Best Wild Bird Food UK: What to Put in Your Garden Feeder

The UK has seen significant declines in many common garden bird species over the past few decades. Putting food out in your garden is one of the most practical ways to help — and with the right foods, you can attract a surprisingly wide range of species year-round.

The Most Versatile Bird Foods

Sunflower hearts are arguably the single best wild bird food you can offer. They're high in fat and protein, have no husk so there's no mess on the ground, and are eaten by an enormous range of species — finches, tits, sparrows, nuthatches, blackcaps and more. If you can only put out one food, make it sunflower hearts.

Mixed seed is a cost-effective option that attracts a variety of ground feeders and perching birds. Look for mixes that contain sunflower seeds, millet and safflower rather than cheap fillers like wheat and oats, which most birds leave.

Peanuts (unsalted, unflavoured) are high in fat and protein — excellent for blue tits, great tits, nuthatches, woodpeckers and sparrows. Use a mesh peanut feeder so birds take small pieces rather than whole nuts, which can be a choking risk for nestlings.

Suet products (fat balls, suet pellets, suet blocks) are invaluable in winter when birds need extra calories to stay warm. Starlings, robins, wrens and woodpeckers love them. Remove fat ball nets before putting them out — birds can get their legs tangled.

Niger (nyjer) seed is tiny and requires a specialist feeder with small ports. It's loved by goldfinches and siskins and has become one of the most popular garden bird foods in the UK as goldfinch populations have grown.

What Different Birds Like

• Robins — mealworms (their favourite), soft fruit, suet pellets
• Blue tits and great tits — sunflower hearts, peanuts, suet
• Goldfinches — niger seed, sunflower hearts
• House sparrows — millet, mixed seed, sunflower hearts
• Blackbirds — mealworms, fruit, scattered seed on the ground
• Woodpeckers — peanuts, suet, sunflower hearts
• Starlings — suet, mealworms, mixed seed

Feeding Through the Year

Autumn and winter are the most critical periods — natural food is scarce and birds need high-fat foods to survive cold nights. Keep feeders well stocked from October to March.

Spring and early summer — avoid whole peanuts and large pieces of food when birds are nesting, as these can be a choking hazard for chicks. Soft foods like mealworms, soaked raisins and suet pellets are ideal.

Summer — birds have more natural food available but still appreciate supplementary feeding, especially during dry periods when earthworms and insects are harder to find.

Feeder Hygiene

Clean feeders every two weeks with mild disinfectant and rinse thoroughly. Move feeders periodically to prevent a build-up of droppings in one area, which can spread disease like trichomoniasis (finch disease). Remove uneaten wet food daily.

Browse our wild bird food range at UK9 Petcare — including sunflower hearts, mixed seed, peanuts, suet products and niger seed.