Food entry
Black-oil sunflower
The universal best single seed — thin shells, high oil, eaten by nearly everything.
At a glance
| Brings | Northern Cardinal · Blue Jay · Black-capped Chickadee · White-breasted Nuthatch · Tufted Titmouse · House Finch · American Goldfinch · Mourning Dove · Downy Woodpecker · Dark-eyed Junco |
|---|---|
| Feeder | Tube feeder · Hopper feeder · Platform feeder · Smart camera feeder |
How to offer it
If you buy one bag of seed, buy this one. Black-oil sunflower has a thinner shell than striped sunflower, so small-billed birds like chickadees and titmice can open it, and its high oil content makes it worth the trip for nearly every feeder species. It works in every dry-seed feeder type we list.
What to skip
Skip the bargain "wild bird mix" bags built on milo and other filler grains — most feeder birds rake them aside and the milo ends up sprouting under your feeder. A plain bag of black-oil sunflower beats a cheap mix every time.
FAQ
Which birds does black-oil sunflower attract?
Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Dark-eyed Junco. The universal best single seed — thin shells, high oil, eaten by nearly everything.
What feeder should I put black-oil sunflower in?
Tube feeder or Hopper feeder or Platform feeder or Smart camera feeder. If you buy one bag of seed, buy this one. Black-oil sunflower has a thinner shell than striped sunflower, so small-billed birds like chickadees and titmice can open it, and its high oil content makes it worth the trip for nearly every feeder species.
What should I avoid with black-oil sunflower?
Skip the bargain "wild bird mix" bags built on milo and other filler grains — most feeder birds rake them aside and the milo ends up sprouting under your feeder. A plain bag of black-oil sunflower beats a cheap mix every time.