Relative Attractiveness of
Different Foods at Wild Bird Feeders
Excerpts from the
United States Department of The Interior
Fish and Wildlife Service 
Special Scientific Report - Wildlife No. 233
 by Aelfred D. Geis

A study was done and data was gathered by volunteers who systematically recorded over 179,000 bird visits and food consumption at experimental feeders near their homes. Information was obtained by presenting two, three or four different foods simultaneously. A standard for comparing the attractiveness of various food materials was provided by using black striped sunflower, or white proso mill, or both in each experiment. These two materials were selected because they are both commonly used and all bird species found one or the other relatively attractive.

Please select:

Foods Preferred by Each Species

Characteristics of Different Foods