Walmart carries many kinds of wild bird feed, including seed mixes, plain sunflower, suet cakes, peanuts and cracked corn. The best choice for most yards is plain black oil sunflower or a mix led by it, plus suet in cold weather. Brands change, so read the ingredients rather than relying on the name.
The Main Types of Feed
- Black oil sunflower: Attracts the widest range of birds. See wild bird sunflower seeds.
- Mixed seed: Fine if sunflower leads the list. Mixes full of milo and wheat are mostly wasted.
- Suet cakes: High-fat food for woodpeckers, chickadees and nuthatches. Use a cage feeder and avoid it in hot weather.
- Cracked corn: Good for doves, jays and other ground feeders, but it also draws starlings, house sparrows and mammals. Keep it dry, since it can grow harmful mold.
- Peanuts: Unsalted, shelled or in-shell peanuts attract jays, woodpeckers and titmice.
Kitchen Foods That Are Safe in Small Amounts
Plain rolled oats, plain cooked rice and unsalted nuts can be offered occasionally, as can chopped fruit. Oats should be dry and plain, not flavored. Never offer salty, spicy, moldy or fried foods, and never put out bread as a main food because it has little nutrition. See what to feed wild birds besides seed and what to feed when you are out of seed.
Buying Tips
- Check the first ingredient. It should be sunflower or hearts, not milo or wheat.
- Avoid bags with tears, damp spots or a stale smell.
- Buy larger bags only if you can store them dry and use them within a few months.
For help comparing large bags, see the 40 lb Walmart bag guide.
Bottom Line
Buy plain sunflower or a sunflower-led mix, add suet in cold weather and keep everything dry. Clean feeders regularly, since dirty feeders can spread disease between birds.
