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Seed Images

Shown below are some of the most widely used seeds for feeding birds. Inexpensive mixes found at many grocery stores and other locations often include a large percentage of millet and milo, two seeds best served on the ground or low platform feeders.

black_oil sunflower bird seedBlack Oil Sunflower

Black oil sunflower is the best all around choice. It attracts a wide variety of species, including:
    •    Cardinals
    •    Chickadees and titmice
    •    Nuthatches
    •    Purple and House Finch
    •    Grosbeaks

 

 

sunflower chips bird seedSunflower chips

Sunflower chips might come from black oil or striped sunflower. Popular with the same species that like black oil sunflower.
Offer sunflower chips to eliminate hulls and un-eaten seeds that fall to the ground.  Un-eaten seeds can germinate or attract vermin.

 

 

 

red millet bird seedMillet or Red Millet

Found in many seed mixes. Best fed on the ground. Popular with:
    •    Sparrows
    •    Doves
    •    Towhees

 

 

 

redmiloMilo or Red Milo

Often found in seed mixes. Best served on the ground. May attract:
    •    Doves
    •    Quail
    •    Jays

 

 

 

white millet bird seedWhite Millet or White Proso Millet

Found in mixes or sold separately. Popular with:
    •    Sparrows
    •    Doves
    •    Buntings

 

 

 

cracked corn for feeding birdsCracked corn

Found in mixes or sold separately. Popular with:
    •    Jays
    •    Doves
    •    Juncos
    •    Blackbirds
    •    Sparrows
    •    Towhees
 

 

peanuts for feeding birdsPeanuts

Found in mixes. Sold separately as chips and halves or whole peanuts. Popular with:
    •    Jays
    •    Nuthatches
    •    Titmice
    •    Chickadees
    •    Woodpeckers
    •    Cardinals

 

nyjer bird seedNyjer®

Nyjer is a small, imported seed popular with goldfinches and siskins.
Sometimes called thistle, it is not the same as the common thistle plant found in the United States.
Nyjer® is a trade marked name of the Wild Bird Feeding Industry.

 

 

 

safflower bird seedSafflower

Safflower is more expensive than many feed types. Not as popular with squirrels as sunflower.
Attracts:
    •    Cardinals (for which it is most famous)
    •    Grosbeaks
    •    Woodpeckers

Birding Quick Hits

Blue Jays do Johnny Appleseed one better.  After the retreat of the last ice age, oak trees spread back north faster than might have been expected.  There is speculation that Blue Jays helped the process by caching acorns underground, some of which grew into new trees.