Types of Bird Seed and Which Birds Eat Them

The main types of bird seed for backyard feeders are black oil sunflower, striped sunflower, hulled sunflower (hearts and chips), safflower, nyjer, white proso millet, cracked corn, milo, and peanuts. Each one draws a different crowd. Black oil sunflower feeds the widest range of birds, nyjer is mostly a finch food, safflower suits cardinals and other big-billed birds, and millet and cracked corn serve juncos, sparrows, and doves on the ground. Penn State Extension counts more than 20 types of seed sold as birdseed, so this guide sticks to the ones most bags are built from: which birds eat each seed, which feeder it needs, and which seeds most birds leave behind.

Every bird list below comes from a state or federal wildlife agency, a university extension service, the National Audubon Society, or Project FeederWatch, and each source is linked where it first appears. Where the sources disagree, we say so and follow the more cautious advice. Which birds actually show up still depends on your region, the season, and the cover around your yard.

This guide covers seed choices for wild birds at backyard feeders. It is not advice on diagnosing or treating sick birds. Seed that is wet, moldy, or musty should be thrown out, not fed. If you find a sick or injured bird, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or your state wildlife agency.

Types of Bird Seed at a Glance

The table pulls the bird lists and feeder advice from the sources named in each row. Lists from Pennsylvania, Arkansas, and Missouri reflect the birds of those states, so treat them as a guide to what a seed can attract, not a promise of who will come.

Sunflower Seed: What Birds Eat Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower comes in three forms at the feed store, and they do not draw quite the same birds.

Black oil sunflower

Project FeederWatch calls black oil sunflower the most common seed offered at feeders in North America. Its thin shell and high energy make it the preferred food of a wide variety of birds, and FeederWatch names cardinals, chickadees, finches, and sparrows among its fans, with woodpeckers taking it on occasion. Penn State calls it probably the best all-round seed, preferred by many smaller species including chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice, with a high oil content and a seed coat that is easy to crack.

There is field data behind that reputation. The Missouri Department of Conservation describes a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report based on almost 750,000 observations of birds choosing between seed types at feeding stations: species that prefer large seeds were highly attracted to sunflower, and the black oil type was favored over the more familiar striped kinds. The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service lists more than 20 birds and bird groups that eat it, from American Goldfinch, Carolina Chickadee, and Northern Cardinal to Mourning Dove, nuthatches, and woodpeckers. That same list includes Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Sparrow, and Red-winged Blackbird, which matters if those are the birds you are trying to discourage.

Penn State says sunflower seeds usually go in a hanging feeder, and the hulls end up on the ground below it. It also notes that bears are particularly fond of black oil sunflower and says to stop feeding immediately if a bear finds your feeder. If you settle on black oil sunflower as the base of your feeding, buy a bag you will finish while it is fresh and keep it sealed and dry.

Striped sunflower

Striped sunflower is a larger seed with a thicker shell. Penn State says it is very popular with Blue Jays and cardinals but difficult for many smaller species to crack open, and Arkansas makes the same point about the shell, listing American Crow, Blue Jay, grosbeaks, woodpeckers, and Wild Turkey as its eaters. The sources do not fully agree on how it compares. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service bird feeding fact sheet groups black oil and striped sunflower together as the seeds that attract the greatest diversity of seed-eating birds, while the study Missouri describes found black oil favored over striped. Our default follows the more cautious reading: black oil as the base seed, striped only as an extra for jays and cardinals.

Hulled sunflower: hearts and chips

Hulled sunflower is sunflower with the shell removed, sold whole as hearts or broken into chips. FeederWatch says any bird that eats sunflower will take it, and many prefer it. The draw is a cleaner patio: Penn State and the Fish and Wildlife Service both note that it leaves no shells under the feeder, and Arkansas suggests it for apartment dwellers where shells are a problem. FeederWatch also says hulled sunflower is often called “no mess” sunflower, so read the ingredient line on any bag labeled no mess to see what is actually inside.

The trade-off is freshness. FeederWatch says it spoils more quickly than sunflower in the shell, University of Illinois Extension notes a greater risk of spoilage, and Arkansas says to offer only enough to be eaten in a day or two. Arkansas adds that it attracts squirrels as well as birds.

Safflower: What Birds Eat Safflower Seeds

FeederWatch describes safflower as resembling a white sunflower seed and says it attracts cardinals and other big-billed birds. The Fish and Wildlife Service names cardinals, chickadees, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and Mourning Doves among the birds that eat it. Arkansas gives the longest list: cardinals, some grosbeaks, chickadees, Dark-eyed Junco, doves, native sparrows, Northern Flicker and other woodpeckers, nuthatches, Tufted Titmouse, and White-crowned Sparrow.

Two caveats run through the sources. First, many birds pass it over. FeederWatch says that in its experience most birds prefer sunflower, and Arkansas says the thick shell is difficult for most birds to crack. Second, its reputation for keeping unwanted visitors away is mixed. The Fish and Wildlife Service fact sheet says squirrels and blackbirds do not eat safflower. Arkansas is more careful: it says some sources report that House Sparrows, European Starlings, and squirrels do not like it, but that in other areas those species eat it.

So treat safflower as a seed that narrows the crowd, not one that guarantees who comes. If you switch a feeder to it, expect fewer visitors overall. That is the point when blackbirds are taking over, and a drawback when you want variety. Plain safflower and safflower-sunflower blends are both sold; the sources above describe the seed itself, not any particular blend.

Nyjer (Thistle): What Birds Eat Nyjer Seed

Nyjer, also spelled niger and often sold as thistle, is not thistle at all. FeederWatch says it comes from Guizotia abyssinica, a plant native to Africa, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources calls it an imported seed from African daisies. So what birds eat niger seed? Finches first. FeederWatch names American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, and Common Redpoll. Penn State lists American Goldfinch, House Finch, and Purple Finch, the same three named in the Fish and Wildlife Service fact sheet, and Missouri singles out American Goldfinches and Purple Finches.

Finches are not the only takers. The Fish and Wildlife Service says Mourning Doves, juncos, and some sparrows will eat thistle from a ground feeder or hopper. Arkansas lists bobwhite, towhees, chickadees, Mourning Dove, and Indigo Bunting along with American Goldfinch and House Finch, and Penn State’s species table includes House Sparrow among the birds that eat niger.

Nyjer is the one seed here that needs its own feeder. Because the seed is so small, FeederWatch says it requires a feeder with very small feeding ports and is best fed by itself, not in a mix, to prevent waste. Penn State, Maryland, and the Fish and Wildlife Service all describe the same small-port tube. Missouri adds that because fewer species eat it, nyjer lasts somewhat longer in the feeder. Check the ingredient line on finch blends: the small-port advice applies to straight nyjer, and any larger seeds in a blend will not fit through those ports. Seed and feeder are the first two parts of attracting finches; where you hang the tube is the third.

Millet, Cracked Corn, and Milo: Seeds for Ground Feeders

Many birds rarely land on a hanging feeder. The FeederWatch guide to feeding birds says Song Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, and many towhees will rarely land on a feeder but readily eat fallen seed on the ground beneath it. Millet and cracked corn are the kinds of bird seed most often offered to them.

White proso millet

FeederWatch calls millet a small, round grain favored by many smaller, ground-foraging birds and says a handful sprinkled on the ground will keep juncos and sparrows happy. The Fish and Wildlife Service names juncos, blackbirds, sparrows, and doves, plus buntings in spring and summer. Missouri suggests scattering it on the ground under a feeder stocked with black oil sunflower. The Audubon Guide to Bird Feeding notes that the pairing often happens on its own: birds that specialize in sunflower eat it out of a blend and toss the millet and corn to the ground, where sparrows and juncos find it.

The catch is who else millet draws. Penn State says white proso millet attracts many species but may also attract House Sparrows and Brown-headed Cowbirds, and Arkansas says that if nuisance birds become a problem, switch to black oil sunflower. Arkansas also says not to pile seed, because mold and harmful bacteria may develop. A thin scatter that is gone by evening works better than a heap.

Cracked corn

FeederWatch says cracked corn attracts doves, quail, and sparrows, and suggests mixing it with millet and feeding a scoopful on the ground or a platform feeder; it notes that whole corn is a favorite of Wild Turkeys and ducks. The Fish and Wildlife Service adds that whole kernel corn is eaten by Blue Jays and woodpeckers (and squirrels), while many ground-feeding birds prefer it cracked.

Here the sources split. Arkansas puts corn on its list of foods to avoid. It says corn is the bird food most likely to be contaminated with aflatoxins, which it calls extremely toxic to birds even at low levels, and that harmful bacteria can grow on old corn, so use it only when fresh or not at all. The Fish and Wildlife Service warns that cracked corn is vulnerable to rot when wet and that many mammals feed on it. Our cautious default: corn is optional, not a staple. If you want doves and quail, offer a small scoop that will be gone the same day and keep the bag dry. If corn does not matter to you, white proso millet covers juncos, sparrows, and doves without the same warning. Spoilage matters most with corn, since wet corn is the first thing to throw out.

Milo

Milo, or sorghum, is a reddish, round grain that FeederWatch says is often a major part of inexpensive seed mixes and is not a favorite of most birds. Its fans are a narrow group, mostly in the West. FeederWatch says western birds eat it more than eastern birds and advises avoiding mixes with large amounts of it in the East. Maryland says only a few species in the Southwest eat red milo, and Arkansas names doves, Wild Turkeys, and cowbirds and suggests limiting it if cowbirds become a problem. Illinois Extension says birds in that state typically leave it behind in the feeder or on the ground.

Seeds Most Birds Leave Behind

Milo is not the only filler. Arkansas lists golden millet, red millet, flax, oats, and wheat as fillers found in packaged mixes that most birds will not eat, and warns that harmful bacteria and mold can grow on piles of waste seed left undisturbed. Penn State names wheat, milo, hulled oats, rice, and rye; Missouri names milo, wheat, oats, and rice; and the Audubon guide says relatively few species prefer milo, wheat, and oats. Arkansas adds that only a limited number of birds eat canola, or rapeseed (it names bobwhites, doves, finches, and juncos), and that the birds that eat canary seed are drawn to other common seeds too.

Red-dyed seed is a separate problem. Arkansas says never to offer corn covered in red dye, because corn and other seeds dyed red are intended for planting and are often treated with fungicides that it describes as highly toxic to all birds.

For blends, the Audubon guide recommends mixtures containing sunflower, millet, and cracked corn, which it calls the three most popular types of birdseed. When you compare blends, the ingredient line shows which of the seeds above are in the bag, even when it does not say how much. As for kitchen scraps, Maryland calls bread similar to “junk food” for birds.

Peanuts, Suet, and Mealworms

These are not seeds, but they sit on the same shelf and fill gaps that seed does not.

Peanuts. Penn State says peanuts attract Blue Jays, chickadees, titmice, and woodpeckers, and the Fish and Wildlife Service adds nuthatches. FeederWatch says jays may grab several peanuts in the shell and fly off to hide them, while chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice do better with shelled peanuts. The sources disagree on form. FeederWatch accepts raw or roasted peanuts as long as they are not salted or coated. The Fish and Wildlife Service calls roasted peanuts with no salt and no sugar the healthiest and says to avoid peanut hearts and raw peanuts. Arkansas lists peanuts among the foods to avoid unless they are fresh, citing aflatoxins and bacteria on stale peanuts, and suggests fresh peanuts in the shell on a platform for Blue Jays. Our cautious default: roasted, unsalted, in the shell, on a platform, in amounts the birds finish quickly.

Suet. Suet for cage feeders is animal fat, not seed. Penn State says it is highly sought after in winter and particularly attractive to woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice. FeederWatch warns that suet may turn rancid in hot weather if it has not been specially processed.

Mealworms. Dried mealworms are a protein food for insect eaters. FeederWatch says chickadees, titmice, wrens, and nuthatches relish them, that they are one of the only foods that reliably attract bluebirds, and that they go on a flat tray or in a mealworm feeder.

Which Seed for Which Birds: Quick Picks

These pairings apply the sources above, mainly the species and feeder table in Penn State’s guide, to the birds most people ask about. They are starting points; your yard will tell you the rest.

• Cardinals: black oil sunflower, with safflower if you want to narrow the crowd. Penn State lists ground, platform, and tube feeders with a tray as cardinal choices, so seed is only half of attracting cardinals; the other half is a place for a bigger bird to perch.
• Goldfinches and other finches: nyjer in a small-port tube, plus sunflower. Penn State lists niger and sunflower for American Goldfinch, House Finch, and Purple Finch.
• Chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches: black oil sunflower in a hanging feeder, with peanuts or suet in winter. Penn State lists Black-capped Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches as using almost all feeders.
• Juncos, sparrows, and doves: white proso millet scattered thinly on the ground or a low platform. Penn State pairs Dark-eyed Junco and Mourning Dove with ground and platform feeders.
• Blue Jays and woodpeckers: peanuts in the shell and striped or black oil sunflower on a platform for jays; suet, sunflower, and peanuts for woodpeckers, per Penn State.
• An apartment balcony: hulled sunflower, which Arkansas suggests where shells are a problem, offered a day or two of seed at a time.

How We Put This Guide Together

We read seed and feeder guidance from Project FeederWatch, the National Audubon Society, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Missouri Department of Conservation, and the Penn State, University of Arkansas, and University of Illinois extension services, and kept only statements we could match to those pages. Where they disagree (striped versus black oil sunflower, corn, peanut form, and whether safflower keeps blackbirds and squirrels away), we show both sides and follow the more cautious reading. Our general method is on the How We Review page.

Bird Seed Types FAQ

Will nyjer seed sprout under my feeder?

It is not supposed to. FeederWatch says nyjer seeds are heat-treated before importation to prevent sprouting, and Arkansas Extension says the seed is heat-sterilized to limit the risk of it spreading. Neither page describes other common feeder seeds as treated, so if seedlings appear under a feeder, look first at the other seeds you offer.

Can I put different seeds in the same feeder?

You can, but you will waste some. The Audubon guide says that to avoid waste, offer different seeds in different feeders, and specifically to put sunflower, nyjer, and peanuts in separate ones. FeederWatch says nyjer in particular is best fed by itself. If you use a blend, expect sunflower eaters to toss the millet and corn to the ground, as the Audubon guide describes, and give the ground feeders a place to pick it up.

Which bird seed is least attractive to House Sparrows and starlings?

The sources agree on what to drop first and differ on what to keep. The Fish and Wildlife Service says that if grackles, starlings, Brown-headed Cowbirds, or crows are hogging your feeders, feed only safflower and thistle (thistle only in a thistle feeder with upside-down feeding ports) and eliminate sunflower, millet, cracked corn, and bread. Penn State says millet may attract House Sparrows and cowbirds, and Maryland says common seed mixes attract European Starlings, House Sparrows, and pigeons. Arkansas, by contrast, suggests switching from millet to black oil sunflower when nuisance birds become a problem, and notes that safflower is eaten by House Sparrows and starlings in some areas. Our cautious default: remove millet, cracked corn, and common seed mixes first. If the problem continues, move to safflower and nyjer only, as the Fish and Wildlife Service suggests.

Final Thoughts

Most backyard feeding comes down to a few seeds. Black oil sunflower feeds the widest range of birds, nyjer in its own small-port tube draws finches, safflower narrows the crowd toward cardinals, and a thin scatter of white proso millet takes care of juncos, sparrows, and doves on the ground. Treat corn and peanuts as extras that need to stay dry and fresh, and skip mixes padded with milo, wheat, oats, and other fillers most birds leave behind. More on seed, suet, and storage is in the Bird Food section.

About the author