Newsletter Signup  |  Joanie's Blog  |  Login

Hello Nature Lover   
Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00AM-6:00PM | Sun 11:00AM-5:00PM
About East Bay Nature
Joanie's Blog
Products
Seeds, Nuts and Suet
Small Black Oil Sunflower
Large Striped Sunflower
Sunflower Chips
Sunflower Chips / Fine
Nyjer Thistle
Safflower
Corn on the Cob
Cracked Corn
White Millet
Hulled Millet
Peanuts in the Shell
Shelled Peanuts
Peanut Hearts
Suet
Our Seed Mixes
Bird Walk Schedule
Services
Store Location
Back Yard Birding Tips
Seeds and Nuts - Feeding Preferences

Factors that may help you decide how to best present food to wild birds include the type of seeds and feeders that attract those species that you wish to invite into your yard. Your choices can also help you to deter undesirables. Click the links in the headings for more information about these seed types.

Seed Preferences

Bird Black Oil Sunflower Safflower Millet Peanut Hearts Cracked Corn Nyjer Sunflower Chips Suet Nectar Meal Worms Fruit
Acorn Woodpecker x x x x x x
American Crow x x x x x x x
American Goldfinch x x x
American Robin x x x x
Annas Hummingbird x
Allen's Hummingbird x
Bewick's Wren x x x
Bushtit x x x x x
Band-tailed Pigeon x x x x x
Black-headed Grosbeak x x x x
Brewer's Blackbird x x x x x
California Quail x x x x x
California Towhee x x x x x x
Cedar Waxwing x
Chestnut-backed Chickadee x x x x x x x
Common Raven x x x x x x x
Downy Woodpecker x x x x x x
Golden-crowned Sparrow x x x x x x
Hermit Thrush x x x
Hooded Oriole x x x
House Finch x x x x
House Sparrow x x x x x
Lesser Goldfinch x x x
Mourning Dove x x x x x x x
Northern Bullock's Oriole x x x
Northern Flicker x x x x x x x
Northern Mockingbird x x x x
Nutalls Woodpecker x x x x x x
Oak Titmouse x x x x x x
Oregon Junco x x x x x x x
Pheasant, Wild Turkey x x x x x x
Pine Siskin x x x
Red-breasted Nuthatch x x x x x x
Red-winged Blackbird x x x x x
Ruby-crowned Kinglet x x x x
Rufous Hummingbird x
Scrub Jay x x x x x x x x
Spotted Towhee x x x x
Steller's Jay x x x x x x x x
Varied Thrush x x x x
Western Bluebird x x x x x
White-breasted Nuthatch x x x x x x
White-crowned Sparrow x x x x x x
Yellow-rumped Warbler x x x x x x

There are several types of feeders available and most fit into one of three categories. Click the links in the headings for more information about these feeders.

Feeder Preferences

Bird Tube Feeder Hopper Feeder Platform / Hanging Platform / Ground Suet Cage Nectar Feeder
Acorn Woodpecker x x x x
American Crow x x
American Goldfinch x x x
American Robin x x
Annas Hummingbird x
Allen's Hummingbird x
Bewick's Wren x x x x x
Bushtit x x x x
Band-tailed Pigeon x x x
Black-headed Grosbeak x x x x
Brewer's Blackbird x x x x
California Quail x x
California Towhee x x
Cedar Waxwing x
Chestnut-backed Chickadee x x x x
Common Raven x x
Downy Woodpecker x x x x
Golden-crowned Sparrow x x
Hermit Thrush x x
Hooded Oriole x
House Finch x x x
House Sparrow x x x x
Lesser Goldfinch x x x
Mourning Dove x x x
Northern Bullock's Oriole x
Northern Flicker x x x
Northern Mockingbird x x
Nutalls Woodpecker x x x x
Oak Titmouse x x x x
Oregon Junco x x x x
Pheasant, Wild Turkey x x
Pine Siskin x x x x
Red-breasted Nuthatch x x x x
Red-winged Blackbird x x x x
Ruby-crowned Kinglet x x
Rufous Hummingbird x
Scrub Jay x x x x x
Spotted Towhee x x
Steller's Jay x x x x x
Varied Thrush x x
Western Bluebird x x
White-breasted Nuthatch x x x x
White-crowned Sparrow x x
Yellow-rumped Warbler x x x x
At the Water Cooler


I've heard a Great-horned Owl off and on in our yard for years. I happened to see her the other day just before dusk in our large oak tree. She was just waking up from a long day of snoozing, getting a little preening done in preparation for a night of hunting. I got as close as I could to her trying not to scare her away.

"Don't worry," she said casually. "I'm not ready to take off yet." "Wow," I...

continue reading
...

East Bay Times Article


Attracting birds and bees to our yards and gardens is simple, if we provide what they like and need.

Joanie Smith, owner of East Bay Nature in Walnut Creek, says there are five essential elements for success — water, food, cover, nesting and safety.

continue reading
...