6 Best Fruit And Nut Bird Seed For Migratory Birds Old Birders Swear By
Fueling migration is crucial. We reveal the 6 best fruit and nut seed blends that veteran birders trust to nourish and attract birds on their journey.
You’ve seen it happen in the fall. One day the feeders are quiet, the next they’re swarmed by birds you haven’t seen all summer, fueling up with a frantic energy before vanishing just as quickly. Those are the migrants, and their journey is one of the most demanding feats in the natural world. Providing the right fuel at your feeding station can make a real difference, and for these travelers, nothing beats the high-octane combination of fruit and nuts.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!
Why Migratory Birds Crave Fruit and Nut Mixes
Migration is a marathon, and birds can’t stop at a convenience store for a power bar. They need dense, high-calorie foods that provide sustained energy for long flights. Nuts and seeds, particularly high-fat ones like sunflower kernels and peanuts, are the perfect slow-burn fuel.
Think of it like stocking a pantry for a long winter. The fats are stored and metabolized over hundreds of miles. Fruits like raisins, cherries, and cranberries offer a different benefit: a quick hit of sugar. This provides the immediate energy burst needed for takeoff or for pushing through a final leg of the journey.
A good fruit and nut mix essentially mimics the natural foraging opportunities these birds seek out. They’re looking for late-season berries and fallen nuts to build their reserves. By offering a concentrated source, you’re creating a reliable and vital refueling stop along a perilous superhighway in the sky.
Kaytee Nut & Fruit Blend for Attracting Orioles
Kaytee is a name you see everywhere, and for good reason. Their Nut & Fruit Blend is a solid, accessible choice that does an especially good job of pulling in birds that might otherwise ignore a standard seed mix. If you’re trying to attract orioles, grosbeaks, or even mockingbirds, this is a great place to start.
The mix is heavy on peanuts, sunflower seeds, and a variety of dried fruits. The combination of fat, protein, and sugar is a magnet for birds that have a varied diet. It’s a true crowd-pleaser and works well in a platform feeder where birds can pick through to find their favorite bits.
The main tradeoff here is its broad appeal. While it attracts the good stuff, it can also be very popular with starlings and grackles. It’s a fantastic "gateway" mix into fruit and nut feeding, but you may need to be strategic with your feeder placement to manage the less-desirable visitors.
Lyric Fruit & Nut Mix: A High-Energy Option
If you’re looking to offer a premium meal, the Lyric Fruit & Nut Mix is the one. This is a high-energy, no-waste blend that’s packed with the good stuff and none of the filler. You’ll notice the difference the moment you open the bag.
The ingredient list reads like a gourmet trail mix for birds: shelled pistachios, almonds, pecans, sunflower kernels, cranberries, and raisins. The key here is "shell-free." This means less mess under your feeder and more immediate, accessible energy for the birds. They don’t have to waste precious time and calories cracking shells.
Let’s be honest, this is not the cheapest option on the shelf. You’re paying for quality ingredients and the convenience of a no-mess formula. I see it as a special-occasion feed, perfect for putting out during the peak weeks of spring and fall migration when you want to give those long-distance travelers the absolute best fuel you can.
Wild Delight Nut N’ Berry for Fall Migrants
When autumn air gets crisp, I often turn to Wild Delight Nut N’ Berry. This blend feels specifically formulated for the needs of fall migrants who are desperately trying to pack on fat reserves for the journey south. It’s a rich, dense mix that birds hit hard.
It’s loaded with sunflower kernels, peanuts, and safflower, but also includes pistachios and raisins. What sets it apart is that it’s fortified with vitamins and minerals. Some purists scoff at this, but for birds under the stress of migration, a little extra nutritional support can’t hurt.
This blend is a fantastic all-rounder for the season. It pulls in the expected woodpeckers, nuthatches, and cardinals, but also seems to be a favorite of late-season bluebirds and robins who are tempted by the fruit. It’s a great choice if you want to run just one high-quality mix in your feeders from September through November.
Wagner’s Songbird Supreme for Woodpeckers
While not strictly a "fruit and nut" mix in the same way as others, Wagner’s Songbird Supreme is a workhorse blend that’s heavy on the nuts and seeds that migratory woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees rely on. If your goal is to support these specific birds, this mix is hard to beat for its value and effectiveness.
The formula is straightforward and effective: a high percentage of black oil sunflower seed, peanuts, and safflower. This high-fat content is exactly what a Downy Woodpecker or a Red-breasted Nuthatch needs to fuel up. It provides the core nutrition these birds are seeking without a lot of extra frills.
This is a foundational blend. You can offer it on its own or use it as a base, mixing in a separate handful of dried cherries or cranberries to broaden its appeal. It’s a reliable, no-nonsense option that keeps the most beloved feeder birds coming back.
Audubon Park Songbird Selections Blend
Audubon Park offers a blend that hits a sweet spot between quality, price, and purpose. The Songbird Selections Nut, Fruit & Berry blend is a solid, mid-range choice that you can feel good about buying. It’s a dependable mix that attracts a wide variety of birds.
The ingredients are what you’d expect: sunflower, safflower, peanuts, and various dried fruits. It’s a balanced formula that provides both fat and sugar, making it appealing to everything from finches and cardinals to more specialized fruit-eaters. It’s a great option for keeping your feeders stocked without breaking the bank.
For many folks, the name on the bag matters. Buying a product licensed by the National Audubon Society connects your backyard hobby to a larger conservation mission. While the blend itself is excellent, knowing that your purchase supports avian research and habitat protection adds another layer of satisfaction.
Pennington Ultra Songbird Nut & Fruit Blend
Pennington is another major brand that delivers a consistent, effective product. Their Ultra Songbird Nut & Fruit Blend is designed for broad appeal and is fortified with vitamins and minerals to support bird health. It’s a very accessible option you can find in most garden and hardware stores.
This blend is packed with sunflower seeds, peanuts, and dried fruit, providing a good balance of energy sources. Like the Wild Delight mix, it includes Pennington’s "Bird-Kote" vitamin supplement. This makes it a complete nutritional source, which is especially beneficial during the stressful migration period.
The primary consideration with this blend is to check the specific ingredient list, as some formulations can contain more millet or milo than others. While these aren’t bad seeds, they aren’t the high-energy ingredients that migratory birds are specifically seeking. It’s a strong contender, but best when the nut and fruit content is high.
Best Feeder Types for Fruit and Nut Mixes
You can buy the best seed in the world, but it’s useless if the birds can’t get to it. Fruit and nut mixes are chunky, and they will clog standard tube feeders in a heartbeat. The right feeder is non-negotiable.
Your best bet is a platform feeder or a tray feeder. These open-concept feeders allow birds of all sizes to land and easily pick out the pieces they want. They also prevent the mix from getting gummed up or moldy, as long as you have good drainage and don’t overfill them, especially before a rain.
Hopper feeders can also work, but there’s a catch. You need to ensure the openings at the bottom of the feeder are large enough to dispense the mix. If the ports are too small, the larger peanuts and dried cherries will create a logjam, and the feeder will stop flowing. When in doubt, go with a platform feeder—it’s the most reliable and versatile option for these rich, chunky blends.
Ultimately, choosing the right blend comes down to observing who is visiting your property and when. You’re not just putting out food; you’re managing a critical refueling station on an ancient migratory route. By offering these high-energy fruit and nut mixes, you become a key partner in one of nature’s most incredible journeys, one backyard at a time.
