeds. Will that help?

MWojton Loc: Yardley, PA

I just get brown, boring birds in my yard, too.

MW

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

Greenguy33 wrote:

I keep my camera and zoom by the kitchen window to capture birds by the feeders.
Unfortunately, I just get grey, boring sparrows.
Any tips on how to get colorful birds to show up?
I just switched to black sunflowers seeds. Will that help?

Find out what the birds you want attract like to eat. They will not be attracted to foods they do not like. We had a bird feeder once and it was and assortment but too our amazement the bird would visit the feeder and flip out the foods they did not like to the ground and eat the rest.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Other treats they may like:
"Black oilers" sunflower seeds, peanut butter, oranges halved, grape jelly in shallow dish, running or standing clean water, lots of hiding places, lots of perches where cats aren't an issue, cracked or whole corn, cracked, whole or in the shell peanuts.
Best of all plant seeds that you don't want birds to eat, they can't resist that! Lol!
Best of luck, but be assured, they are there!

Edit: I forgot suet cakes packed with bugs, berries or seeds, bread, popcorn, Cheetos.
Nyjer seed is a fave of canaries and finches, it needs a special feeder though.

Alfresco

You said you switched to black sunflower seeds, is it black striped or black oil? Black oil sunflower are the better of the two and either one is superior to the mix of seeds commonly sold but full of seeds the birds pass by for sunflower. Give it a few days for the word to get out then get ready for some good viewing!

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

I put out the no-melt seed cakes which attracts Downy and Great Northern Woodpeckers. But they also bring out the obnoxious Starlings. Peanuts in the shell (unsalted) gets the Scrub Jays all excited. Bird seed thrown on the ground attracts doves and quail. Bird seed in the feeder gets a lot of attention from the sparrows but also other more colorful birds I don't know the names of.

Big Stopper Loc: London

A bottle of champagne generally does the trick :lol:

burgerboy Loc: NE Iowa

Talk to your neighbors. Our neighbors on both sides of our home feed birds also. We do not all use the same food which attract different birds. We get birds flying from one house to another checking out the various feeders.

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

Alfresco wrote:

You said you switched to black sunflower seeds, is it black striped or black oil? Black oil sunflower are the better of the two and either one is superior to the mix of seeds commonly sold but full of seeds the birds pass by for sunflower. Give it a few days for the word to get out then get ready for some good viewing!

Black Oil sunflower seeds is what I have.

Thanks to everyone for your help! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

A. J. Loc: PA. USA

Greenguy33 wrote:

I keep my camera and zoom by the kitchen window to capture birds by the feeders.
Unfortunately, I just get grey, boring sparrows.
Any tips on how to get colorful birds to show up?
I just switched to black sunflowers seeds. Will that help?

Yes, that's very good, but also try hulled Sunflower seeds;
if you look close, he's eating one.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, hulled sunflower

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

Alfresco wrote:

You said you switched to black sunflower seeds, is it black striped or black oil? Black oil sunflower are the better of the two and either one is superior to the mix of seeds commonly sold but full of seeds the birds pass by for sunflower. Give it a few days for the word to get out then get ready for some good viewing!

black oil sunflower seeds.

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

A. J. wrote:

Yes, that's very good, but also try hulled Sunflower seeds;
if you look close, he's eating one.

Nice shot AJ! Any particular brand that you use?

pbearperry Loc: Massachusetts

Wash and wax your car and park it in the driveway.They will come.

A. J. Loc: PA. USA

Greenguy33 wrote:

Nice shot AJ! Any particular brand that you use?

Thanks Greenguy.
I buy my hulled Sunflower from Agway, (Feathered Friend Brand), but there are other places such as Royal King.

The farm and feed stores are the reasonable in price for all seeds.

Male Cardinal

Maale Purple Finch/Am. Goldfinch

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

A. J. wrote:

Thanks Greenguy.
I buy my hulled Sunflower from Agway, (Feathered Friend Brand), but there are other places such as Royal King.

The farm and feed stores are the reasonable in price for all seeds.

:thumbup: