As winter approaches in New York, many bird enthusiasts begin thinking about the best bird seed to attract and feed birds throughout the cold months. The type of bird seed that will work best depends on a few key factors, including the types of birds you want to attract, your budget, and the weather conditions typical for a New York winter.
Key Considerations for Winter Bird Seed in New York
Here are some of the main things to consider when choosing a bird seed for winter in New York:
- Weather conditions – New York winters can be very cold with temperatures below freezing. Look for seeds high in fat and calories to help birds survive.
- Common backyard birds – Know which birds are common for your area and their food preferences to attract them to your feeder.
- Feeder type – Seed blends can be designed for different feeder types like hopper, tube, or platform feeders.
- Nutrition – Birds need more fat and calories in winter. Prioritize energy-rich foods like suet, peanuts, and black oil sunflower seeds.
- Price – Bird seed can range widely in price from budget options to premium blends. Evaluate costs per pound when comparing.
- Ingredients – High-quality bird seed will have limited filler seeds and more nutritious ingredients.
- Special diets – Consider specific seeds or blends if you want to target birds like finches, juncos, cardinals, woodpeckers, etc.
Keeping these key factors in mind will help you pick the ideal winter bird seed for attracting backyard birds in New York’s cold climate.
Recommended Winter Bird Seeds for New York
Here are some of the top bird seed types and ingredients to look for in New York:
Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
Black oil sunflower seeds are one of the most popular options for winter bird feeding. Their thin shells and high fat content provide birds with lots of energy. Chickadees, nuthatches, finches, cardinals, blue jays, and woodpeckers will flock to these seeds.
Nyjer (Thistle) Seeds
Nyjer or thistle seeds are tiny black seeds loved by finches like the American goldfinch. They contain healthy fats and oils to fuel winter survival. Use fine mesh feeders for nyjer seeds.
Suet and Seed Cakes
Suet is nutrient-dense animal fat that provides birds pure energy in a concentrated form. You can buy suet cakes or make your own to attract insect-eating birds like woodpeckers, nuthatches, and wrens.
Safflower Seeds
Safflower seeds have a tough shell that squirrels and other animals don’t like. They make a smart choice to feed cardinals, chickadees, finches, and other small birds while deterring squirrels.
Peanuts
Whole peanuts in the shell are loved by jays, woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, and other large winter birds. Check that peanuts don’t comprise more than 25% of total seed to avoid disease risks.
Cracked Corn
Cracked corn is a cheap bird seed ingredient that will attract jays, crows, magpies, pigeons, and other large ground feeding birds. Sparrows may also be attracted. Use limited amounts mixed with other seeds.
Millet
Millet is a tiny round seed used commonly as bird seed filler. It will bring in sparrows, juncos, red-winged blackbirds, cowbirds, and doves. Sparrows love white proso millet while red millet attracts cardinals.
Nyger
Nyger, also known as niger or thistle seed, is a favorite of finches like goldfinches and pine siskins. Its small size calls for specialized “nyjer feeders” with tiny holes.
Best Bird Seed Blends for Winter
The best winter bird seed mixes will contain a variety of the seeds discussed above. Here are some popular blended seeds for winter:
Black Oil Sunflower Seed Blends
Many winter blends have black oil sunflower seeds as the primary ingredient. Various other seeds like millet, cracked corn, peanuts, and suet are added in smaller amounts. These will attract the widest variety of common feeder birds.
No-Waste Seed Mixes
Some blends minimize filler seeds that birds scatter on the ground like milo and wheat. Shell-less seeds like peanuts and sunflower chips reduce waste too. Ground-feeding birds will like waste seeds, however.
Suet Seed Combinations
Combining suet with seeds like sunflower chips, peanuts, corn, and millet provides natural winter fat. Suet combo cakes can be inserted into cage feeders.
Nyjer and Finch Mixes
Blends with nyjer appeal specifically to finches. Look for nyjer mixed with fine sunflower chips, thistle, and millet.
Dove and Quail Mixes
Bigger seeds like milo, wheat, corn, peas, and millet will attract mourning doves. Ground-feeding quail also like these seeds.
How Much Bird Seed Do You Need?
Figuring out how much winter bird seed to buy can take some trial and error. Here are some tips for estimating amounts:
- Start with 5-10 pounds of seed per feeder
- Monitor to see how fast seed is eaten, then adjust amounts
- Refill feeders before they empty to attract birds
- Have extra seed on hand for colder weather when birds eat more
- Offer more seed as bird populations increase in winter
- Buy larger amounts for cost savings, storing excess seed in rodent-proof containers
Buying bird seed in bulk bags from 20-40+ pounds typically offers the best savings. Calculate weekly or monthly seed consumption to determine ideal bulk purchase quantities.
Where to Buy Quality Winter Bird Seed
You can find winter bird seed mixes at most hardware, grocery, and home improvement stores. For the highest quality seed, visit a specialty bird or nature store. Here are some top options for buying bird seed:
- Local bird supply and nature shops
- Hardware stores like Ace Hardware
- Nurseries, garden centers, and farm supply stores
- Big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s
- Pet supply retailers like Petco and PetSmart
- Discount warehouses like Costco and Sam’s Club
- Online specialty bird food websites
Check that the bird seed you buy is fresh, clean, and free of bugs or debris. Also look at the ingredient percentages to evaluate seed quality and nutritional value.
Tips for Feeding Birds Bird Seed in Winter
Follow these tips to get the most out of feeding winter birds:
- Provide multiple feeder types like hopper, tube, ground platform, and suet feeders
- Offer both seeds and suet for energy and fat
- Use quality seed with limited filler ingredients
- Clean feeders regularly to prevent mold and bacteria
- Use feeders with drainage and perches to keep seed dry
- Supply grit like sand or oyster shells for bird digestion
- Situate feeders to provide birds shelter from wind, rain, and snow
- Keep feeders full consistently through winter
With excellent winter bird food and proper feeder care, you can enjoy lively bird activity and bright feathers against the white winter landscape.
Conclusion
Choosing the best bird seed for winter in New York requires getting seed with plenty of fat and calories like black oil sunflower seeds, suet, and peanuts. Quality seed mixtures with limited filler will attract chickadees, cardinals, finches, jays, and other winter birds. Buy seed from specialty bird stores or reputable brands in bulk bags for freshness and savings. With shelter from the elements and well-stocked feeders, you can delight in active backyard birds throughout the long New York winter.
