The best all-purpose seed is black oil sunflower and it works extremely well in tubular bird feeders. It is very popular with the songbirds that you want to attract to your yard. Because the seed is very small, you need a specialty feeder to offer this seed. Many birds, such as woodpeckers and nuthatches, will cling to your feeder.
Some bird feeders have no perches at all, but neither do tree trunks.
If you like to change your mind about what seed you'd like to offer, you need an all purpose feeder. Some have an open dish and some feature adjustable seed valves or ports that allow you to use any type of seed. Not all birds eat seed. Attract hummingbirds with our nectar feeders. Fruit eating birds will come to a fruit feeder.