Dark-eyed Juncos have ARRIVED...  Juncos are the "snowbirds of the midwest"  Neat, flashy little sparrows that flit about on the ground in the winter.  To attract Juncos to your backyards, put out millet, sunflower chips, and cracked corn.  Try our custom seed mix called "Connection Special", it has everything the Juncos LOVE...

WOODPECKERS...  We have four different Woodpeckers that you can see at your feeders this winter.  Hairy Woodpecker (short bill), Hairy Woodpecker (longer bill),  Red-bellied Woodpecker (red is on top of his head, not belly), and the Northern Flicker (large, black collar underneath his neck).

BEST FOODS for ATTRACTING WOODPECKERS
1.  SUET
Woodpeckers aren't picky.  Suet with peanuts, nuts, seed, insects or fruit.  A basic suet cage feeder is inexpensive and suet cakes fit right in.  My personal choice is a Log Suet Feeder.  2. PEANUT PIECES & PEANUTS IN SHELL - You can place peanuts on a tray or specialty Woodpecker Feeder.  My favorites are feeders by Birds Choice for both shelled peanuts and peanuts in the shell.  3.  SUNFLOWERS IN & OUT OF THE SHELL - Most birds love sunflowers (especially Sunflower Hearts).

How do I attract CHICKADEES to my feeders?
Some of the favorite foods include Peanuts (or peanut pieces) and Suet.  CHICKADEES love PEANUT BUTTER (check out our Peanut Butter feeders at Wild Bird Connection).  Spread peanut butter into crevices of tree bark or insert into holes on a hanging log feeder or pine cone... Favorite Seed is Black Oil Sunflower Seeds.  Chickadees grab one seed at a time, then fly to a branch away from the feeder to pound open the shell to get at the kernel inside.  Chickadees will visit all feeders, but a tube feeder with black oil sunflowers seems to be their favorite.

White-Breasted & Red-Breasted Nuthatches.
They are the only birds in our area that are equally adept at going either direction on a tree trunk.  At my feeder, each Nuthatch seems to take great care in finding the perfect seed, than flies to a tree limb, places the seed in a crevice, and hacks open the shell.  Favorite foods are black oil sunflowers, suet, peanuts, and seed blocks.

Create a natural habitat in your backyard.

Because of their intelligence and big personality, Blue Jays are one of the most interesting and entertaining species that I enjoy watching in my backyard. It’s fun seeing them at my feeders, but I also like observing them mob invading birds of prey, imitating hawks, and flying back and forth taking peanuts out of my Peanut Wreath Ring Feeder.  They love Peanuts in the Shell, Peanuts Shelled, & Black-Oil Sunflowers.  Provide a feeder with plenty of room.  Tray and Hopper Feeders work well, but my favorite is the Peanut Wreath Ring Feeder.