Seed mixes

Sunflower hearts are one of the best foods for attracting a wide variety of garden birds. They are energy-rich, easy for birds to eat and popular with species including tits, finches, sparrows, Robins and Nuthatches.

A no-mess sunflower mix is another good option. These mixes combine sunflower hearts with other husk-free ingredients, such as kibbled maize, oats and yellow millet, which can appeal to an even broader range of birds while leaving less waste beneath your feeder. The RSPB No-mess Sunflower Mix is popular with most garden birds, but seeds and peanuts should only be offered during the recommended seasonal feeding period, from November until the end of April.

To attract the widest range of birds, offer food in suitable hanging feeders. Seed feeders are particularly accessible to tits, finches and sparrows, while some Robins may also adapt to using hanging feeders. Blackbirds and other birds that feed mainly at ground level are less likely to use them. During the seasonal seed-feeding pause, small amounts of mealworms can be scattered on clean ground, and any uneaten food should be cleared away by dusk.

Whichever food you choose, only put out as much as the birds are likely to eat, clean feeders regularly and provide fresh water nearby.

The best bird seed mixes contain a high proportion of sunflower hearts, ideally near the top of the ingredients list. They are rich in energy, easy for birds to eat because the husks have already been removed, and popular with tits, finches, House Sparrows and Robins.

Other ingredients can help attract a wider range of birds or provide variety for less fussy birds:

• Millet and canary seed are suitable for smaller seed-eating birds, including sparrows and finches. The RSPB Feeder mix extra includes yellow millet and canary seed alongside sunflower hearts, sunflower seeds and husk-free oats.
• Husk-free oats and small pieces of maize are often enjoyed by sparrows, Robins, Dunnocks, Woodpigeons and other ground-feeding birds. The RSPB No-grow ground mix combines sunflower hearts, oat flakes, suet pellets and flaked maize and is designed for birds such as Robins, Blackbirds and Song Thrushes.
• Good-quality suet pellets can provide extra energy, especially during colder weather. The RSPB Favourites Blend combines sunflower hearts with suet pellets and dried mealworms, while the Favourites Blend Extra contains a higher proportion of mealworms and suet pellets for additional protein and energy.

Avoid mixes dominated by whole wheat or large pieces of maize, as smaller garden birds may leave much of them uneaten. Wheat is not inherently unsuitable and may be eaten by Woodpigeons, doves, pheasants and some sparrows, but it often makes up a large proportion of cheaper mixes. This can mean that the food attracts a narrower range of birds and creates more waste.

No-mess bird seed contains ingredients with the husks or shells removed, so birds can eat more of the food without leaving piles of discarded seed cases beneath the feeder. No-mess mixes are a good choice if you want to reduce waste and spend less time clearing up after garden birds.

Our No-mess Sunflower Mix combines sunflower hearts, kibbled maize, oats and yellow millet. It is suitable for hanging seed feeders and is particularly likely to attract tits, finches and House Sparrows.

No-mess does not mean that nothing will fall beneath the feeder, as birds may still drop pieces of food, but it should create considerably less mess than unshelled seed. It also does not mean the mix is guaranteed not to grow. Choose a no-grow mix instead if preventing seeds from germinating is your main priority.

Bird seed should only be offered during the cooler months, from November to April. We advise pausing all seed and peanut feeding between May and October, when gathering birds around feeders can increase the risk of disease spreading. During this period, suitable alternatives include mealworms, Flutter Butter and small amounts of suet that does not contain visible whole large seeds.

Sunflower hearts are the main type of bird seed that will not germinate, because removing the outer husk means the seed can no longer grow, and their small, husk-free kernels make them ideal for seed feeders, where they can attract birds including Blue Tits, Great Tits, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, House Sparrows and Nuthatches.

Bird seed mixes should only be offered during the cooler months, from 1 November to 30 April. During the warmer months, choose alternatives such as suet, mealworms or Flutter Butter.