Best Bird Seed Types and Which Birds Eat Them

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The right seed matters more than the feeder. Cheap mixes are often padded with filler that birds kick to the ground.

The essentials

• Black-oil sunflower – the all-purpose favorite: chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, cardinals, finches, jays. Buy black-oil sunflower
• Sunflower hearts/chips – no shells, so less mess under feeders; spoils faster.
• Safflower – cardinals, grosbeaks, doves, titmice; less popular with squirrels, House Sparrows, and grackles. Buy safflower
• Nyjer (thistle) – goldfinches, Pine Siskins, redpolls. Use a finch feeder with small ports and keep it fresh; birds ignore stale nyjer. Buy nyjer
• White proso millet – juncos, sparrows, doves; best on the ground or a platform. Also loved by House Sparrows.
• Peanuts – jays, woodpeckers, nuthatches, titmice. Unsalted only.
• Suet – woodpeckers, nuthatches, wrens, chickadees.
• Cracked corn – doves, jays, quail; also draws squirrels, blackbirds, and other mammals. Offer sparingly.

Fillers to avoid

Red milo, wheat, and oats are eaten by few feeder birds east of the Rockies (some western ground birds eat milo). Check the ingredient list.

Storage

Keep seed in a sealed metal container in a cool, dry place to prevent mold and rodents.

Related: Choosing the Best Bird Feeder · Squirrel-Proof Feeding · Winter Bird Feeding