Wild bird seed: which mix for which bird
Wild bird seed comes in mixes built for different visitors, and the right choice depends on which birds you want to attract rather than one mix being universally best. Sunflower hearts suit the widest range of species, nyjer seed is aimed specifically at finches, and a general mix trades some of that targeting for lower cost and broader appeal.
Sunflower hearts and why they're the safe default
Sunflower hearts have already had the husk removed, which means there is no shell debris left under the feeder and almost every seed-eating garden bird will take them. They are a reasonable single product to start with if you only want to buy one type of seed.
The trade-off is cost — hearts are usually more expensive than whole sunflower seed or a general mix, weight for weight, because of the extra processing involved. For many gardens, the reduced mess and broader appeal make that a worthwhile swap over whole seed.
Nyjer seed for finches
Nyjer is a small, oil-rich seed that particularly appeals to finches, and it needs a feeder with smaller ports designed for it, since a standard seed feeder's holes are too large and let the tiny seed spill straight through.
It is a specialist product rather than a general-purpose one — putting nyjer out alongside a broader mix, rather than instead of one, tends to bring in finches without cutting off the wider range of birds a general mix attracts.
General mixes, and what's actually in them
A general seed mix usually combines several grains and seed types in one bag, aiming for broad appeal across many common garden species rather than targeting one. The exact blend varies between products, which is worth a quick look at the ingredients if you are trying to attract a particular type of bird.
Mixes with a lot of cheaper filler grains can be picked over by birds looking for the seeds they actually want, leaving waste on the ground. A mix weighted more towards sunflower and other seeds birds readily eat tends to go further with less mess than a filler-heavy one.
Feeding seed alongside other food
Seed alone does not cover everything birds need across the year — suet and mealworms fill in the higher-energy and protein needs that seed does not, particularly in winter and during the breeding season respectively.
Rotating or combining seed with these other formats, rather than relying on seed as the only food on offer, is what tends to bring in and keep the widest range of visitors to a garden feeding station.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Peckish Complete Seed and Nut No Mess Wild Bird Seed Mix
A no-mess seed and nut mix for the garden, built from 12 ingredients for up to 16 bird species
£20.99
Peckish Natural Balance Wild Bird Seed Mix
A 1.7KG, 10-seed wild bird mix, entirely UK-sourced, in recyclable packaging
£3.99
Peckish Winter Warmer High Energy Wild Bird Seed Mix
A high-energy winter seed mix for garden birds, feeder or table
£24.99
Rosewood Recycled Wild Bird Seed Feeder
A 1.2 litre wild bird seed feeder that fixes to a wall, post or drainpipe
£15.00
Rosewood Recycled Wild Bird Bottom Seed Feeder
25cm recycled bird seed feeder, washable, for small to medium birds
£9.00
Supa Wild Bird Seed Feeder 10 Port
A 30in (75cm) 10-port garden bird seed feeder, holding around 1.25kg of seed
£10.49
Supa Wild Bird 4 Port Seed Feeder
A 12-inch, 4-port wild bird seed feeder, made in the UK for garden feeding
£5.25
Supa Wild Bird Easy Fill Fort Seed
An 8in wild bird seed feeder with a metal cage to keep squirrels and larger birds out
£13.75
Johnston Jeff Selected Wild Bird Food
A wild bird seed mix with black oil sunflower for a wide range of garden birds
From£2.79
Johnston & Jeff Premium Wild Bird - Wheat-Free with Suet
A husk-free, wheat-free wild bird mix with suet pellets for extra winter energy
£29.99
Supa Wild Bird Peanut Feeder
A 12-inch wire mesh peanut feeder, sized up to cut down on refills over winter
£5.99
Rosewood Recycled Wild Bird Fatball Ring
23cm recycled fat ball feeder, holds up to 10 standard fat balls
£9.00
Common questions
- What is the best all-round bird seed?
- Sunflower hearts are a reasonable single choice, since the husk is already removed and almost every seed-eating garden bird will take them, with less mess left under the feeder than whole seed or a filler-heavy general mix.
- Do I need a special feeder for nyjer seed?
- Yes. Nyjer is a small seed and needs a feeder with smaller ports designed for it, since the holes on a standard seed feeder are too large and let it spill through rather than be eaten. A dedicated nyjer feeder solves this.
- Why is there waste seed under my feeder?
- This is often a sign the mix contains a lot of cheaper filler grain that birds pick through to find the seeds they actually want, discarding the rest. Switching to a mix weighted more towards sunflower and similar seeds usually reduces this kind of waste.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.