All Wild Bird Seeds Are Not Created Equal

All Wild Bird Seeds Are Not Created Equal

Most people new to backyard bird feeding can become easily confused by the wide variety of wild bird seed available. Between peanuts, cracked corn, two types of sunflower seed and a somewhat mysterious seed called nyjer or thistle, the choices for novice bird lovers can sometimes become unmanageable. This simple summery of the types of seed available and what kind of birds they will attract will hopefully demystify the choices and allow everybody the chance to participate in this fascinating hobby.

Sunflower Seeds
The most common type of wild bird seed available is probably sunflower seeds. There are, however, two types of sunflower seed that you can use. The black oil sunflower seed is highly nutritious and heavy with the essential oils that most bird species need. It’s relatively thin shell also makes it easy for most North American bird species to enjoy. The less nutritious striped sunflower seed can be used but its thicker, harder shell means that often, only bigger birds such as Cardinals and Blue Jays can really take advantage of them. A more expensive but cleaner alternative is hulled sunflower seeds. They have all of the nutrition but none of the mess. Sunflower seeds can be distributed to your backyard birds with any hopper feeder or most common tube feeders.

Thistle or Nyjer Seed
This tiny seed is mainly grown in India and Africa and is a favorite seed for most of the finch species you can find in North America, especially Goldfinches and Purple Finches. In fact, most Finches are more attracted to Thistle or Nyjer seed then to other types of seed when both are presented in the same yard. Finches are one of the most entertaining birds to watch so it is well worth it attracting them to your backyard. In order to use this seed you will need a specialty Finch tube feeder with small ports designed to distribute this tiny seed or a screen feeder with a mesh just big enough for the birds to pick out the seed.

Peanuts
Peanuts will provide some of your larger birds with an interesting alternative food source. Jays, Crows, Woodpeckers and even smaller birds like Chickadees and Titmice will “flock” to a dedicated peanut feeder.

Seed Mixes
Seed Mixes are usually a combination of the two types of sunflower seed peanuts, millet and other fillers. These are designed as an all-in-one solution for attracting all types of birds. If you choose to offer a seed mix to your backyard birds make sure you buy a “quality” or “premium” seed mix and avoid those that include milo, cracked corn, oats and wheat. Mixes that contain this type of filler are not providing any real benefit to the birds and you just end up getting rid of all the leftover bits that remain uneaten. Seed mixes can be used in any hopper style feeder or tube feeder designed to distribute sunflower seeds.

In reality, the choices are not that difficult. The truth of the matter is that a variety of seeds offered in a variety of bird feeders will attract the most bird species and provide you with month’s worth of entertaining wild birds frequenting your backyard.

All Wild Bird Seeds Are Not Created Equal by Strangelittlebird is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.