The type of feed you use will have an impact on the types of birds you will attract.  The following is a list of seeds and feeding tips from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  The types of birds that you will attract will also depend on the species native to your geographic region.

Sunflower seeds: grosbeaks, cardinals, titmice, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and finches.

Cracked corn: doves, jays, cardinals, towhees, juncos, native sparrows, woodpeckers, house sparrows, blackbirds, and quail.

Thistle (Niger) seed: goldfinches, siskings, redpolls, and other finches.

Millets and small seed mixtures: cardinals, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, woodpeckers, native sparrows, finches, juncos, towhees, and blackbirds.

Shelled peanuts: jays, woodpeckers, cardinals, grosbeaks, titmice, chickadees, and nuthatches. .

Assorted pieces of fruit (including raisins): mockingbirds, waxwings, robins, orioles and starlings.

Other foods that certain species relish include: worms, some vegetables, bakery products, cheese, chopped hard-boiled eggs, coconut meat, hominy, peppers, pumpkin and squash seeds.

A single food type usually does not provide an adequate nutritive variety. Therefore, a thoughtful blend developed for the specialized needs of the local wildlife should be available. An experimental feeder with several trays of different foods is one way of letting the birds select their own menu preferences. Bakery products maybe popular with some birds but provide little nutritive value. At best, they do a good job of attracting birds to the feeder where the conscientious operator will offer a range of nutritionally rich foods.

Careful planners can save money by buying each food type separately and in bulk quantities. Bags up to fifty pounds usually are available at feed and grain stores and often through various environmental organizations. Premixed packages may attract some buyers as they usually provide a blend of millets, milo, wheat, sunflowers and sometimes other ingredients. The cheapest packages usually are of poor quality, attracting the fewest number of birds and containing many materials that are not eaten.

One thing in addition to food that seed-eating birds need is grit. Coarse sand is an excellent source of grit and it can be mixed directly in with the food or made available at a separate location. Crushed eggshells act as a grinding agent and also provide a needed source of calcium, which is in great demand during the spring months as birds are preparing to lay their eggs. Before setting the egg shells out be sure to bake them in the oven for 30 minutes to remove harmful bacteria.