Cracked corn: which birds eat it
Cracked corn is a cheap seed that attracts mourning doves, blue jays, juncos, quail and sparrows, and it also draws house sparrows, blackbirds and geese. The key safety point is to offer only what disappears in a day, because wet or mouldy corn is dangerous to birds.
Cheap, but draws crowds. Cracked kernel.
Which birds does cracked corn attract?
| Bird | Where it feeds | Best feeder |
|---|---|---|
| Mourning Doves | Ground or tray | Platform or tray feeder |
| Blue Jays | Ground or tray | Platform or tray feeder |
| Juncos | Ground or tray | Ground tray |
| Quail | Ground or tray | Ground tray |
| Native Sparrows | Ground or tray | Ground tray |
How do you feed cracked corn?
| Feeder | Ground tray, Platform or tray feeder |
|---|---|
| Squirrels | Loved by squirrels, deer and raccoons |
| Mess | Rots fast when wet |
| Storage | Keep dry; wet corn grows aflatoxin mould |
Feeders that suit cracked corn
Budget ranges are a guide; the button shows the current price on Amazon.
Do birds eat dried corn, or does it have to be cracked?
Whole dried kernels are too big for most feeder birds. Blue jays, crows, grackles, wild turkeys, pheasants, ducks and geese swallow or hammer whole corn; cardinals and larger sparrows cannot. Cracking the kernel into pieces is what opens it up to mourning doves, juncos, towhees, quail and sparrows, which is why cracked corn, not whole, is the one to put in a tray. Cracked corn also spoils faster once wet, so put out only a day's worth.
Cracked corn for doves is one of its best uses: mourning doves and white-winged doves pick it off a ground tray or low platform all year, and in the Southwest it also brings Inca doves and quail to the same spot. Keep the tray clean, since doves feed in crowds and droppings on wet corn spread disease quickly.
Sources
- Which birds take corn: the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Project FeederWatch food guidance and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service backyard feeding notes.
Other seed and food types
Black oil sunflower · Striped sunflower · Sunflower hearts and chips · Safflower · Nyjer (thistle) · White proso millet · Milo (sorghum) · Shelled peanuts · Peanuts in the shell · Suet and suet dough · Mealworms · Fruit (oranges, apples, berries) · Grape jelly · Nectar (sugar water) · Mixed seed blends
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After the checklist, a few short emails, then a couple a month at most. Unsubscribe anytime.Frequently asked questions
Do birds eat dried corn?
Large birds do: jays, crows, grackles, wild turkeys, pheasants, ducks and geese take whole dried kernels. Smaller feeder birds such as doves, juncos, sparrows and towhees need it cracked into pieces first, which is why cracked corn is the form sold for backyard feeding.
Is cracked corn good for doves?
Yes. Mourning doves and white-winged doves are the most reliable takers of cracked corn on a ground tray or low platform, year round. Offer only what disappears in a day and keep the tray dry, because wet corn moulds fast.
What birds eat cracked corn?
mourning doves, blue jays, juncos, quail and sparrows are the main takers. Offer only what disappears in a day. Wet, mouldy corn is dangerous to birds. Also attracts house sparrows, blackbirds and geese. Offering it in a ground tray gives the birds that want it easy access without spilling it for the ones that do not.
Do squirrels eat cracked corn?
Loved by squirrels, deer and raccoons. Put it on a smooth pole with a baffle 4 to 5 feet up, at least 10 feet from anything squirrels can jump from, or use a weight-activated feeder.
How should I store cracked corn?
Keep dry; wet corn grows aflatoxin mould. Keep any seed in a sealed metal can in a cool, dry place so mice, insects and moisture cannot reach it. Throw out anything that smells musty, clumps or shows mould, since mouldy food can make birds sick.
What feeder is best for cracked corn?
ground tray and platform or tray feeder. A low mesh tray a few inches off the ground keeps seed out of wet soil. Matching the feeder to the food matters: the wrong ports either jam or pour the food out onto the ground.
Is cracked corn messy?
Rots fast when wet. Cracked kernel. If mess under the feeder is a concern, hulled foods such as sunflower hearts leave nothing behind, and a seed tray under the feeder catches most of what is dropped.
