Bird Seed: Cracked Corn

Cracked corn is a versatile, inexpensive bird seed that appeals to a variety of birds. Only oil sunflower attracts as many desirable species in my opinion. Cardinals, jays, sparrows, juncos, doves, blackbirds, grackles, crows, ducks, geese and turkeys all feed on cracked corn. It can be scattered on the ground since most of the species eating it are ground feeders. I also mix it in my hopper feeder in the spring to extend my seed mix. Blue jays are great at pushing the cracked corn over the edge of the feeder to get at sunflower seeds and by doing so help push the corn out to the ground-feeding birds below. It makes for a great auto-feeding situation.

Soon we will have many different sparrow species and large flocks of blackbirds visiting our feeder in Minnesota. I especially love the return of the red-wing blackbirds. It is truly more of a sign of spring returning here then seeing robins as robins can over winter in Minnesota and don’t have the reliable timing like the red-wings do. A backyard feeder, preferably stocked with cracked corn in the mix, will help to point out that first of the year spring red-wing right upon arrival.

Red-wing blackbirds, grackles and a wood duck eating up the cracked corn beneath the hopper feeder.

A female wood duck competes with common grackles for food. It is easy to take grackles for granted until you see them up close in their breeding plumage.

Cracked corn is in high demand after a spring snowstorm.