The best wild bird seed to buy at Walmart is black oil sunflower seed, either alone or as the main ingredient in a mix. Nyjer, safflower and white millet can be added for specific birds. Skip bags padded with red milo, wheat and other fillers that birds often leave behind.
Seed Types and the Birds They Attract
- Black oil sunflower: Thin shell, high fat. Cardinals, chickadees, finches, nuthatches and many more. Works in tube, hopper and tray feeders.
- Nyjer (thistle): Tiny seed for goldfinches, siskins and redpolls. Needs a finch feeder with small ports.
- Safflower: A favorite of cardinals, also eaten by chickadees, doves and grosbeaks. House sparrows and starlings often avoid it.
- White proso millet: For ground-feeding birds such as doves, juncos and native sparrows.
- Cracked corn: Eaten by doves, jays and quail, but also by house sparrows, starlings and mammals. Offer small amounts on a tray and keep it dry, because wet corn can grow harmful mold.
What About Milo?
Milo, also called sorghum, is the reddish round seed common in budget mixes. Some ground-feeding birds in the western US eat it, but in most backyards it ends up on the ground and can spoil. If a mix is mostly milo, choose a different bag.
Buying and Using Seed
- Read the ingredient list and pick sunflower-led mixes.
- Do not buy red-dyed corn, which is treated seed corn and unsafe for birds.
- Store seed in a dry, lidded bin to keep out moisture and rodents.
- Offer only a day or two of seed at a time in humid weather.
- Clean feeders regularly and rake up old shells.
Related Guides
See wild bird sunflower seeds, Walmart wild bird seed 40 lb and wild bird seed at Tractor Supply.
Bottom Line
For most yards, a bag of black oil sunflower from Walmart is the best value, with nyjer or safflower for extra variety. Keep seed dry and feeders clean to keep birds healthy.
