Wild birds eat a variety of seeds, including sunflower seed. This nutritious treat is popular with many songbirds and will attract them to your bird feeders in large numbers.
Avoid seed mixes that contain a lot of fillers like cracked corn, milo, oats or wheat as these are generally unpalatable to most bird species.
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Sunflower Seed
Sunflower seeds are a favorite snack among wild birds due to their high fat content, which helps them stay warm in cold weather.
They contain essential vitamins and minerals like zinc, folate, and vitamin E that can shield cells from damage and boost immunity.
Attract a variety of wild birds to your garden by placing sunflower seeds at the feeder. Popular seed-eating birds include cardinals, tufted titmice, Carolina chickadees, house finches and American goldfinches.
Black oil sunflower seeds are easy for most seed-eating birds to open. However, starlings, red-winged blackbirds and brown-headed cowbirds tend to avoid them since their shells have thicker walls which make them harder for these predators to break through.
Peanuts
Wild birds enjoy the variety of seeds provided by peanuts. High in fat and protein, peanuts provide your backyard birds with essential energy during cold winter months.
Birds can eat whole peanuts, crushed peanuts or peanut pieces in suet and mixed seed mixtures. Crushed peanuts are especially suitable for smaller birds such as wrens, robins and sparrows since they don’t need to crack open the hard shell.
Birds may eat roasted peanuts, but be mindful not to feed too many in one day as they can go moldy or spoil quickly. Furthermore, if you’re growing your own peanuts, keep them fresh by not allowing them to become dry or poisonous.
Safflower
Safflower seeds are especially appealing to wild birds due to their high protein and fat content, making them a great alternative to black oil sunflower seeds for backyard bird feeders.
Safflower is a favorite snack of cardinals and other North American songbirds. Grosbeaks, chickadees, titmice and nuthatches all enjoy it in various amounts.
Safflower may take your backyard birds some time to adjust to, as its unique shape and flavor differ from standard seed types.
If you want to attract more birds but keep pests like Grackles and squirrels at bay, add safflower seed to your bird feeding stations. This type of seed does not fare well with most pests.
Millet
Millet is a small seed that attracts birds around the world, particularly in India, China, North and South Dakota and Nebraska.
Cereal grains can be cooked into a nutritious meal when cooked. Packed full of protein, fiber and magnesium for added nutrition, they make for an incredibly filling snack!
Millet can be used for several purposes, including the production of alcohol and flour from millet for gluten-free bread recipes.
It is an ideal choice for people with wheat allergies or who require a gluten-free alternative to standard white flour products. Furthermore, it’s an incredibly nutrient dense whole grain packed with essential vitamins and minerals like iron, selenium, folate and zinc.
Niger Seed
Niger seed (also referred to as thistle seed) is a small black seed from the Guizotia abyssinica flower that has oil-releasing properties. It’s especially popular among goldfinches and other members of the finch family due to its small size – small enough for them to open with their beaks.
Niger seeds make an excellent winter food for garden birds as they provide them with healthy sources of fat and protein. Not only will this extra energy help them stay warm during cold weather, but it can also aid in the regeneration of their feathers during moulting.
If you’re uncertain if your birds will enjoy nigr seeds, start with a smaller amount first. Giving them some seed at first will help them become accustomed to it and you can gradually increase their consumption of this nutritious food.
