So what is the best birdseed for Southern Backyard Birds? Is it Sunflower seed, Safflower seed, Suet or Mealworms? This actually depends heavily on what types of birds you intend to attract!
When we started feeding the birds from our backyard, there were quite a few uncertainties, and quite a bit of discussion took place about what we wanted to attract (as well as what we didn’t!). Over the past 8+ years, we have experimented, learned, and refined the menu to near-perfection. These are our TOP 4 picks which we hope will save you time, and also make the time you have more enjoyable!
Pick 1. SAFFLOWER SEED
Safflower is our number 1 choice overall and one of the best birdseed options to use for Southern Backyard Birds . This delicious white seed (for the birds, silly) is a bit smaller than sunflower seed, but it attracts a pretty large variety of birds. Also, the flavor of the seed does not usually attract squirrels or chipmunks (at least at first, later in the Summer when it gets hot we’ve seen them eat Safflower seeds and even dried mealworms!). Where can you find Safflower seed? While we do support our local shops, they don’t always have it in stock. However, if you’re in West Cobb area here are a few options. I’ve put them in order of “most likely to be in stock”. Our favorite store to visit is Wild Birds Unlimited which is located in East Cobb. The folks there are friendly, filled with knowledge and want to help you enjoy birding more than just selling you a product (and it really shows!).
Birdwatcher Supply Co. see locations here
Wild Birds Unlimited (our favorite!) one location in Marietta
Pike Nursery West Cobb
Home Depot West Cobb
Tractor Supply Co located on Cobb Parkway in Acworth
Due West Pharmacy one location in West Cobb
Sometimes you just want to buy online. That’s fine! Here is a link to our favorite brand on Amazon. They process / package the seeds right here in Kennesaw Georgia! Cole’s 5lb Bag of Safflower Seed.
What birds can you expect to see feeding on this seed? We have seen: Mourning Doves, House Finches, purple finches, Northern Cardinals, Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, rose-breasted grosbeaks, red-bellied woodpeckers, tufted titmice, Carolina chickadees, and more! Large birds like Blue Jays that can be pests don’t seem to like it and this means more of our friendly, colorful songbirds will hang around!
Pick 2. DRIED MEALWORMS
Our 2nd pick isn't a birdseed at all, but ranks very highly for the sheer amount of birds it attracts so we couldn't skip mentioning it in this article "Best birdseed for southern backyard birds" Dried mealworms are definitely in our top-two spots here @birdsofwestcobb. Without these treats, we likely never would have had our Eastern Bluebirds start to visit and later move into several bird houses in our property.
What birds can you expect to see feeding on dried mealworms? In addition to the Eastern Bluebirds, you will likely also see these species; Hermit Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Grey Catbird, multiple species of warblers, Carolina Wrens, Tufted Titmice, Carolina Chickadees, Rufous-sided towhees, Northern Mockingbirds, and even more still!
Where can you find Dried Mealworms? What’s a fair price?
Dried Mealworms seem to be a tough one to find locally for a good price. Currently we are ordering dried mealworms from Amazon because it is substantially more at Pike Nursery for a 10 lb bag, even though the store is only a mile away. Home Depot doesn’t seem to stock them in West Cobb. However, I’ve found 1 lb bags or 12 oz bags (expensive though!) at the Brookstone Ace Hardware, and Kroger in the pet food aisle. We spend about 59.00 currently for a 10 pound bag – and this lasts us several weeks even with several plates and a feeder with mealworms! What do we recommend? Here is the link to the 10lb bag of dried mealworms on Amazon. If this seems like too much (either in weight or in cost), don’t worry they have smaller bags available also!
Pick 3. C&S SUET NUGGETS
(also referred to as ‘Scoob Balls’ around here), the CS Suet Nuggets (Peanut flavor) are a staple. We usually pick them up at the local Home Depot, because if you buy 6 bags you save some additional money but you can also find them at other major retailers nearby. Don’t have a Home Depot nearby? Well don’t worry! We’ve got a link here for you to order them also! C&S Suet Nuggets on Amazon. C&S makes some great quality bird foods and you will be impressed by the activity you see on your feeders when using high-quality seeds and suet, versus 10 year old stale bird food mixes from other big box stores. Currently the link above shows the nuggets 23% off! Normally 24.99, these are currently going for only 19.29!
What birds can you expect to see feeding on suet nuggets? Very similarly to the dried mealworms because of their high fat and protein content, you will also see these energetic species; hermit thrush, brown thrasher, grey catbird, multiple species of warblers, Carolina wrens, tufted titmice, Carolina chickadees, rufous-sided towhees, northern mockingbirds, and even more still!
Pick 4. C&S SUET CAKES
Suet Cakes are typically hung in in a special feeder, the cakes drop-in from the top and don’t take a lot of extra effort to maintain.
What birds can you expect to see feeding on these suet cakes? Woodpeckers usually find these first but often are followed soon after by many species including White-breasted Nuthatches, Brown-headed Nuthatches, Pine Warblers, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-Rumped Warblers, Grey Catbirds, Eastern Bluebirds, and Northern Mockingbirds and more. The biggest difference we’ve found though, is by switching up the flavor and the brand of the suet cakes! We usually buy these in bulk packs – If we haven’t stocked up any and have just run out, we’ll typically make a trip to Wild Birds Unlimited in East Cobb, or grab some from West Cobb Pike Nursery. However, in the event that you are in no rush and can wait a day or two for your Amazon deliveries to sustain your feathered friends, here is a link to some top-notch suet cakes on Amazon also.
What is your personal backyard bird food favorite? Comments are welcomed below!