The best bird seed for your feeding station is a tricky choice, and many new bird lovers wonder, "Which bird seed should I get to start?" Different bird species have different feeding preferences, and the type of seed you offer plays the biggest role in determining which birds visit your backyard.
Certain seeds appeal to a wide variety of birds, while others are better suited for species like finches, cardinals, or ground-feeding birds. Understanding which birds enjoy which type of seed will help you create a feeding station that attracts the birds you want to see most.
Black Oil Sunflower Seed
If there is only one seed type that you’re only going to buy, make it black oil sunflower seed. It has long been considered as one of the top choices for backyard bird feeding because it attracts a large range of species. Their thin hulls are very easy for any bird to crack open, and their high oil content provides excellent energy needed year-round.
When starting off as a new bird lover, black oil sunflower seed offers the best chance of attracting frequent visitors with minimal effort.
Why Birds Love Black Oil Sunflower Seeds:
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Thin shells that are easy to open
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High oil content for energy
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Commonly found in premium bird seed blends
Best For Attracting:
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Chickadees
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Nuthatches
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Goldfinches
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House Finches
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Cardinals
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Grosbeaks
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Jays
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Titmice
Best Feeder Types:
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Tube feeders
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Hopper feeders
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Elevated platform feeders
Striped Sunflower Seed
Striped sunflower seeds look a lot like the black oil sunflower seeds except they are larger and have thicker shells. Therefore, striped sunflower seeds attract larger birds that can handle the tougher shell.
You’ll often find striped sunflower seeds in many mixed bird seed blends alongside black oil sunflower.
Best For Attracting:
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Cardinals
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Blue Jays
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Grosbeaks
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Chickadees
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Nuthatches
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Finches
Best Feeder Types:
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Tube feeders
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Hopper feeders
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Tray feeders
Hulled Sunflower (Sunflower Hearts and Chips)
This type of bird seed is excellent to use if you plan to hang feeders on a patio, deck or in your garden. This is because there are no shells, so birds can eat every piece without leaving piles of empty hulls underneath the feeder. These “no-mess” seeds require less effort for birds to eat, which makes them attractive to even more species.
However, because the protective shell has been removed, it’s important to keep hulled sunflower dry and replace any seed that becomes wet.
Benefits of Hulled Sunflower:
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No shells to clean up
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Best for patios, decks, and gardens
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Less effort for birds to eat
Best For Attracting:
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Goldfinches
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Chickadees
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Wrens
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Mockingbirds
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Bluebirds
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Cardinals
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Sparrows
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Woodpeckers
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Jays
Best Feeder Types:
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Large-port tube feeders
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Hopper feeders
Nyjer (Thistle) Seed
Nyjer seed is a tiny, oil-rich seed which attracts many birds such as finches. It’s quite small and therefore should be offered in specially designed finch feeders with tiny feeding ports or fine mesh. Standard bird feeders allow the seed to spill out too easily.
Be sure that you keep this seed fresh, so it’s often better to purchase smaller quantities that birds can consume quickly.
Benefits of Nyjer Seed:
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A favourite among finches
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Offers a tone of energy
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Usually doesn’t attract squirrels
Best For Attracting:
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American Goldfinches
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House Finches
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Purple Finches
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Pine Siskins
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Redpolls
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Chickadees
Best Feeder Types:
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Finch tube feeders
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Mesh finch feeders
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Finch socks
Millet
Millet seeds are very small, round seeds. These seeds are particularly popular for birds that typically like to feed closer to the ground; such as doves and sparrows. Millet seeds also show up in the majority of mixed bird seed blends and offer another food source that your birds will enjoy as not many birds prefer elevated feeders as often.
Best For Attracting:
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Doves
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Sparrows
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Juncos
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Quail
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Cardinals
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Buntings
Best Feeder Types:
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Platform feeders
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Hopper feeders
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Ground feeders
Safflower Seed
This bird seed is growing in popularity. The greatest benefit of this type of bird seed is that squirrels and grackles dislike it immensely while many other favourite birds readily enjoy it. Some birds may take a little time to become familiar with safflower, but once they do, it can become an excellent addition to your feeding station.
Benefits of Safflower Seed:
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Rich in oil
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Loads of energy
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Often avoided by squirrels
Best For Attracting:
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Cardinals
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Chickadees
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Nuthatches
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Goldfinches
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House Finches
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Grosbeaks
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Jays
Best Feeder Types:
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Tube feeders
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Hopper feeders
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Tray feeders
Every Seed Attracts Something Different
No single bird seed attracts every species. Offering a variety of seeds allows you to welcome more birds while learning about their unique feeding habits.
As your backyard feeding station grows, you can experiment with different seed types to discover which combinations work best in your area. Over time, you'll begin to recognize the regular visitors and favourite foods that keep birds returning to your yard.