14 species entries · the guide that works backwards
Birds to attract
Pick the bird first. Every entry below reads like a field guide page — foods, feeder types, range, placement, water and nesting notes — and ends with the short list of gear that actually serves that species. No bird here is attracted by wishful thinking; a few are attracted by patience, and we say so.
EastSouthMidwestWestPacific NWSouthwest· coarse ranges, noted per entry
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
- Feed
- Black-oil sunflower · Safflower
- Range
- East, South, Midwest
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
- Feed
- Black-oil sunflower · Suet
- Range
- East, South, Midwest
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
- Feed
- Nyjer (thistle) · Black-oil sunflower
- Range
- East, West, Midwest, South
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
- Feed
- Nectar (sugar water)
- Range
- East, South, Midwest
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
- Feed
- Dried mealworms
- Range
- East, South, Midwest
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
- Feed
- Suet · Black-oil sunflower
- Range
- East, West, South, Midwest, Pacific NW
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
- Feed
- Black-oil sunflower · Suet
- Range
- East, Midwest, West, Pacific NW
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
- Feed
- Orange halves & grape jelly · Nectar (sugar water)
- Range
- East, Midwest, South
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
- Feed
- White proso millet · Black-oil sunflower
- Range
- East, West, South, Midwest, Pacific NW, Southwest
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
- Feed
- Black-oil sunflower · Suet
- Range
- East, West, South, Midwest
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
- Feed
- Black-oil sunflower · Suet
- Range
- East, South, Midwest
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
- Feed
- Black-oil sunflower · Nyjer (thistle) · Safflower
- Range
- East, West, South, Midwest, Pacific NW, Southwest
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
- Feed
- Suet · Dried mealworms
- Range
- East, South
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
- Feed
- White proso millet · Black-oil sunflower
- Range
- East, West, South, Midwest, Pacific NW, Southwest
Species facts on this site are standard field-guide knowledge — feeding preferences, feeder fit, and habitat notes of the kind any good guide prints. Ranges are coarse regions, not range maps. See how we source species entries.