Put a nyjer feeder out and the birds that turn up first are usually goldfinches - it is close to their favourite seed, and a feeder built for it (with the smaller holes nyjer needs) will pull them in ahead of almost anything else on offer. That is really the whole case for buying it as its own product rather than folding it into a general mix.

Marriage's supply it as a straight seed rather than part of a blend, described as high in oil, which is what gives small birds the energy density they need in cold weather. It can be scattered into an existing mix or fed on its own, and it is best offered through a dedicated nyjer feeder rather than a standard hopper, since ordinary feeder holes are too large for it and most of it will end up on the ground.

• Nyjer seed, sold as a single straight seed
• High in oil
• Can be fed alone or mixed into other seed
• Best suited to a dedicated nyjer feeder
• 25kg sack

On what's missing. No protein, fat or fibre figures are published for this seed on the card, so if you are trying to balance a feeding station's nutritional mix precisely, that detail is not available here - it is being sold and bought as a proven goldfinch favourite rather than on an analysis panel.

Who it's for: anyone feeding wild birds who wants to specifically attract goldfinches, or who already has a nyjer feeder and needs the seed to go in it.