As any backyard birder knows, the type of seeds you feed to wild birds will ultimately determine which birds visit your feeders. Always read and compare ingredients on packaging of seed mixes; avoid those that include filler seeds like oats or milo in them.
Black-oil sunflower seeds are favored by most seed-eating birds, including cardinals, grosbeaks, nuthatches, chickadees and finches. Squirrels as well as predatory birds such as European Starlings and House Sparrows typically avoid them though.
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Black Oil Sunflower
If you want to attract cardinals, finches, woodpeckers and tufted titmouse to your feeders, black oil sunflower seeds should be your first choice. They are an essential ingredient of many seed mixes and may even come without shells to reduce waste and mess under the feeders.
These seeds are rich in protein and fat. Additionally, they offer calcium, vitamin b-complex and potassium for maximum nutritional benefit – perfect for feeding backyard birds such as pine siskins (known for their distinctive “chick-a-dee-dee”) and mourning doves.
Hulled sunflower seed can also be offered, although this option requires more work. Unfortunately, hulled seed does not deter European starlings and squirrels.
Thistle
This seed, commonly referred to as either niger seed or thistle seed (with thistle being trademarked term used by wild bird feeding industry), is beloved among finches. Packed full of oil-rich seeds that provide energy sources, these small birds adore them!
Finches like goldfinches, juncos, and pine siskins often flock to seed served in tray or hopper feeders in search of this treat.
Though often mistaken as thistle seed, African yellow daisy (Guizotia abyssinica) actually provides this seed. Before being exported overseas, its seeds undergo heat sterilization to limit any chance of becoming invasive in new environments. It remains one of the most popular backyard bird seed options but can also be one of the more costly options to offer at bird feeders – Thistle seeds tend not to last very long and it is best refilled periodically to replenish feeders with new seeds.
White Millet
White millet (also called proso millet) is a widely consumed seed that can be scattered on the ground or used to fill low tray feeders, and enjoyed by ground feeding birds such as quail, native sparrows, doves, towhees and juncos. High in calcium and B vitamins it makes an excellent food choice.
Black oil sunflower seeds are popular with cardinals, house finches, nuthatches and tufted titmice and contain plenty of fat, protein and fiber. Safflower seeds offer similar nutrition but often have thicker shells which make opening them difficult.
Oats and milo are commonly used as fillers in bird seed packages, yet many wild birds avoid them. Furthermore, their waste attracts bacteria and fungus quickly contaminating fresh seed more rapidly. If you are having difficulty maintaining an effective mix without waste accumulations then consider offering only small portions of oats/milo, or switching up your mix altogether.
Nyjer
Niger Seed, commonly referred to as thistle seed, actually does not belong to thistle plants or thistle weeds; rather, its thin shell and high oil content make it popular among finches and other seed-eating songbirds. Niger seeds are frequently mixed with black oil sunflower, cracked corn and white proso millet seeds in order to provide more species with balanced diets.
As this seed is so fine, it has the tendency of sticking to feeders or dropping out and creating an unsightly mess on the ground. Therefore, tube or sock feeders with smaller ports designed for this particular seed type are recommended as an efficient means for managing this delicate matter. Furthermore, to minimize risk associated with dodder infestation, heat sterilization treatments are often performed before it enters the United States market.
