Feeding the birds in your backyard is a great way to build a relationship with your local wildlife and help them through the winter by providing an additional food source during extreme weather. However, not all birdfeed is created equal, and despite our best intentions, we can unknowingly give them food that’s harmful to their diet. To avoid this mistake, it’s important to give them high-quality seed suitable for their unique diets!
The best kind of seed for all birds is undoubtedly the sunflower seed. The high fat content is a valuable source of calories for dozens of bird species throughout the winter. Among sunflowers, you have three choices: black oil, striped, and sunflower seed hearts. Black oil seeds have a thinner shell than other varieties, making them easier for all birds to open. Striped seeds, on the other hand, are slightly harder to open, especially for House Sparrows and blackbirds.
Shelled sunflower seed hearts are just as valuable as black oil seeds in that they are easy to eat for all bird species. However, they spoil much faster, meaning you should only put out enough for a few days. Seeds in the shell keep for much longer without spoiling, making them less maintenance for you and a healthier choice for the birds.
The second most desirable and healthiest choice of birdseed is safflower seeds. Their thicker shells mean that some birds aren’t able to crack them; however, they’re nevertheless a favorite of cardinals, and a good snack for chickadees, morning doves, native sparrows, woodpeckers, and some grosbeaks. One advantage of safflowers is that squirrels generally don’t like them, which means you can safely leave them on tray feeders for birds that prefer that style of eating.
Nyjer seeds, also known as the thistle seed, are another healthy birdseed option. It’s most attractive for small finches, like the American Goldfinch, Common Redpoll, Pine Siskin, and Indigo Buntings. If you’re worried they’ll spread to the garden, don’t worry: these thistles are sterilized, so they don’t spread, and they’re not the invasive kind that can so often plague our Pennsylvania landscapes.
Peanuts are a favorite of many birds, including jays, chickadees, woodpeckers, and titmice, but it’s always a race between them and the squirrels. Peanuts can also grow and harbor toxic fungus quite readily, so you should keep them dry and only put out enough for a few days. As a rule, only use plain, raw peanuts as feed, not the salted, roasted, or oiled varieties. You can also put whole peanuts in shells on trays for birds, as long as the squirrels don’t get them first.
Many ground-feeding birds enjoy feeding on millet, including cardinals, doves, towhees, native sparrows, juncos, and quails. Unfortunately, millet is also a favorite of cowbirds, House Sparrows, and other blackbirds, which all have disproportionately high population levels from benefiting from human agriculture. If these birds are present in your yard, it’s best to use sunflower seeds in place of millet.
Many bird seed mixes include these seeds as filler, but the birds themselves don’t actually eat them. Instead, they’re left behind to spoil and spread fungi to healthy seeds in your bird feeder. Remember to read the ingredients on birdseed packages carefully, and avoid buying them if they include these filler seeds.
While bird feeders and birdseed are valuable additions to your backyard, having a biodiverse yard and growing lots of native plants during the summer are other important ways to help birds over the winter months. For more information on the best bird seeds, stop by and visit us at Primex Garden Center in Glenside, PA