Black Oil Sunflower Seed

One of the most popular seed types amongst backyard birds is black oil sunflower seed. These large, thick seeds have a high-oil content and are loaded with protein, fiber, calcium, and more nutrient rich ingredients. The shell on black oil sunflower is thin, making it easy for most small-to-large seed eating birds to crack open and enjoy.

What birds like black oil sunflower seed: Finch, Cardinal, Chickadee, Dove, Grosbeak, Jay, Junco, Nuthatch, Siskin, Sparrow, Titmouse, Woodpecker

Best bird feeders to use with black oil sunflower seed: Platform, hopper, tube

Striped Sunflower Seed

Striped sunflower seed has a much thicker shell than black oil, making it harder for birds with smaller or weaker beaks to open. Birders might choose this seed if they prefer to feed larger birds only, or to keep away nuisance birds, like House Sparrows, starlings, and blackbirds.

What birds like striped sunflower seed: Cardinal, Chickadee, Grosbeak, Jay, Nuthatch, Titmouse

Best bird feeders to use with striped sunflower seed: Platform, hopper, tube

Safflower Seed

A favorite among cardinals, safflower is a thick-shelled seed that is high in protein and fat. Because of its thick shell, this seed type attracts a smaller amount of bird species but is said to detract nuisance birds like House Sparrows, starlings, and even pests like squirrels.

What birds like safflower seed: Cardinal, Chickadee, Dove, Grosbeak, Nuthatch

Best bird feeders to use with safflower seed: Platform, hopper, tube

Nyjer/Thistle

Nyjer seed (also referred to as Nyger or thistle), is a small, black seed high in oil content, making it an excellent source of energy for the birds who eat it. Many birders choose to offer Nyjer in their bird feeders throughout the winter months since many non-migratory birds feed on the nutritious seed.

Commonly mistaken as thistle, Nyjer is not derived from the same plant species as the noxious weed. Natively from Africa, the Guizotia abyssinica is an annual herb, grown for its edible oil and seed. To prevent the germination of Nyjer plant from birdseed, the USDA requires treatment in order to sterilize it before it can be sold and used to feed birds.

What birds like Nyjer/Thistle: Finch, Bunting, Chickadee, Dove, Junco, Siskin, Sparrow, Titmouse

Best bird feeders to use with Nyjer/Thistle: Mesh, sock, tube with thistle inserts as shown below

Cracked Corn

While low in oil content, cracked corn is an excellent source of protein and fiber to help round out a bird’s diet. It’s often included in seed blends to appeal to birds like cardinals, grosbeaks, and jays.

What birds like cracked corn: Cardinal, Dove, Grosbeak, Jay, Junco, Siskin, Sparrow, Titmouse

Best bird feeders to use with cracked corn: Platform, hopper, tube

Peanuts

Peanuts are naturally high in fat, making them a great source of energy and calories for birds. They can be offered shelled, which will appease smaller birds like chickadees and titmice, or offered whole in-shell, a favorite of larger birds like jays. Most medium and large-sized birds will eat peanuts, however, smaller birds like finches and will not. When offering peanuts to birds, make sure they are unsalted, unflavored, and uncoated – peanuts with any kind of seasoning can be dangerous for birds to ingest.

What birds like peanuts: Cardinal, Chickadee, Grosbeak, Jay, Junco, Nuthatch, Woodpecker

Best bird feeders to use with peanuts: Platform, hopper

Millet

White millet, also known as proso millet, is a small round seed preferred by ground-feeding birds like doves and sparrows. Slightly sweet and packed with protein, it’s a good choice for birders who want to increase the number of species of birds who visit their yards. Scatter it on the ground, along a hedge, or offer it in a tray feeder that has good drainage.

What birds like millet: Finch, Bunting, Cardinal, Dove, Jay, Junco, Siskin, Sparrow

Best bird feeders to use with millet: Platform

Suet

Although not a seed itself, suet comes in many different compositions, from plain fat to fruit, insect, seed, and nut blends. You can attract a wide range of birds with suet including Woodpeckers, Titmice, Chickadees and Nuthatches. Many birds that eat insects to round out their diets will eat suet in the winter months to fill the void when the insects they typically feed on are not plentiful.

What birds like suet: Finch, Bunting, Chickadee, Nuthatch, Siskin, Sparrow, Titmouse, Woodpecker

Best bird feeders to use with suet: Suet, hopper

How to attract specific birds to your yard