There's no feeling quite like having a new type of wild bird visit your garden. Even though most of us already know the best way to attract any animal is with food, it can still be tricky to know which foods attract which birds. So, in today's blog, we will be looking at each common UK wild bird and what their preferences are when it comes to food. We'll also be looking at which feeders are most suited to their needs. 

How to Attract Robins?

Starting off with the nation's favourite bird. A Robin will certainly bring excitement into your garden, so it's no surprise it's the specie everyone wants to attract. Its bright red chest makes it the easiest bird to identify, and you can see them all year round. Robins aren't picky with their food and love to eat a variety. You can attract them by using

We've even concocted the ultimate mix of all Robin's favourite foods to give you the best chance at attracting them to your garden. Click here to view the My Robin and Me Mix.

Bird feeders for Robins

Even though you may find a Robin hanging on to a feeder, they're naturally ground feeders and prefer to have something to perch on while feeding. We offer a variety of ground feeders and hanging feeders with large perches, which Robins will enjoy eating from. They particularly like eating from the I Love Robins® Feeder.

How to Attract Goldfinches?

Goldfinches will bring a pop of colour to your garden with their vibrant red face and yellow wings. You won't usually see this bird alone as they like to travel in flocks, and you can enjoy watching them as they will happily sit on feeders while eating for long periods of time if they go undisturbed. You'll know they're in your garden when you hear a peaceful twittering sound. Attract Goldfinches to your garden with:

Bird feeders for Goldfinches

Goldfinches like to sit on something while eating, so a feeder with perches is a must-have in your garden. As they like to travel in large groups, you may favour a feeder with at least 4 ports so the Goldfinches can eat together. If you are putting out Niger Seed, make sure you use a Niger Seed Feeder, as it will hold the tiny black seed with its tiny black ports.

How to Attract Bullfinches

Seeing a Bullfinch in the garden can be a rare occasion as they are one of the shyest birds in the UK. Though, it doesn't mean they can't be enticed in with some food. A go-to for a Bullfinch's meal will be fruit, tree buds, shoots and flowers. So unless you have these natural sources in your garden, you have less chance of seeing them in summer. Come winter, when natural food sources dwindle, your chances of attracting Bullfinches increase as they look for alternative food. Try out these seeds in your garden and see how long it takes until the Bullfinches visit.

Bird feeders for Bullfinches.

Bullfinches will eat with their fellow finches on feeders with perches, and Ring-Pull Click™ Seed Feeder is ideal fo them to eat from.

How to Attract Greenfinches

Just like its fellow Goldfinch family members, Greenfinches will also bring vibrant colours to your garden. Their beautiful green and yellow plumage are hard to miss when flying in your outdoor space. Greenfinches are quite picky when it comes to food, but we've managed to entice them to bird feeders with the below option.

Bird feeders for Greenfinches

Like all finches, Greenfinches like to sit on something for long periods while eating. So feeders with perches are the best option to go for. We find that the Flo Seed Feeder works really well with Greenfinches.

How to Attract Tits

Next, we have the Tit family, who all have similar feeding habits. Though Blue Tits, Great Tits, and Coal Tits are quite common to see in the garden, you may be lucky enough to attract Willow Tits and Marsh Tits with the bird food options below.

Bird feeders for Tits

All Tits can hang from a bird feeder while feeding without any issue. So you're pretty much safe to go for any feeder with or without a perch. They are a particular fan of the Big Easy and Ring-Pull Click feeders.

How to Attract Goldcrests

The Goldcrest takes the crown as the smallest bird in the UK. Because of their tiny size, their tiny bills can only manage small bite-size foods they can chomp down on easily. Which is why they are particularly fond of suet treats they can peck at and control their portions. So here are a few suet treats that will attract Goldcrests into your garden.

Feeders for Goldcrests

Because of the small size of the Goldcrest, they can hang on feeders with ease while eating. So any mesh suet feeder will be fine for them to eat from.   

How to Attract House Sparrows?

The House Sparrow is in serious decline in some parts of Britain, so it's good to always keep them in mind for species to feed. Luckily, House Sparrows aren't so picky, as they'll eat all types of bird food. From tiny seeds to dried insects, put these foods out to help the declining House Sparrow population.

Feeders for House Sparrows

Like Robins, House Sparrows also like a solid ground to stand on while scavenging for food. So ground feeders and hanging feeders with large perches will attract House Sparrows to your garden. Why not try out the UpClose™ Window Feeder so you can get up close and personal with your garden birds.

How to Attract Wrens?

Often mistaken for the UK's smallest bird, the Wren is another tiny bird that also likes the tiny bite size it can handle. Which is why it shares a similar diet with Goldcrests. Attract Wrens into the garden with our premium bird food options

Feeders for Wrens

Unlike its food preferences, Wrens aren't so picky when it comes to bird feeders. Wrens can hang, perch, and stay grounded while they eat, so you are safe with any feeder.

How to Attract Chaffinches?

Another member of the finches family with a whole different colour of plumage. The Chaffinch has pink and blue-grey feathers, with black and white markings on its wings. Even though it's the UK's second most common bird, Chaffinches are very shy, and you may not see them in the garden as much because they’re hiding in the bushes. Entice them out with their favourite food.

Feeders for Chaffinches

Just like any other finch, Chaffinches like to perch on something while eating. The Essential Seed Feeder will be asuitable for them to use.

Why is it important to use different types of bird feeders in the garden?

Before we end the blog, we just wanted to make sure you don't forget an equally important tool...the bird feeder! Bird feeders come in all shapes and sizes, as each species has its own preferences in feeding. If you find yourself not attracting more of a variety of species, it could be down to the feeders not being tailored to your garden bird's needs. If you want to find out more about the different types of bird feeders on the market, check out our Are You Using the Right Bird Feeder blog post.