An effective backyard bird feeding program relies on using high-quality seed mixes with premium ingredients that attract a range of songbirds.
Avoid mixing milo seeds or any others that birds dislike into cheap mixtures that will create mini volcanoes on the ground or low tray feeders and become breeding grounds for bacteria or fungus that will quickly contaminate fresh seeds.
Contents
Sunflower
Sunflower seeds are an excellent addition to any wild bird feed mix due to their abundance of protein and fat content, along with being high in sulfur and nitrogen content that supports seedling growth.
Black oil and striped sunflower seeds (Helianthus annuus) are two varieties that are most often found in wild bird seed mixes, and offer easy access to delicious kernels inside. Striped sunflower seeds have thicker shells which may prove harder for certain species such as House Sparrows to break open and enjoy their tasty kernels inside.
Premium bird seed mixes should contain both black oil sunflower seeds and striped sunflower seeds to attract multiple species of songbirds. Before purchasing any wild bird seed mixes, always carefully read through its ingredients as cheaper mixes may contain milo, wheat and red millet which do not provide essential protein and fat requirements that songbirds require for good health.
Corn
Seeds with high fat contents are popularly used to attract bird species that feed on nuts like chickadees and woodpeckers, serving as an energy source.
Milo (also sorghum), another popular seed found in value birdseed mixes, provides carbohydrates and fiber while not providing as much of the hearty proteins and fat content found in sunflower and safflower seeds.
Filler ingredients are often sold in cheap wild bird feed, providing no nutritional benefit and being hard on feeders. As such, much of it ends up on the ground where birds don’t benefit from it at all. A higher-quality mix will contain less expensive filler ingredients in proper proportion and in the appropriate ratio; make sure that each mix lists guaranteed levels of crude protein, fat and fiber on the label to save money by eliminating waste of uneaten bird seed.
Millet
Seeds of this plant, used to produce both rapeseed oil and canola oil, are extremely popular with birds. The tiny, light brown seeds are easy for birds to unhull and are often included as an ingredient in seed mixes.
Finch mixes often include high concentrations of sunflower seeds for quick energy sources that provide quick fuel for their daily activities, packed with protein, fibre, vitamin B and other trace nutrients that birds require for survival. A high proportion of canola or rapeseed oil should be avoided as its high oil content can contribute to obesity in birds.
Nyjer
Small seed-loving birds often gravitate toward mixes that feature Nyjer seed (Niger seed in English) as an attractant. Nyjer can be offered alone or combined with other seeds to create an irresistibly delicious combination for finches to feast upon! Its popularity also makes for convenient feeding situations with mesh feeders designed specifically to keep clingy birds fed comfortably and safely.
Wild bird seed mixtures often include rapeseed (also known as canary grass seed) and fine sunflower chips, although their hard hulls may make them hard for birds to open, leading to waste under the feeder.
Read through the ingredients list before buying wild bird seed blends, to ensure you purchase high-quality products with guaranteed analysis breakdowns that list crude protein, crude fat and crude fiber percentages – this can help you compare products more easily in order to find one suitable for your backyard.
