With their melodic songs and bright colors, birds add great enjoyment to our time outdoors. Encourage them to visit your yard by giving them what they want.

Swipe through to learn what to feed backyard birds.

The American Goldfinch is a lovely yellow bird who calls all different parts of the United States at various times of the year. This small bird’s diet consists primarily of seeds, especially from plants in the daisy family and from grasses.

Various types of chickadees can be found throughout the United States. Attract some to your backyard with peanut butter! Smear it on a tree trunk and see who comes to say hello.

With a range including much of the United States, mockingbirds enjoy insects and berries. You almost certainly have plenty of bugs crawling around, so you’re halfway there. Plant American beautyberry if it does well in your area. Other mockingbird favorites include elderberry, blackberry, juniper and pokeweed.

More than 300 species of hummingbird can be found in North America. Attract types that are common to your area with sugar-water feeders, or plants that produce nectar-rich flowers. What you plant will depend where you live, but anyone at a garden center should be able to help you identify plants that will attract hummingbirds in your area.

Americans east of the Rockies may see northern cardinals in their yards. These colorful birds enjoy black oil sunflower seed, so put that in your feeders to encourage visits. They also eat berries and bugs.

The range of various types of nuthatches extends over much of the United States. These small, active birds enjoy suet, which are “cakes” of animal fat that are peppered with various types of seeds that birds like.

People in the eastern half of the United States may be able to attract orioles to their yards with oranges and grape jelly. These birds have a sweet tooth, especially in spring, so entice them with a fruity treat.