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Bird Seed Images with Species Preferences

Bird Seeds

These 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.

Most Common Bird Seeds

black oil sunflowerBlack 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

Sunflower chips

Sunflower chips might come from black oil or striped sunflower. Popular with the same species that like black oil sunflower.Some prefer to offer sunflower chips so there are no hulls to fall to the ground under feeders and no problems with seed germination.

 

 

red milletMillet or Red Millet

Found in many seed mixes. Best feed on the ground. Popular with:

  • Sparrows
  • Doves
  • Towhees

 

red miloMilo or Red Milo

Often found in seed mixes. Best served on the ground. May attract:

  • Doves
  • Quail
  • Jays

 

 

white milletWhite Millet or White Proso Millet

Found in mixes or sold separately. Popular with:

  • Sparrows
  • Doves
  • Buntings

 

 

cracked cornCracked corn

Found in mixes or sold separately. Popular with:

  • Jays
  • Doves
  • Juncos
  • Blackbirds
  • Sparrows
  • Towhees

peanutsPeanuts

Found in mixes. Sold separately as chips and halves or whole peanuts. Popular with:

  • Jays
  • Nuthatches
  • Titmice
  • Chickadees
  • Woodpeckers
  • Cardinals

nyjerNyjer®

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.

 

 

safflowerSafflower

Safflower is more expensive than many feed types. It tends to be ignored by squirrels, so if squirrels are a big problem, feeding safflower is one option.Attracts:

  • Cardinals (for which it is most famous)
  • Grosbeaks
  • Woodpeckers

About the Author

Sam Crowe

Sam is the founder of Birdzilla.com. He has been birding for over 30 years and has a world list of over 2000 species. He has served as treasurer of the Texas Ornithological Society, Sanctuary Chair of Dallas Audubon, Editor of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's "All About Birds" web site and as a contributing editor for Birding Business magazine. Many of his photographs and videos can be found on the site.

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