Birds that commonly take sunflower seeds
| Bird | How it uses sunflower seed |
|---|---|
| Northern Cardinal | Uses its thick bill to crack black-oil or striped sunflower seeds. |
| Black-capped Chickadee | Often carries a seed to a perch and pecks it open. |
| House Finch | Commonly eats black-oil sunflower and hulled sunflower at platform or tube feeders. |
| American Goldfinch | Can eat sunflower hearts and small black-oil seeds, though nyjer is another common feeder choice. |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Takes sunflower seeds and may carry them away to open or store. |
| Blue Jay | Handles whole sunflower seeds easily and also visits for peanuts. |
| House Sparrow | Eats sunflower, especially black-oil seed and easy-to-handle hearts. |
| Tufted Titmouse | Often carries a sunflower seed to a perch and hammers it open. |
| White-throated Sparrow | Usually takes sunflower pieces or fallen seed on the ground. |
Black-oil, striped, or hulled sunflower?
Black-oil sunflower
Black-oil seeds are small, rich in fat, and have relatively thin shells. That makes them the strongest all-around sunflower choice for many backyard feeders.
Striped sunflower
Striped seeds are larger and have thicker shells. Cardinals, jays, grosbeaks, and other strong-billed birds can handle them, while some smaller birds may pass them by.
Sunflower hearts and chips
Hearts and chips have no hull. They create less shell waste and are easy for many birds to eat, but they cost more and can spoil faster when damp. Offer only an amount that will stay fresh.
Choose a feeder that keeps seed dry
Tube, hopper, and platform feeders can all hold sunflower seed. Good drainage and a roof or rain guard help. A tray may catch dropped pieces, but it also needs cleaning.
Whole seed leaves shells below a feeder. If that is a problem, try hearts or chips and use the steps in how to stop birdseed from sprouting.
Sunflower is useful, not universal
Not every backyard bird eats sunflower. Robins, bluebirds, waxwings, and many insect or fruit eaters may ignore a seed feeder. Nyjer can suit finches, while millet often appeals to birds feeding lower down. Compare bird seed types before filling several feeders.
For the wider picture, see what birds eat. If you want to attract woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches with a different food, learn which birds eat suet.