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Want to Attract Beautiful Backyard Birds? Try These Tailored Recipes

Purple Finches prefer berries while chickadees go for pie crust. Learn the right combos for the right birds here.
By National Audubon Society
Published November 13, 2015

This time of year, many a cook is scouring cookbooks, the internet, or their grandmother’s recipe cards for the best dishes to prepare and serve at the table. We would be remiss if we didn’t share some tried and true recipes for your backyard feeders as well. Just like that pecan pie is sure to get the kids back to the table, each recipe, cooked up by Madison Audubon Society, is tailored to your favorite feathered friends.

 

Northern Cardinal

Sunflower seeds
Crushed Peanuts
White Bread
Raisins
Bananas

Purple Finch

Sunflower Seeds
Crushed Peanuts
Raspberries
Blackberries

Woodpeckers

Sunflower Seeds
Crushed Peanuts
Apples
Oranges
Melon Seeds
Suet

Black-capped Chickadee

Sunflower Seeds
Shelled or Crushed Peanuts
Pie Crust

Mourning Dove

Sunflower Seeds
Bread Crumbs
Fruit
Cracked Corn

White-breasted Nuthatch

Sunflower and Pumpkin Seeds
Shelled or Crushed Peanuts
Suet

Blue Jay

Sunflower Seeds
Cracked Corn
Shelled or Crushed Peanuts

For tips on how to feed birds safely, check out these guidelines.