Birdseed Ingredients

Ingredients in commercial birdseed and their composition varies. Some expensive birdseed packages at specialty stores, for example, are heavy in costly bird seeds and low in filler seed. Some birdseed packages are made for regions where particular bird species are more prevalent in certain seasons. To complicate matters, within a bird species' range, birds can have birdseed preferences that contradict predicted bird behavior. Still, there are quite a few common birdseed ingredients that are used to appeal to a broad spectrum of birds.

  1. Sunflower Seeds

    • Black-oil sunflower seed can be purchased at discount stores, home and garden stores and big box stores. It is sold packaged by itself or in commercial birdseed mixes. Across the United States and all of North America, you are likely to find this seed as the most commonly offered seed for wild bird feed. Black-oil sunflower seed's popularity is based on its thin outer shell that makes it easy for birds to open and its high edible-meat-to-shell ratio. It has a high fat content, which gives it good energy value for birds. Chickadees, nuthatches, finches, cardinals, grosbeaks, sparrows, blackbirds, jays, titmice and even, on occasion, woodpeckers favor black-oil sunflower seed.

      A different type of sunflower seed is called striped sunflower. These seeds are bigger than the black-oil sunflower seeds, and their shells are thicker. Birds with larger bill,s such as cardinals, are able to crack the harder shells and consume these seeds with gusto.

    Safflower Seed

    • Safflower seeds are grown for the oil they produce and for use in birdseed. The seed looks much like a sunflower seed that is white. Like striped sunflower seeds, this seed is favored by birds with strong bills, such as cardinals and grosbeaks. Titmice and nuthatches are also known to consume safflower seeds.

    Thistle Seed

    • Nyjer is the seed of an African daisy that is commonly called thistle seed. It is not native to North America. It is a highly nutritious seed often included in commercial birdseed mixes because of its attractiveness to a number of wild birds, especially finches.

    Corn

    • Corn is a low-cost grain that adds versatility in many birdseed mixes. Corn in its whole-kernel form attracts wild turkeys and ducks. Corn that is cracked or broken attracts smaller birds, such as quail, doves and sparrows. Blackbirds are also known to eat corn, as are jays.

    Millet

    • Small and round, millet is a common grain to include in commercially available birdseed mixes. Finches frequent feeders with millet, as will blackbirds. Birds that forage on the ground--including pigeons and doves--and smaller bird--such as sparrows and juncos--seek out millet that has fallen to the ground from a hanging feeder.

    Milo

    • Milo is an inexpensive filler seed that you find in commercial birdseed mixes. It is a round grain that usually has a reddish color. In general, birds in western states are likely to eat more milo than birds you commonly see in eastern states. Jays, pigeons and doves are known to consume milo.