Nyjer seed (also referred to as thistle seed or niger seed) is one of the most beloved types of wild bird food, utilized by finches, dark-eyed juncos and pine siskins in feeders across North America.
Feather beds can often be found in finch mixes alongside seeds such as reed canary grass and sunflower chips, and it can be offered both traditionally in seed trays and hard mesh sock-style feeders.
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Mourning Doves
Mourning Doves are ground-feeding birds known for making an unmistakable coo-coo call. These ground feeders enjoy feeding on an assortment of seed such as white and red proso millet, oil-type sunflower seeds, cracked corn kernels and thistle (Nyjer) seeds.
Nyjer seeds, harvested from Guizotia abyssinica plants found in Africa, are high-oil crops that must be heat treated prior to import in order to prevent sprouting and become an unwanted nuisance weed in the US. Also referred to as thistle bird feed or “niger,” some people often misspell “thistle.”
Finches and doves alike will enjoy this seed, which can be offered in either hopper feeders, platform feeders or scattered on the ground for them to find. Finch mix or canary seed blends containing other seeds like peanuts, milo, wheat oats or corn may be less costly than offering only pure thistle seed; such mixes are often known as finch mixes or canary seed blends and include American goldfinches, Common Redpolls and Pine Siskens who appreciate thistle seeds! Finch species that enjoy thistle include American goldfinches, Common Redpolls and Pine Siskens among others!
Juncos
Dark-eyed Juncos are one of the most frequently seen winter birds at backyard feeders and often take over. These small birds spend their summers in woodlands and forest edges and winter in brushy areas or bogs; feeding on both wild vegetation as well as tray, hopper or ledge feeders designed to dispensing black oil sunflower seed.
Your bird feeder can attract winter finches by offering nyjer seed. This seed is available at most wild bird and home garden stores and tube feeders equipped with seed ports that allow switching from mixed seed to nyjer and thistle seed may work well; look for soft mesh sock-style or durable metal feeders when selecting one of these options.
After being sold as “thistle” seed for some time, it has recently been rebranded as nyjer seed to avoid association with the invasive thistle (Guizotia abyssinica). When purchasing it from your local bird and home garden store, all nyjer seeds purchased will have been heat-sterilized before shipment so as to limit weed growth during its transit.
Finch
Finch birds enjoy feeding on the high-energy seeds found in nyjer (thistle), making it one of the best single seeds to attract them and other small songbirds with smaller beaks. Nyjer also makes an excellent winter finch feeder choice.
Nyjer seed used for bird feed is harvested differently than thistle seed (Guizotia abyssinica), as it comes from African yellow daisy flowers such as Gazetta abyssinica. Prior to being shipped over, these seeds are heat sterilized so as to not become an invasive or potentially toxic thistle plant species.
Oft called “thistle” or “finch mix”, most packaged nyjer seed sold in North America contains filler seeds such as reed canary grass and ground sunflower chips which is fine but for optimal results use a finch feeder with full capacity – many Goldfinches visit at once and this provides higher returns than one that’s only half filled!
Other Birds
Northern cardinals and grosbeaks often flock to feeders when offering safflower seeds (also known as Indian mustard or thistle seed). Safflower has smaller seeds than sunflower, with harder shells that make it harder for squirrels to eat it; serve it in tray or hopper feeders to attract these birds.
Juncos, a species of sparrow, also enjoy eating thistle seeds and are commonly seen searching for them both on the ground and under or around bird feeders while singing their high-pitched chip song while foraging for them.
Nyjer seeds, harvested from the daisy-like weed known as Guizotia Abyssinica, are beloved finches favorites. Also referred to as thistle or niger seed, these tiny black seeds can be served in tube, hopper or upside down bird feeders designed for thistle seed distribution. Heat-sterilization processes help minimize their spread; other birds that enjoy eating nyjer include sparrows, chickadees, thrashers and woodpeckers among others.
