When looking for wild bird seed for sale, look for fresh, clean seeds as old, dustier ones may attract rodents and bears.
Black oil sunflower seeds (commonly referred to as “oilers”) feature thin shells that are easy for virtually all seed-eating birds to crack open and should be offered on tray or hopper feeders. Nyjer thistle seeds feature thicker shells and are particularly beloved among American goldfinches and pine siskins; therefore they should be placed in low tray feeders for their consumption.
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Sunflower
Sunflower seeds are one of the most widely used single seed types in wild bird feed mixes, drawing in numerous feeder birds to backyard gardens.
Be wary when shopping for quality birdseed. Anything priced too cheaply may contain older seed, or perhaps an assortment of seeds which won’t attract the birds that will bring joy and entertainment into your backyard.
Hulling sunflower seed may also be more economical and safer for birds when feeding at feeders, since this eliminates messy seed husks that accumulate under your feeders and become health hazards when wet or moldy.
White Proso Millet
This small white seed is beloved by ground-feeding sparrows, juncos, towhees and towhees as well as finches, nuthatches and titmice alike. A great source of protein and B vitamins, it can either be scattered on the ground or placed in low tray feeders for easier feeding.
Millet should not be mixed in feeders with black oil sunflower, as its abundance attracts cowbirds and starlings. Millet can often be found as filler in inexpensive seed mixes; always read labels carefully when purchasing such mixes to check ingredients, particularly any that contain high percentages of millet, oats, wheat or flax seed as this may be considered waste seed by birders.
Jay’s Preferred Blend can help attract ground-feeding birds by providing black oil sunflower, medium sunflower chips, safflower and white proso millet in equal quantities. This blend works well both elevated feeders as well as on the ground or low tray feeders.
Rapeseed
Rapeseed is an essential ingredient in wild bird seed blends. It can be fed either alone or combined with other seeds for best results, and finches, canaries and northern bobwhites especially enjoy it as a treat. Quail may also benefit from eating Rapeseed!
The rape plant, belonging to the Brassicaceae family, is closely related to mustard, broccoli and cabbage, making it one of several cold-hardy annual or biennial oil crops that thrive during winter. Cultivated worldwide for its source of rapeseed oil (Brassica napus var. rapa), it can be found as edible oil used in salad dressings or margarines as well as for industrial uses such as lubricants and plastics production.
Rapeseed plant contains polyunsaturated fatty acids that are beneficial to human health, such as oleic and linoleic acids. Furthermore, this food source also contains g-linolenic acid which has various physiological functions including blood lipid-lowering, anti-atherosclerotic and cardiocerebrovascular disease-preventive properties; phytosterols which also offer numerous health advantages have also been found within it.
Canary Seed
Phalaris canariensis grass species is harvested as a specialty crop for use in feeding wild birds such as finches, canaries and budgies. Due to its shallow-rooted nature and lesser heat and drought tolerance than wheat varieties, careful handling and dust mask use during harvest and storage is required when handling this itchy crop.
This seed boasts a high level of tryptophan, which promotes serotonin production in the brain to improve mood and bring down blood pressure to normal healthy levels. Furthermore, its abundance of antioxidants protect against DNA oxidation or damage to other body cells.
Leche alpiste (canary seed milk) is produced by de-hulling the seeds to produce food for humans called leche alpiste, and contains significant levels of vitamin B1, riboflavin, and thiamin as well as similar plant sterol amounts as found in oatmeal. Furthermore, its blood sugar regulating effects may also assist diabetic patients.
