There are many types of seed you can purchase for your feathered friends. We will describe the various types of seed in this article.

Sunflower Seeds:

Black Oil Sunflower Seeds are the most desired seed by birds. Sunflower seeds attract cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, finches of all types, and grosbeaks. The high oil content is popular with birds and provides them with the energy needed to live. Black oil sunflower are different because they contain more oil content than other sunflower seeds, and the shells are softer than striped sunflower seeds, making it easier for small birds to open the shells.

Thistle (nyger or niger) Seed:

Thistle seed is the premier seed for attracting many varieties of finches and small songbirds. High oil content makes them a nutritious and valuable food. Thistle seed is not the seed from wild thistles - they are unrelated to the weed at all.

Millet:

There are two types of millet: red and white. Most birds like white proso millet more than the red variety. Ground-feeding birds, such as doves, juncos, and sparrows enjoy millet. The downside is that millet also attracts undesirable  species such as European Starlings and House Sparrows.

Milo:

Milo (or sorghum) seeds are large, reddish, round seeds that are frequently often used as "filler" in commercial bird seed mixes. Most birds will only eat it if there's nothing better in the feeder, and it often gets strewn on the ground below the feeder.Milo also may attract 'undesirable' birds like cowbirds, starlings, and grackles.

Safflower:

Safflower is a favorite of cardinals, and costs more than black sunflower seeds. Gosbeaks, sparrows, and doves like safflower seeds as well.

Corn:

Dried whole kernel corn is a favorite food of jays, pigeons, doves, turkeys, pheasants, and quail. Cracked corn is easier for small birds to eat, and it will attract blackbirds, finches, and sparrows, as well as the birds mentioned above.