Birds commonly consume flower seeds, which are a natural part of their diet and play a role in garden ecosystems.
Why Birds Eat Flower Seeds
Flower seeds provide birds with concentrated sources of nutrition, making them an important food year-round. Seeds contain essential fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, which are vital for a bird’s energy needs. These nutrients help sustain birds through demanding periods such as migration, nesting, and the colder winter months when other food sources may be scarce. Seeds offer a readily available and efficient energy boost, supporting overall health and activity.
The composition of seeds, particularly their high oil content, makes them especially valuable. Black oil sunflower seeds, for example, are known for their significant fat content, providing substantial energy per pound. This nutritional density helps birds maintain body temperature and fuel their metabolic processes. The constant availability of seeds, compared to more seasonal food items like insects or fruits, makes them a consistent dietary staple for many bird species.
Types of Flower Seeds Birds Consume
Many types of flower seeds are appealing to birds, attracting a diverse range of species. Sunflower seeds are a widely favored option, with black oil sunflower seeds popular due to their thin shells and high oil content. Birds such as cardinals, chickadees, finches like goldfinches and house finches, nuthatches, sparrows, titmice, woodpeckers, and blue jays frequently consume them. Striped sunflower seeds, with their thicker shells, are often preferred by larger-billed birds like cardinals and grosbeaks.
Coneflower (Echinacea) seeds also attract a variety of birds, including blue jays, cardinals, goldfinches, chickadees, and mourning doves. Zinnias draw in American goldfinches, house finches, pine siskins, and northern cardinals. Cosmos flowers produce seeds that are eaten by white-throated sparrows, mourning doves, and American goldfinches.
Asters provide food for American goldfinches, black-capped chickadees, blue jays, and nuthatches. Other garden plants like Black-Eyed Susans offer seeds that appeal to finches and chickadees. Sedum and Joe Pye Weed also contribute seeds, attracting chickadees, finches, and goldfinches, especially as the plants dry and stand through the colder months.
Flower Seeds Birds Typically Avoid
While many flower seeds are beneficial, some are generally not consumed by birds due to various characteristics. Seeds with tough husks or unpalatable flavors can deter birds, as they require too much effort to access the nutritional kernel. Safflower seeds, for instance, have thick shells and are often avoided by house sparrows and European starlings, although cardinals and grosbeaks may eat them.
Certain flower seeds also contain compounds that are toxic to birds and other animals. Castor bean (Ricinus communis) seeds are highly poisonous, containing ricin. Ingesting even a few of these seeds can cause severe illness, including diarrhea, emaciation, and organ damage, potentially leading to death. Plants like daffodils and lily of the valley are also recognized for their toxicity to animals, and their seeds would generally be avoided by birds.
Encouraging Birds with Flower Seeds
Attracting birds to a garden with flower seeds can enhance biodiversity and provide a natural spectacle. One effective method involves leaving spent flower heads standing in the garden through fall and winter. This allows birds to forage directly from the plants, accessing seeds from coneflowers, zinnias, and asters. This natural approach can also be healthier for birds compared to relying solely on bird feeders.
Planting a variety of seed-producing flowers is another way to encourage avian visitors. Choosing plants like sunflowers, cosmos, and zinnias ensures a consistent food supply throughout different seasons. Providing bird feeders filled with preferred seeds, such as black oil sunflower seeds, can supplement natural foraging opportunities. Attracting birds offers ecological benefits, including natural pest control as they consume insects and weed seeds, and contributes to overall garden health and beauty.