Black Oil Sunflower Seed

What Birds Love It, Best Feeders, and Backyard Tips

If bird seed had a greatest hits album, black oil sunflower seed would be track one. It’s the most popular seed for backyard feeders for one simple reason.

Birds can’t get enough of it.

It works in every season, attracts a wide range of birds, and delivers serious value per scoop. If you’re starting a feeder or fixing one that’s been weirdly quiet.

This is the seed to try first.

What Birds Love Black Oil Sunflower Seed?

This seed is a crowd-pleaser. You’ll attract:

• Cardinals

• Chickadees

• Blue Jays

• Finches

• Nuthatches

• Woodpeckers

• Grosbeaks

• Titmice

It has a thin shell and a high oil content, so birds get more energy with less effort. Small birds can crack it. Bigger birds crush it. Everyone wins.

If your goal is “more birds, faster,” this is your seed.

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Best Feeder for Black Oil Sunflower Seed

This seed plays nice with almost every feeder style, but these work best:

• Tube Feeders are great for small birds like finches and chickadees

• Hopper Feeders are ideal for mixed flocks and higher traffic

• Platform Feeders can attract ground-feeding birds and larger species

Avoid feeders that trap moisture. Damp seed turns into bird soup, and no one wants that.

Tip: Pair this seed with a squirrel-resistant feeder unless you enjoy funding the neighborhood squirrel gym.

Common Problems (and Easy Fixes)

If birds are tossing seed everywhere, take that as a good sign. They are sorting for their favorites. A tray under your feeder catches most of the fallout, or switch to a no-mess blend if cleanup makes you grumpy.

If seed starts sprouting on the ground, that is not a failure. It means your seed is fresh. Rake it up, move the feeder, or place it over mulch so your yard does not turn into a surprise garden.

When squirrels take over, it is time for a little strategy. Add a baffle, move feeders farther from trees, or accept that squirrels run a very determined operation.

And if no birds show up right away, give it a few days. Birds spread the word fast. Once one finds it, the rest of the neighborhood usually follows.

Black Oil Sunflower Seed FAQ

• What birds eat black oil sunflower seed?

  Cardinals, finches, chickadees, blue jays, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and more. It attracts one of the widest bird mixes of any seed.

• Is black oil sunflower seed better than striped sunflower seed?

  For most backyards, yes. Black oil has thinner shells and more fat, so more birds can eat it.

• Can squirrels eat black oil sunflower seed?

  Unfortunately, yes. They love it. This is why feeder placement and baffles exist.

• Should I feed birds year-round?

  Yes. Birds rely on feeders in every season, especially during winter and nesting months.

• Why are birds throwing seed on the ground?

  They are picky. They sort through to find their favorites.

• How much seed do birds eat?

  In winter, a busy feeder can go through a pound a day. Birds eat more when it is cold.

You can find fresh, scoop-your-own black oil sunflower seed at Merriam Feed. Bring your own container or grab one of ours. We will help you pick the right feeder while you are here.