A low tray that drains
Duncraft Open Air Ground Platform Bird Feeder
17 x 11¼ in and 7 in tall, on a metal mesh floor; holds 5 lb.
Millet for birds
White proso millet is a favorite of ground-feeding birds: doves, juncos, native sparrows, towhees and cardinals. Scatter only what they finish in a day, or use a low tray that drains. Red and golden millet are mostly filler, and where cowbirds and house sparrows crowd in, switch to black-oil sunflower.
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Under a hanging feeder
Birds Choice Seed Catcher Platform Feeder, Medium
A 20 x 15.5 in tray with draining screens that catches what falls from above.
A hanging tray
Duncraft Eco-Strong Platform Feeder
12 in square with a metal mesh floor that drains; up to 2 lb.
A commission never decides the picks. How we choose.
Who eats it
11 of the 27 common feeder birds on our seed chart take it, according to Project FeederWatch. Birds in your area vary by region and season.
3 more feeders
Birds Choice · Platform feeder
Small Hanging Platform Feeder
A small hanging tray for cardinals, jays, doves and juncos, with a mesh floor that drains.
Keep in mind: An open tray collects droppings: scrape it daily and wash it every week or two.
Brome · Platform feeder
BirdsUP Seed Catcher Tray
- Comes apart to clean
Catches what falls from the feeder above and feeds the ground birds on a tray instead.
Keep in mind: Needs Brome’s BirdsUP Single Pole.
Duncraft · Platform feeder
Large Ground Platform Bird Feeder
- Holds 5 lb
Doves, juncos, sparrows and towhees that feed on the ground, with room for seed, seed blocks, fruit or suet cakes.
Keep in mind: Food on an open tray at ground level is within easy reach of squirrels and other animals too.
White proso millet
White millet is a favorite of ground-feeding birds: quail, native sparrows, doves, towhees, juncos and cardinals. Juncos even choose it over sunflower. It is usually scattered on the ground, which works well as long as you put out no more than the birds eat in a day; a low tray with good drainage is another good place for it.
When to stop
Cowbirds, other blackbirds and house sparrows like millet just as much. Where they gather, Cornell advises not using it: nearly every bird that comes for millet also eats black-oil sunflower.
Red and golden millet
Red millet and golden millet are fillers in cheap mixes, and most birds shun them. The seed they sort out and leave grows bacteria and mold that spoil the fresh seed sooner, so read the ingredients and skip mixes heavy in them.
References
| Source |
|---|
| Feeding Birds: a Quick Guide to Seed Types ↗ |
| Mourning Dove: Backyard Tips ↗ |
| Dark-eyed Junco: Life History ↗ |
| Common Feeder Birds ↗ |