The three major types of bird feeders are tube, hopper, and platform.  There are also specialty feeders that hold fruits, mealworms, nectar, Nyjer®, peanuts, and suet.  The description of each bird feeder type is below, and includes the bird food to use with that feeder and the species it attracts.

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Tube Feeder

Description: Long, slender container with seed ports and perches
Bird Feed: Black-oil sunflower, Nyjer®, safflower, striped sunflower, sunflower hearts, white proso millet, or whole peanuts
Attracts: Chickadees, Common Redpoll, finches, goldfinches, Indigo Bunting, nuthatches, Pine Siskin, sparrows, titmice, and woodpeckers

Hopper Feeder

Description: Box-like storage compartment that resembles a small house
Bird Feed: Black-oil sunflower, cracked corn, Nyjer®, safflower, striped sunflower, sunflower hearts, white proso millet, or whole peanuts
Attracts: Chickadees, Common Redpoll, Dark-eyed Junco, finches, goldfinches, grosbeaks, Indigo Bunting, jays, Northern Cardinal, nuthatches, Pine Siskin, sparrows, titmice, towhees, and woodpeckers

Platform Feeder

Description: Tray with a ledge, possibly with a roof
Bird Feed: Black-oil sunflower, cracked corn, Nyjer®, safflower, striped sunflower, sunflower hearts, white proso millet, or whole peanuts
Attracts: Chickadees, Common Redpoll, Dark-eyed Junco, doves, finches, goldfinches, grosbeaks, Indigo Bunting, jays, Northern Cardinal, nuthatches, Pine Siskin, sparrows, titmice, towhees, and woodpeckers

Fruit Feeder

Description: Feeder with ledge or perch and a spike for impaling fruit
Bird Feed: Fruits
Attracts: American Robin, bluebirds, and orioles

Mealworm Feeder

Description: Open dish, possibly with sides, entrance holes, and a roof
Bird Feed: Mealworms
Attracts: Bluebirds and Carolina Wren

Nectar Feeder

Description: Vacuum and saucer feeder types, possibly with perches
Bird Feed: Nectar
Attracts: Hummingbirds and orioles

Nyjer® Feeder

Description: Tube feeder with smaller seed ports
Bird Feed: Nyjer® or sunflower hearts
Attracts: Common Redpoll, finches, goldfinches, Indigo Bunting, and Pine Siskin

Peanut Feeder

Description: Tube feeder constructed of wire mesh
Bird Feed: Whole peanuts
Attracts: Jays, nuthatches, titmice, and woodpeckers

Suet Feeder

Description: Square, plastic-coated wire basket, possibly with a tail prop
Bird Feed: Suet
Attracts: Carolina Wren, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, and woodpeckers