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Black-capped Chickadee perched on seed feeder, with sunflower seed in bill

What seeds are GOOD for bird

Assume all wild bird seeds are super beneficial to our birds because they are, as they will include vitamins, protein and can be high in fat.

What seeds which are good for our wild birds will be all seeds promoted as wild bird seeds, such as: sunflower seeds in striped, hearts or the black oil kind; then there's the favorite of finches, thistle seeds, with Nyjer seed being a highly nutritious seed - along with Millet making up the bulk of seed mixes.

Really it isn't that hard to find a variety of seeds which aren't produced for wild birds, and don't provide all the nutritional value wild birds will need to benefit off all year.

Rest assured all wild bird seed mixes will be super good for all common backyard seed-eating birds, with protein, vitamins and valuable fat content included.

You will really be safe when depending on an all round wild bird seed mix which can include up to three or four seed types; like white millet always making up 70%, along with striped sunflower seeds or sunflower hearts, plus the occasional thistle seeds are added which Finches love especially.

While black oil sunflower seeds are perhaps a little more healthier, due to them being high in fat, this type of seed nor more expensive Nyjer seeds are added to mixes.

It has to be said though if you receive lots of Finches in your yard like American Goldfinches, do feed thistle seeds to them which will be eaten by many others, so most of the seeds are eaten all up.

Regardless, both options can be bought in bulk which can then be inserted into a compatible bird feeder, or put on the ground.

While Safflower seeds is another highly beneficial to their health seed, its a rare bird seed to find in their seed mixes, so do provide it every chance you get.

Really there is no bad seed you can feed to wild birds, with all providing a large amount of goodness, which will benefit wild birds all year round. And that can include adding some Hemp seeds to the mix, along with large green Pumpkin seeds.

Nutritional seed mixes

What seeds exactly are very good for wild birds health are all of them really, with no distinction between the various wild bird seed mixes used to put in seed feeders.

With that, you can ensure there's enough vitamins and protein - plus a high dose of fatty oils - to go around by providing highly nutritious seed mixes.

What goes into general seed mixes can vary between brands and manufacturers, although white millet will make up the bulk along with striped sunflower seeds added to the mix - along with additional ingredients that aren't bird seeds at all.

While these can be fillers only, there are plenty nutritional value in oats, wheat's and the nut fragments added to the seed mixture.

Producers do well to provide a varied mix of wild bird seeds in general seed mixes, with wild birds attracted to this batch only, as there's a little something for all dietary needs.

And that must include sunflower seeds which are a favorite among most common bird feeder birds like Finches, Cardinals and Chickadees.

Meaty sunflower hearts

Other than general seed mixes which will primarily include white millet which are noticeable with its white shell. Sunflower seeds don't have to be provided in this mix only, when they do well to be fed to wild birds on their own.

I will say sunflower seeds are probably the number one favorite wild bird seed to put out in the yard; with that, you really should prioritize sunflower seeds among other types of wild bird seeds.

With any type of sunflower seed doing well to attract Chickadees to Cardinals - while making sure they return the next day - do bear in mind there are two types to consider.

With striped sunflower seeds, this kind would be added to general seed mixes along with cheaper bulk-buy sunflower seed packs.

Understand, the shell on striped sunflower seeds are harder to open for a lot of wild birds, and thus can be ignored.

Unlike super good for all wild birds Black Oil sunflower seeds which do have shells still, only its thinner and easier to break open shell for many more bird species.

Must-use Nyjer seeds

When its not thistle seeds used to attract a wide variety of Finches to the yard, you can be sure some of us would be using Nyjer seeds - which are also spelled Niger - where we can't really distinguish between Nyjer seeds and Thistle seeds unfortunately.

FYI, Nyjer seeds are bigger and take on a light tone, while thistle seeds are highly distinguishable small black seeds.

Both thistle seeds and Nyjer/Niger seeds will do well to not only attract Finches, but will see Finches readily eat the Nyjer seed on offer.

What birds does Nyjer seed attract are American Goldfinches to Common Redpoll, which is a seed that is full of goodness which will help to sustain Finches health and body mass over the course of the year.

Other than Finches, Sparrows will eat thistle and Nyjer seeds and so will Chickadees and Mourning Doves - if that is the species you don't mind attracting to feeders.

Keep the Nyjer and thistle seed at its very best when put out in a Finch feeder by using much less seeds, while replenishing more regularly.

Rarely used Safflower seeds

While general seeds mixes will include millet of all bird seed types, plus sunflower seeds and thistle seeds thrown in - but never any Nyjer mix added - nowhere will you find Safflower seeds added to wild bird seed mixes, or if sold alone.

Still, Safflower seeds are liked by a lot of wild birds which will benefit birds because its high in fat and protein, which is a must during the winter months.

Not a lot of wild birds are known to absolutely love Safflower seeds, but far more than Cardinals and Blue Jays will eat Safflower seeds, including: Chickadees, Mourning Doves, Nuthatches and Tufted Titmouse, and many others.

Like I said, Safflower seeds are rarely used to feed to wild birds in our yard, and that is because its not a widely available wild bird seed.

You can change that by going out of your way to source this kind of wild bird seed, which can be added to bird feeders, put on the ground or put on top of the platform feeder.

Kept fresh, this seed will ensure wild birds will benefit with its valuable nutrition, while making sure birds get a good meal out of this white in appearance seed.

Conclusion

Because a certain type of seed is promoted towards wild birds, which can be put on the ground or added to seed feeders, this information alone will tell you its a seed that is extremely good for birds, and thus must be fed to birds in the yard.

I would personally begin feeding wild birds with cheap, general seed mixes which could include three of the very best seed varieties.

With millet always making up the bulk of the seed mix, along with fewer black in color sunflower seeds - with striped or sunflower hearts added.

Better sunflower seed of all, are high in fat black oil sunflower seeds which will benefit all wild birds more than the inferior but still good options in striped or hearts.

And while Nyjer seed is rarely found in seed mixes, small black thistle seeds sometimes are, which again is a highly nutritious seed that will primarily benefit a Finches health - and that's only because they are mostly eaten by Finches.

If you can, add thistle seeds to Finch feeders like a thistle sock, while providing Nyjer seed to a wider mix of species by heaping Nyjer seeds on a platform feeder.

Birds will also benefit health wise by adding to the mix a handful of Safflower seeds, which is white seed similar to white millet, only its a little larger and will pack more nutrients - and that will in turn ensure wild birds benefit more in one bite.

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