Wild bird seed, like any grain product, can become rancid with age and lose the vital nutrient oils that birds require and moisture content they crave. This leads to decreased sustenance levels for wild bird populations.
Black oil sunflower seeds feature thin shells that are easy for most seed-eating birds to open, including cardinals, tufted titmice and Carolina chickadees.
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Sunflower Seed
Sunflower seed is a favorite among nearly all seed-eating birds. With its thin shell that allows most birds to easily crack open, and high amounts of fat that provides energy-packed nutrition for birds’ energy needs.
Sunflower seeds provide a wide variety of protein, zinc, folate and vitamin E. Folate can help protect pregnant women against neural tube defects like spina bifida while vitamin E supports immune health during gestation.
If you want to create the widest spectrum of seeds to attract the greatest number of birds, try black oil sunflower seeds (or less messy black-oil sunflower hearts and chips). Mix them with white proso millet, nyjer or striped sunflower for an optimal bird feed that’s 99+ percent free from sticks and foreign matter so your feeders don’t clog.
Millet
Millet, a gluten-free grain, is packed with vitamin B3 or niacin and packed with soluble fiber which helps regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Furthermore, millet provides ample magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and protein benefits as an essential daily diet staple.
White proso millet is a favorite food choice among ground-feeding species such as quail, native sparrows and doves. Cardinals, tanagers and towhees also frequently opt for it as seed.
Millet is often used as filler seed in budget wild bird seed blends to add weight and bulk, yet is nutritionally inadequate for birds. You can avoid this situation by purchasing a quality mix without millet that will draw more desirable species while ultimately being cheaper over time.
Safflower
Safflower seeds are ideal for attracting Cardinals, Chickadees, Titmice and Grosbeaks to any backyard bird feeder, while deterring squirrels and grackles that might otherwise become nuisance birds at feeders. Their soft shell makes it easier for birds to handle; furthermore they won’t create a mess under your feeder like sunflower husks do!
Studies have revealed that Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) contains many medicinal applications for treating dysmenorrhea and other reproductive conditions, as well as providing protection from heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels and blood pressure levels. Linolenic acid found within Safflower may help lower cholesterol levels as well as reduce triglycerides and blood pressure levels significantly.
Peanuts
Peanuts are an immensely popular source of energy among birds like woodpeckers, titmice, jays and nuthatches, providing energy sources they depend on for survival in their backyard habitats. Peanuts make an excellent addition to any backyard bird feed blend!
Wild birds feeding on nuts, seeds and suet require additional water sources such as birdbaths or feeder misters in order to remain healthy and hydrated. Give these wild birds access to fresh water all winter long with birdbaths or mister feeders so that they can remain hydrated.
But unlike humans, birds don’t possess taste buds for spicy foods and cannot produce capsaicin, the chemical responsible for creating that burn in our mouths when we consume something spicy. Therefore, adding spicy ingredients to seed mixes likely won’t attract wildlife as quickly as would nyjer mixes.
Corn
Seed blends, in particular, are beloved by wild birds of all species; blue jays, cardinals and doves particularly appreciate it, along with quails, turkeys, grouse and pheasants as well as squirrels and chipmunks.
Fresh corn should only be fed to birds at its prime to make it sweet, while most bird feed mixes consist of field corn that’s tougher and less sweet. Field corn can also be processed into animal feed, corn syrup, ethanol production and human consumption as corn starch.
Attracting wild birds to your feeder requires providing foods they naturally eat. Avoid offering seeds and fillers that are processed or out of their natural diet as these may make them ill.
