Each species of wild bird has specific food preferences, making a premium seed mix an effective way to attract them. Such mixes typically contain smaller seeds such as poppy, oil seed rape, millet and red dari that attract them.
Black oil sunflower and striped sunflower seeds are two of the most beloved birdfeeds, enjoyed by cardinals, tufted titmice, and chickadees alike. You can place these in various feeders.
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Sunflower Seed
Sunflower seeds are one of the most beloved offerings for wild bird feedings and are a mainstay at many backyard feeders. Packed full of important protein, fats, and minerals – sunflower seeds make an excellent food choice that keeps birds coming back for more!
Striped sunflower seeds feature a hard shell that may be difficult for smaller birds and softbills to crack open, while black oil sunflower seeds feature thinner coatings which are easier for them to chew and provide access to more beneficial oils.
Sunflower seeds provide excellent nutrition to seed-eating birds such as cardinals, tufted titmice, wrens and woodpeckers. Plus they’re affordable, easily available and often found on store shelves!
Remember, birds should consume sunflower seeds with caution as too much fat can lead to fatty liver disease. Additionally, their diet should contain various other essential vitamins and nutrients for optimal health.
Peanuts
Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) are an extremely versatile legume used in wild bird mixes and blends, often being devoured by woodpeckers, jays, nuthatches and many others. Peanuts also make great additions to ground feeders!
Soy products contain protein, fat and many trace minerals in abundance. Furthermore, soybeans provide essential amino acid arginine as well as phenolic compounds which have been shown to promote heart health and reduce cancer risks.
Whole peanuts, shelled peanut pieces and peanut butter are an excellent way to attract a wide range of birds to your feeders. Salty or candy coated varieties should be avoided due to potential health concerns for birds. You may use premium birdseed and tray feeders when offering these treats. But beware: cooked or roasted varieties could potentially contain aflatoxins which are toxic for both animals and birds.
Milo
Milo is a chocolate malted powder sold by Nestle that can be mixed with milk and hot water to produce a tasty beverage. Milo has become increasingly popular worldwide as a healthy energy drink marketed specifically towards kids who play sports, often used as energy boosters themselves.
Grain sorghum, commonly referred to as milo, is an important crop in regions too dry for corn to thrive. Used primarily as cattle feed and sometimes included in bird seed mixes, few people in the United States actually consume grain sorghum directly.
Milo is a favorite among Western ground feeding birds such as jays, thrashers and quails, serving as filler in many low tray feeders and testing by Cornell Lab of Ornithology seed preference tests of Steller’s Jays and Curve-billed Thrashers who both preferred milo over sunflower. Some farmers even use milo for strip grazing techniques that allow their livestock to graze on an allotment for only short periods before moving the electric fence forward to provide another allocation.
Canary Grass Seed
Canary grass seed is packed with protein, making it a favorite among finches and sparrows. Furthermore, its inclusion in wild bird mixes attracts additional species like pine siskins, towhees, mourning doves, and native sparrows.
O-pentosyl isovitexin is the main flavonoid found in canary seed, and has multiple therapeutic applications, including antihypertensive, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. This compound can be found both yellow and brown canary seeds.
Health Canada has reviewed glabrous canary seeds and concluded that they do not present a risk to those with celiac disease, although data do not rule out that some individuals may find these allergenic. Therefore, foods containing canary seed should carry an allergy statement.
Shelled Sunflower
Black oil sunflower seeds are beloved treats for many songbirds, particularly finches, chickadees and cardinals. As essential components in many wild bird seed mixes, their soft shell makes them easier to chew for ground-feeding birds such as chickens. Black oil sunflower seeds may be offered either whole or as part of seed mixes with higher concentrations of black oil sunflower.
Hulled sunflower seeds have their shells removed for easier use in most feeders designed for sunflower seeds, and reduce the amount of chaff left under their feeders while spoiling more quickly than those still inside their shells.
Sunflower hearts contain high levels of protein and fat, both essential ingredients for fueling wild birds during cold winter months when their body stores must be built up in order to regulate body temperatures. They’re often the go-to seed choice among finches, nuthatches and cardinals alike!
