Why You Should Feed Wild Birds Year-Round — And How to Do It Right

Most people think of bird feeding as a winter hobby — something you do when the weather turns cold and the birds need a little extra help. But if you're only filling your feeders in winter, you're missing the best parts of the year. Spring migration brings species you'll never see any other time. Summer is when you get to watch nesting pairs raise their young. Fall is another wave of migrants passing through. And yes, winter feeding matters too — but it's just one chapter of a much richer story.

At Agri Feed Pet Supply, we carry one of the most complete wild bird feeding selections in Knoxville — from premium seed blends to specialty feeders, bird baths, houses, and more. Here's why year-round feeding is worth it, and how to set yourself up for success at every season.

The Birds You Can Expect to See in East Tennessee

Knoxville sits in a remarkable spot for backyard birding. The Tennessee Valley and surrounding ridges funnel an impressive variety of species through our area across all four seasons. Some of the most beloved regulars you can attract with the right setup:

• Northern Cardinals — Year-round residents and one of the most sought-after backyard birds. Males are unmistakable in red; females are subtler but equally beautiful. They love safflower and sunflower.
• American Goldfinches — Present year-round but dramatically more colorful in summer when males turn bright yellow. Thistle (nyjer) seed and sunflower chips are their favorites.
• Carolina Chickadees & Tufted Titmice — Friendly, bold little birds that will visit feeders daily and occasionally eat right from your hand. Love sunflower chips and peanuts.
• Eastern Bluebirds — One of East Tennessee's most beloved species. They don't visit seed feeders — but they go absolutely wild for mealworms (more on that below).
• Downy & Red-Bellied Woodpeckers — Regular visitors to suet feeders and peanut offerings year-round.
• Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds — Our only hummingbird species, arriving in April and staying through September. Worth keeping a nectar feeder up for the whole season.
• Dark-Eyed Juncos — Winter visitors that arrive in October and leave in spring. Love millet and ground feeding.

Song of America: Premium Seed Blends Built for Real Results

The seed blend you choose matters more than most people realize. Cheap grocery store mixes are loaded with filler seeds — milo, oats, wheat — that most birds toss aside and leave to rot on the ground. A quality blend puts the seeds birds actually want front and center, which means less waste, less mess, and more birds.

We carry the full Song of America line at both Agri Feed locations, including one blend you won't find anywhere else:

• Classic Buffet — Our exclusive blend, available only at Agri Feed Pet Supply. A carefully balanced mix designed to attract the widest variety of backyard birds in our region. If you want one bag that does it all, this is it.
• Premium Black Oil Sunflower — The single best seed for attracting the greatest variety of birds. Cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, finches, and woodpeckers all love it.
• Sunflower Chips — No shell, no mess, no waste. Every piece gets eaten. Great for feeders on decks or patios where cleanup matters.
• Finch Feast — A thistle and fine sunflower chip blend that goldfinches and pine siskins go crazy for. Best used in a tube feeder designed for small seeds.
• Safflower — Cardinals love it. Squirrels and starlings generally don't. A great option if you're dealing with unwanted visitors at your feeders.
• Shelled Peanuts — A favorite of woodpeckers, blue jays, and chickadees. High fat and protein content makes them especially valuable in winter.
• Flamin' Fiesta Blend — A spicy blend that birds love and squirrels avoid. Contains red pepper, shelled peanuts, and sunflower chips.
• Clinger's Charms — A premium no-waste blend made with shelled peanuts, sunflower chips, and a mix of tree nuts including pecans, almonds, walnuts, and more. With 18% protein and 32% fat, it's one of the most nutrient-dense blends on the shelf — and because there are no shells, no corn, and no filler seeds like milo or millet, every single piece gets eaten. Nothing ends up on the ground to rot. Designed specifically for clinging birds — woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, and titmice — but also draws blue jays, wrens, and cardinals. Works beautifully in specialty clinging feeders, suet-style cages, and upside-down feeders. Available in 5 lb and 20 lb bags.

Mr. Bird: The Best Seed Cylinders, Cakes & Bells Available

Mr. Bird products are some of our most popular items in the bird department — and once you try them, it's easy to see why. Their cylinders, cakes, and bells are compressed seed and suet products that last significantly longer than loose seed in a traditional feeder, hold up well in rain, and attract a remarkable variety of species.

We carry an extensive Mr. Bird selection at both locations, including:

• Wild Feast — Their flagship cake. A premium blend of tree nuts, black oil sunflower, sunflower hearts, and a dash of white millet packed into a suet-sized cake that's irresistible to a wide variety of birds. No mess and never melts — a great year-round option.
• Woodpecker Feast — A rich blend of tree nuts, peanuts, raisins, and black oil sunflower that keeps woodpeckers and other nut-loving birds coming back for more.
• Flaming Hot Feast — A spicy formula built around sunflower hearts, peanuts, golden safflower, and mealworms with an extra-hot pepper kick. Birds love it; squirrels and other unwanted visitors generally don't. Note: contains a strong hot pepper irritant — wash hands thoroughly after handling and keep out of reach of children.
• Bug, Nut & Fruit Feast — A crowd-pleasing blend of mealworms, pecans, sunflower hearts, raisins, and cranberries that draws an amazing variety of species. If you want to attract bluebirds, wrens, and fruit-loving birds alongside your regulars, this is the one to try.
• Safflower Feast — 100% pure safflower. Cardinals, grosbeaks, and house finches love it — while squirrels, grackles, sparrows, and starlings generally pass it by. One of the best options for keeping your feeders for the birds you actually want.
• Burning Love — Hearts on fire! Sunflower hearts loved by a wide variety of birds, combined with hot pepper to repel squirrels. No hulls means no mess around your feeder — a clean, effective, and popular option.

Mr. Bird cylinders and cakes come in both small and large sizes, and we also carry their feeders, rain guards, and squirrel shields to complete your setup.

Don't Forget the Bluebirds

Eastern Bluebirds are one of the most rewarding birds you can attract to your yard, and one of the best and easiest ways to bring them in is by offering their favorite foods. In the wild, insects make up a primary part of the bluebird diet — which is why mealworms are so effective. We carry both live and dried mealworms at Agri Feed Pet Supply. Mealworms are a healthy, high-fat, high-protein food that bluebirds love, and you can offer them on their own in a simple open dish or platform feeder, or mix dried mealworms right in with your seed.

Beyond mealworms, bluebirds are also drawn to sunflower chips and hearts (without the shell), shelled peanuts, fruits and berries, and suet. We carry sunflower chips and shelled peanuts at both locations — both are excellent additions to a bluebird-friendly feeding setup and will bring in plenty of other species as well.

Everything Else You Need

A great bird feeding setup is more than just seed. We carry everything you need to build a backyard habitat that birds will return to year after year:

• Feeders — Tube feeders, hopper feeders, platform feeders, suet cages, nyjer feeders, and more
• Bird Baths — Clean, fresh water is just as important as food. Birds need it for drinking and bathing year-round
• Bird Houses & Nest Boxes — Support nesting bluebirds, wrens, chickadees, and other cavity-nesting species
• Shepherd's Hooks & Bird Feeding Systems — A variety of mounting and hanging options to display your feeders at the right height and in the right spot for maximum bird activity
• Squirrel Shields & Baffles — Protect your feeders and keep the seed where it belongs
• Rain Guards — Keep seed dry and fresh longer, especially important in Tennessee's humid summers

Come See Us

Whether you're setting up your first feeder or expanding a backyard habitat you've been building for years, our team is happy to help you find the right seed, feeder, and setup for your yard and the birds you want to attract. Stop in at either Agri Feed Pet Supply location in Knoxville — we'd love to talk birds with you.

Middlebrook Pike: 5716 Middlebrook Pike | (865) 584-3959
Kingston Pike: 10420 Kingston Pike Suite C | (865) 691-7787
Shop online: agrifeedpetsupply.com | Local delivery available | Nationwide shipping