birdseed n : seeds for birds [syn: bird food]

English

Etymology

bird + seed

Noun

1. Seed, usually contituting a mixture from several species of plant, set out as food for birds.

   If you set out birdseed in the winter, cardinals will be encouraged to overwinter.

Bird food is food (often varieties of seeds) eaten by birds. Humans generally make or buy bird food to feed to pet birds or use in birdfeeders. The choice of what to use as birdfood depends on the species of bird being fed.

Bird seeds

Black sunflower seeds are highly recommended for use in bird feeders because they attract a wide variety of birds, have a high ratio of meat to shell, and are high in fat content. Other common birdseeds include niger, or thistle seed, a favorite of goldfinches, millet for sparrows and juncos, and safflower for cardinals, among others.

External links

Bird food preference charts:

• Bird Watcher's Digest Backyard Bird Food Chart
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology Food Preferences Chart

References