Bird Food

Support your garden birds all year round with the best quality bird food blended for every season. From fledglings in spring to energy-rich winter mixes, our expertly curated blends and recleaned seeds help birds thrive no matter the weather. Discover the best bird food for your feeders and the changing needs of birds, from summer protein to winter calories.

For the best bird food read on...
Robin on a wicker basket full of bird food
Ark Hearty™ Mixes Peanuts Sunflower Seeds Suet

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  • Standard Peanut Kernels; Attract more birds with quality peanut kernels; Woodpeckers love peanut kernels; Keep squirrels off peanuts for birds

    Classic Peanut Kernels

    From £5.25
    From £5.25
    • Classic Mixed Crops: but always premium oil content
    • Natural: perfectly misshapen and varied in size
    • Quality-checked: free from aflatoxins and bird safe
  • Ark No Mess Feeder Mix for birds Chaffinch eating ark no mess bird feeder mix
    BEST SELLER

    Ark No Mess Feeder Mix

    From £5.05
    From £5.05
    £0.00
    • Popular: our bestselling no mess feeder mix
    • High-quality: high oil and protein mix
    • Versatile: attractive to all birds in your garden
  • Ark Suet Balls with Insects; Bowl of Ark Suet Balls; Feeding Ark Suet Balls in the garden Ark Suet Balls with Insects; Bowl of Ark Suet Balls; Feeding Ark Suet Balls in the garden

    Ark Suet Balls with Insects

    From £4.99
    From £4.99
    • All-rounder: a delicious treat for garden birds throughout the year
    • Protein-packed: with added dried insects for a healthy boost
    • Quality: over 27.5% fat content – much higher than most standard retailers
  • Premium Sunflower Hearts; Premium Sunflower Hearts; Blue Tit sunflower Seeds; Blue tit and nuthatch on sunflower hearts Premium Sunflower Hearts; Premium Sunflower Hearts; Blue Tit sunflower Seeds; Blue tit and nuthatch on sunflower hearts
    BEST SELLER

    Premium Sunflower Hearts

    From £4.90
    From £4.90
    • High-quality: are of the finest bakery grade, with an additional clean and filter
    • Energising: rich in oil for that beneficial boost
    • Versatile: enjoyed by every bird that will visit your garden
  • Standard Sunflower Hearts; Greenfinch on sunflower hearts; Chaffinch enjoying Standard Sunflower Hearts Standard Sunflower Hearts; Greenfinch on sunflower hearts; Chaffinch enjoying Standard Sunflower Hearts

    Classic Sunflower Hearts

    From £4.25
    From £4.25
    • Extra value: the same great nutrition at a more competitive price
    • Nutritious: the same high-oil bakery grade seeds with just a few more broken bits
    • Well-liked: universally enjoyed by garden birds in feeders, bird tables or scattered on the ground
  • Premium 90g Fat Balls for Birds; Blue tits feeding on fat balls; Blue tits feeding on fat balls Premium 90g Fat Balls for Birds; Blue tits feeding on fat balls; Blue tits feeding on fat balls

    Ark Premium Fat Balls

    From £4.95
    From £4.95
    • Exceptional: with higher fat content than other suppliers for a softer consistency
    • High Fat Content: The `fat` in a fat ball is what gives birds energy. The more the better!
    • Versatile: attracts a variety of wild birds to your garden
  • Wild Bird Food; Dunnock clearing the scraps of wild bird food off the floor under a bird table; Jackdaw eating wild bird food from a ground feeder Wild Bird Food; Dunnock clearing the scraps of wild bird food off the floor under a bird table; Jackdaw eating wild bird food from a ground feeder

    Ark Classic Wild Bird Food

    From £3.75
    From £3.75
    • Versatile: suitable all year round and for a variety of birds
    • High-quality: premium ingredients
    • Caring: designed to keep birds healthy
  • Dried Mealworms; Dried Mealworms; Starlings feeding on Dried Mealworms Black Bird on a glass dish filled with dried mealworms

    Dried Mealworms

    From £4.50
    From £4.50
    • Energising: provides the same high levels of energy as live insects
    • Protein-packed: a highly valuable source of protein for insect-eating garden birds
    • Versatile: a tasty and appealing treat for a range of wild birds
  • Ark Robin Friendly Premium bird food Female blackbird tucking in to ark premium robin bird food

    Ark Robin Friendly Premium

    From £5.60
    From £5.60
    • Caring: zero fillers for maximum nutrition
    • Popular: attracts robins and other songbirds to your garden
    • Nutritious: sunflower seeds, peanuts and raisins give an energy boost
  • Ark Insect Suet Pellets; Ark Insect Suet Pellets being enjoyed by a Robin; Ark Insect Suet Pellets enjoyed by this Blackbird Ark Insect Suet Pellets; Ark Insect Suet Pellets being enjoyed by a Robin; Ark Insect Suet Pellets enjoyed by this Blackbird

    Ark Insect Suet Pellets

    From £4.50
    From £4.50
    • Wholesome: packed with energy and protein for a filling meal
    • High-quality: made with 100% quality natural ingredients
    • Fledgling-friendly: ideal for baby birds in spring and summer time
  • Ark Hearty Mealworm Mix; A chaffinch enjoying Ark Hearty Mealworm Mix from an Onxy Seed Feeder; Ark Hearty Mealworm Mix being enjoyed by a Coal Tit, from an Onxy Seed Feeder Ark Hearty Mealworm Mix; A chaffinch enjoying Ark Hearty Mealworm Mix from an Onxy Seed Feeder; Ark Hearty Mealworm Mix being enjoyed by a Coal Tit, from an Onxy Seed Feeder

    Ark Hearty™ Mealworm Mix

    From £5.55
    From £5.55
    £0.00
    • High-quality: premium mealworm mix with extra protein
    • Versatile: suitable for year-round use
    • Caring: wheat free with zero fillers
  • Ark Winter Warmer Bird Food; Jackdaw Feeding; Robin on Ark Bird Food; Feeding Birds in Winter Ark Winter Warmer Bird Food; Jackdaw Feeding; Robin on Ark Bird Food; Feeding Birds in Winter

    Ark Winter Warmer Mix

    From £5.85
    From £5.85
    • Caring: provides birds with energy in the colder months
    • High-quality: only the best ingredients make our mixes
    • Popular: entices winter wildlife into your garden
  • Ark Mixed Suet Pellets for Birds; Dunnock eating berry pellets; Blackbird eating insect pellets; Robin eating insect pellets Ark Mixed Suet Pellets for Birds; Dunnock eating berry pellets; Blackbird eating insect pellets; Robin eating insect pellets

    Ark Mixed MultiPack Suet Pellets

    From £12.50
    From £12.50
    • Nutritious: packed with high-energy and protein for a more filling meal
    • 100% natural: made with only the highest quality natural ingredients
    • Flavoursome: a variety of tasty flavours to keep birds intrigued during feeds
  • Ark Insectivore Food; Hedgehogs eating Ark Insectivore Food; Fieldfare eating Ark Insectivore Food; Nuthatch eating Ark Insectivore Food Ark Insectivore Food; Hedgehogs eating Ark Insectivore Food; Fieldfare eating Ark Insectivore Food; Nuthatch eating Ark Insectivore Food
    Fortified with Calcium

    Ark Insectivore Food

    From £6.30
    From £6.30
    • Nourishing: fortified with protein, calcium and probiotics for bird health
    • Wildlife-focused: help insect eaters when their natural food is scarce
    • Versatile: a highly palatable food supplement for insect eating birds and mammals
  • Ark Hearty Suet Mix Blackbird eating ark hearty suet mix

    Ark Hearty™ Suet Mix

    From £5.40
    From £5.40
    £0.00
    • Versatile: attracts a variety of birds
    • High-quality: we use only the most premium seeds
    • Caring: no fillers as these offer no nutritional value
  • Ark Mealworm Suet Pellets; Young Blackbird enjoying mealworm suet pellets; Ark Mealworm Suet Pellets Ark Mealworm Suet Pellets; Young Blackbird enjoying mealworm suet pellets; Ark Mealworm Suet Pellets

    Ark Mealworm Suet Pellets

    From £4.50
    From £4.50
    • Versatile: suitable for all year round feeding
    • High-quality: made from 100% premium ingredients
    • Nutritious: high energy and protein
  • Mealwom and suet filled coconut halves for birds Coconut Bird Feeder - Suet with Mealworms

    Coconut Bird Feeder - Suet with Mealworms

    From £1.99
    From £1.99
    • Nutritious: Half coconut shell packed with suet and mealworms
    • Supportive: 100% Biodegradable
    • Easy To Use: Quick, clean and simple - individually packed including hanger
  • Ark Premium Wild Bird Food Robin enjoying Ark Premium Wild Bird Food

    Ark Premium Wild Bird Food

    From £4.60
    From £4.60
    • Premium table mix: to attract the widest range of species to your garden
    • Packed: with high energy seeds
    • Bring: the widest variety of birds to your garden
  • Ark Berry Suet Pellets; Ark Berry Suet Pellets Dunnock eating pellets mixed with Ark No Mess Feeder Mix; Ark Berry Suet Pellets Robin eating Berry Pellets from a compact feeding tray; Ark Berry Suet Pellets Robin enjoying berry pellets from a ground feeding tray Ark Berry Suet Pellets; Ark Berry Suet Pellets Dunnock eating pellets mixed with Ark No Mess Feeder Mix; Ark Berry Suet Pellets Robin eating Berry Pellets from a compact feeding tray; Ark Berry Suet Pellets Robin enjoying berry pellets from a ground feeding tray

    Ark Berry Suet Pellets

    From £4.50
    From £4.50
    • Versatile: suitable for all year round feeding
    • High-quality: made from 100% premium ingredients
    • Nutritious: high energy and protein
  • Peanut Granules

    Peanut Granules

    From £6.00
    From £6.00
    • High-quality: made of the freshest peanut kernels on the market
    • Bite-sized: suitable for small species of birds and fledglings
    • Tested and tasty: completely free from aflatoxins and bird safe
  • Niger Seed; Redpoll on Niger Seed Feeder; Siskin on Niger Seed Feeder; Golfinch on Niger Seed Feeder Niger Seed; Redpoll on Niger Seed Feeder; Siskin on Niger Seed Feeder; Golfinch on Niger Seed Feeder

    Niger Seed

    From £5.30
    From £5.30
    • 100% natural: packed with only the highest quality, nutritious ingredients
    • Enticing: goldfinches are renowned for their love for niger seeds
    • Nutritious: always with premium oil and high protein content
  • Calcium Worms Dried Calcium Worms

    Dried Calcium Worms

    From £3.95
    From £3.95
    • Nutritious: excellent source of protein and calcium
    • Versatile: perfect for table, ground and seed feeders
    • Appealing: attract more insectivore birds to gardens
  • Ark Summer Support Mix Robin eating Ark Summer Support Mix

    Ark Summer Support Mix

    From £5.90
    From £5.90
    • Nutritious: Increased protein and calcium content to support the birds through the breeding season
    • Supportive: Gives the birds the best prospect of breeding and fledging successfully
    • Versatile: Perfect for table & ground feeding
  • Premium Peanuts for birds; Blue tit enjoying peanut kernels; Attract more birds with high quality peanuts; A Blue Tit enjoying Premium Peanut Kernels Premium Peanuts for birds; Blue tit enjoying peanut kernels; Attract more birds with high quality peanuts; A Blue Tit enjoying Premium Peanut Kernels
    10% OFF

    Large Premium Peanut Kernels

    From £5.22
    From £5.22
    £5.80
    • Superior Size & Quality: Sourced exclusively from the top grade large peanut crops, providing maximum nutritional value
    • Safety Guaranteed: Every batch rigorously tested for aflatoxins, ensuring completely safe bird feeding
    • Optimal Nutrition: Rich in essential oils and natural proteins, promoting wild birds' health and vitality

Showing 1-24 of 73 products

Bird Food for Every Season

Feeding birds is one of the simplest, most rewarding ways to connect with nature and it matters every day of the year. From frosty winter mornings to the high heat of summer, garden birds face seasonal challenges. That’s where we come in.

At Ark Wildlife, we offer the best overall bird food for every season, species, and situation. Whether you’re just starting out or you've been feeding birds for years, our expertly balanced blends and species-specific foods help support wildlife at every stage.

The Joy of Bird Feeding

There’s a quiet magic in feeding birds. One moment your garden is still, and the next, a burst of wings and colour fills the air. A chattering charm of goldfinches, the flash of a blue tit, or the determined hop of a robin on the lawn, all these moments bring a sense of wonder, even on an ordinary day.

Bird feeding transforms gardens into living, breathing spaces. It invites nature to come closer, and rewards us with daily displays of beauty, curiosity, and song. Every visitor to the feeder becomes a familiar presence, adding life and movement to our outdoor spaces.

Whether you're sipping tea on the patio or watching from a window, feeding birds offers instant connection to the wild. It’s not just food… it’s friendship.

Why feed birds year round?

Many people start feeding birds in winter, when natural food sources are scarce. But the truth is, birds benefit from supplemental feeding all year long.

In spring, they need protein for nesting and raising young. In summer, fledglings and moulting adults rely on soft, nutritious foods. Autumn is a time to build fat reserves, while winter demands calorie rich seeds and fats just to survive.

By feeding birds year round, you're giving them the consistent, dependable support they need to thrive. And in return? You get a garden filled with song, colour, and life.

What is the best overall bird food?

If you're looking for one go-to blend that does it all, choose our exceptional no-mess, no-waste Hearty™ seed mixes. These are ideal for year round feeding and attract the widest possible variety of species and in ever greater numbers, including:

  • Blue tits, great tits, coal tits, long-tailed tits
  • House sparrows, robins, blackbirds, dunnocks

Finches, siskins, nuthatches, woodpeckers

Our Hearty™ mixes include a high percentage of sunflower hearts, millet, suet pellets or dried mealworms, with no cheap fillers like wheat or barley, which often go uneaten. Our Ark Premium No Mess Feeder Mix is designed to offer maximum nutrition with zero waste, making it the best overall bird food for busy gardens.

You can also supplement with species-specific foods like:

  • Mealworms for robins and blackbirds
  • Niger seed for goldfinches
  • Suet blocks for energy-loving woodpeckers and tits

What is the best bird seed to feed birds in spring and summer?

In spring and summer, birds need energy to nest, feed their young, and undergo moulting. During this time, offer:

  • High-protein foods such as live or dried mealworms
  • Sunflower hearts easy to eat and full of energy having the shells removed
  • Suet pellets and blocks made with fat offering tasty fast energy
  • Insect rich blends to support fledglings

Avoid large, hard seeds or whole peanuts, as these can present a chocking hazard for young and inexperienced chicks, fledglings and birds.

Our Ark Summer Support Mix is specially created to support birds during warmer months, offering bite-sized, easily digestible protein and calcium rich nutrition. It's gentle on young beaks and packed with what they need most.

Why should you feed birds in the summer?

You might wonder, "should you feed birds in the summer?" The answer is a confident yes, but with care.

Summer brings long days, but it also brings drought, heat stress, and a hungry new generation of birds. Natural food like insects and berries may be abundant one week and vanish the next due to changes in the weather.

Tips why feeding birds in summer is important:

  • Supports fledglings still learning to forage
  • Helps adults recovering from the rigours of nesting
  • Offers clean, consistent food when wild supplies dip
  • Maintains the joy of birds visiting your garden, and your feeders

Clean feeders regularly, especially in warm or wet weather, and ensure fresh water for drinking and bathing is available every day.

Is there a time you should stop feeding birds in summer?

There’s a common myth that feeding birds in summer stops them from finding natural food. But in the UK the RSPB say there's no need to stop feeding birds in summer, and it continues to be beneficial as long as you:

  • Clean feeders weekly to prevent the spread of disease in warm weather
  • Offer soft, small seeds and mealworms safe for chicks
  • Avoid large, dry foods like whole peanuts or uncooked fat

In short, adapt your feeding, use better quality bird food but don't stop it. Summer is just as important as winter when it comes to helping garden birds stay healthy.

Feeding in autumn and winter

As days shorten and temperatures drop, birds need calorie rich food to survive. Start increasing your feeding in autumn so birds know where to find food when they need it most.

Choose:

  • Fat balls and suet blocks for warmth and energy
  • Peanuts and sunflower seeds to build reserves
  • Mealworms and raisins for thrushes and robins

While autumn may see a lull in visiting birds due to many common garden species going through the moult. There will also be a period of abundance of natural seeds and fruit. Weeks can go by with little or no activity on bird feeders. However, it’s important to keep feeding as this abundance can be short lived and birds will return in ever greater numbers and the days shorten, and cool.

Winter feeding brings the greatest variety of species to your garden, including less seen birds like redwings and fieldfares. Keep feeders stocked up, and you’ll be rewarded with a daily display of colour and activity.

Why high quality bird food matters

Not all bird food is equal. Cheap mixes often from supermarkets and garden centres often include large quantities of wheat, split peas, or barley, all cheap ingredients and fillers that offer little nutritional value and birds don’t eat. All it does is discourage birds from visiting and grow into weeds under your feeders.

The best high quality bird food:

  • Reduces waste
  • Provides better nutrition
  • Keeps your feeders cleaner
  • Attracts a wider range and numbers of birds

When you invest in food that's designed for the needs of UK species, you're helping birds live longer, breed more successfully, and return to your garden again and again.

At Ark Wildlife, all our mixes are tested and trusted by wildlife experts and independently tested. We don’t include cheap fillers, and we never compromise on quality.

The mental and physical health benefits of feeding birds

Bird feeding doesn’t just help wildlife, it helps us too. Watching birds brings a calming rhythm to daily life. Their songs, colours, and behaviours draw us out of our heads and into the moment.

Studies show that regular interaction with nature, even something as small as watching birds at a feeder, can:

  • Reduce stress and anxiety
  • Improve mood and focus
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Encourage time spent outdoors

Bird feeding can become a daily ritual, a quiet act of care that reconnects us with the seasons. For older adults or people working from home, it offers routine, connection, and joy, small, uplifting moments that add up to a happier, healthier you.

It’s a simple act that nourishes both garden wildlife and the human spirit.

What to put in your feeders (and when)

Spring/Summer

  • Mealworms (live or dried)
  • Sunflower hearts
  • Ark Hearty™ Seed Mixes
  • Insect-rich suet pellets

Autumn/Winter

  • Fat balls and suet blocks
  • Peanuts (in mesh feeders)
  • Ark Winter Warmer Mix

Year-Round

  • Premium seed mixes
  • No mess & Hearty™ seed mixes
  • Suet pellets and blocks
  • Water for drinking and bathing

Every feeder filled is an invitation to wildlife. Whether you hang a single seed feeder or set up a full tiered feeding station, you’re creating a lifeline for birds in every season.

Support your local wildlife with the best bird food in summer, winter, and every season between. With Ark Wildlife, feeding birds is more than a hobby, it’s a simple, powerful way to help nature thrive in your own back garden.

FAQs

Find answers to our most frequently asked questions.

If you cannot find the answer to your query within these FAQ’s please call our customer service team on free phone 0800 085 4865 between 9.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.

Read all FAQs

Outside of office hours please complete the form on our Contact Us page and we will respond to your request within 1 working day of our return.

What is the best bird seed for birds in the UK?

The best bird seeds for the UK include sunflower seeds (for most species), peanuts (for tits and woodpeckers), niger seeds (for finches), mixed seed blends (for a variety of birds), mealworms (for insect-eating birds like robins and blackbirds), fatballs, suet pellets and cakes (for many species).

How do I feed birds without attracting rats in the UK?

You can use hanging feeders which keep food off the ground to stop attracting rats to your garden. You can also minimise the risk of pests by putting out bird feed in moderation to avoid excess leftovers.

What is the healthiest thing to feed birds?

The healthiest food for birds is a mix of high-quality, natural options that provide balanced nutrition. Sunflower seeds are rich in essential oils and fats, while peanuts for birds offer protein and energy. Mealworms can also provide valuable protein. It's important to avoid processed foods, salt, and sugary treats, as these can be harmful to birds.

How do you feed garden birds on a budget?

If you’re looking for the cheapest thing to feed birds, you’ll be pleased to know that feeding garden birds cheaply can be achieved whilst still providing nutritious options. Seed mixes are a great way to offer a variety of garden seeds that can attract multiple species of birds to your garden. Larger size bags offer better pricing and our bird food bundles are excellent value.

What bird feeders can I use?

You can use hanging feeders which keep food off the ground to stop attracting rats to your garden. You can also minimise the risk of pests by putting out bird feed in moderation to avoid excess leftovers.

What if a bird does not eat seeds?

If the birds in your garden aren’t eating the seeds you put out, you may want to offer alternative foods like suet, mealworms, or fruit.

Why is tiered bird feeding important?

Tiered bird feeding caters to different bird species by providing feeding stations at various heights, reducing competition and attracting a wider variety of birds.

Is it illegal to feed birds in your garden in the UK?

It is not illegal to feed birds in your garden in the UK. In fact, feeding birds is a popular activity and can help support local wildlife, especially during the colder months when natural food sources are scarce. However, it’s important to feed birds responsibly, ensuring food is fresh and nutritious to avoid health risks for the birds, impacting the surrounding environment and attracting pests.

How to

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