In the post that I’m going to publish on my blog today, which will be labeled with the heading What Kind Of Birds Eat Thistle Seed?, I’m going to talk about the following topic. I will share with you any and all pertinent information regarding the position. I have high hopes that you will discover this post to be really useful.
Birds That Eat
thistle seed
Lure
american goldfinches
,
pine siskins
, dark-eyed juncos and chickadees with nyjer, a
tiny black seed
that is sometimes called thistle.
Nyjer Seed: What is the difference between nyjer seed and thistle seed
Nyjer seed is NOT thistle The seed is not derived from any native or non-native thistle plant, but instead, Nyjer seed is actually derived from a plant in the same plant tribe as sunflowers. The seed resembles a sunflower seed but is significantly smaller.
Thistle Seed: Why are birds not eating thistle seed
Nancy Castillo, co-owner of the Wild Birds Unlimited store in Saratoga Springs, New York, and author of the blog Zen Birdfeeder, points out that Nyjer contains
natural high-calorie oils
that attract finches. When the oils dry out, the seed loses both its
food value
and its flavor, and birds shun it.
Thistle Seed: Do squirrels eat thistle seed
Squirrels (generally speaking) don’t eat thistle seed , but mice do. Be sure that you don’t allow thistle seed to reach the ground either.
Thistle Seed: Does thistle seed attract rats
Rodents aren’t usually a fan of thistle seed However not all birds enjoy it either, so this may not be a good option depending on what bird species you are hoping to attract. If you do try thistle, it’s best to use a thistle feeder which is made specifically for the small shape of these seeds.
Entire Thistle Seed: Do birds eat the entire thistle seed
Remember, birds don’t eat the whole seed ; they only eat the “meat” inside. The black on the ground is mostly empty shells. Because thistle tends to cost more than most other seeds, people hate to waste it. As result, they don’t rotate the food in their feeders.
Regular Bird Feeder: Can I put thistle seed in a regular bird feeder
Nyjer seed (also referred to as Nyger or thistle), is a small, black seed high in oil content, making it an excellent source of energy for the birds who eat it. Many birders choose to offer Nyjer in their bird feeders throughout the winter months since many non-migratory birds feed on the nutritious seed.
Do finches prefer Nyjer or thistle?
Finches:
Add the best finch feeders to your yard to see flocks of finches visit. When I ask talk to new backyard birders, almost all of them say they want to attract goldfinches. Picking the correct bird feeder and birdseed can determine whether you’ll be seeing finches or not. Finches like to eat nyjer thistle seed.
Regular Bird Feeder: Can you put thistle in a regular bird feeder
Thistle—sometimes called Nyjer®—is ideal for attracting finches, pine siskins, buntings and juncos. Because of its small size, thistle is best offered from a finch feeder Whether it’s a tube feeder with narrow ports, a screen feeder or a mesh sock, finch feeders allow you to serve thistle without any waste.
Thistle Seed: Do cardinals eat thistle seed
Birds with larger, less adept bills such as cardinals, starlings, and grosbeaks cannot easily munch on thistle seed , and they are more likely to use other feeders and try other seeds instead.
Thistle Feeder: Why won’t finches come to my thistle feeder
Finches Need Clean Feeders Finches don’t like dirty feeders and will avoid a feeder if it’s moldy or otherwise unclean When it rains, seed can also become clumpy, and the birds won’t be able to pull seeds out of the feeder. Adding a weather guard to your feeder can prevent the seeds from getting wet and clumping.
Bird Seed Cause Weeds: Does thistle bird seed cause weeds
Birdseed makes a weedy mess when it is scattered on the ground in part because the seed is minimally processed and still able to germinate No-waste birdseed comes pre-hulled so that it can’t germinate if it lands on the ground.
Bird Seed: What bird seed do squirrels hate
Seed: While squirrels will readily sample most types of birdseed, they are less attracted to nyjer and
safflower seed
, both of which have a slightly bitter taste. By using these seeds exclusively, you close the squirrel snack bar without eliminating feeding the birds.
Bird Seed: What bird seed will squirrels not eat
Using the right foods. Buy foods that squirrels do not like. Nyjer seed, millet, safflower, canary seed and canola seed all are ingredients that squirrels avoid.
Coffee Grounds: Will coffee grounds keep squirrels away
Coffee grounds will often keep squirrels away However, they need to be replenished frequently and may not be a good fit for every area that needs to be squirrel-proofed.
Thistle Seed: How do I feed thistle seed to birds
The two most commonly used types of thistle feeder are a tube feeder with small, thistle-seed-sized holes, and a thistle sock A thistle sock is a fine-mesh, synthetic bag that is filled with Nyjer seed. Small finches can cling to this bag and pull seeds out through the mesh.
Thistle Seed: Do birds eat thistle seed in the winter
Nyjer (sometimes spelled nyger or niger) or thistle seed is a favorite food of winter finches such as
pine siskins
and common redpolls. This is another oily seed that offers a lot of calories, helping birds store the fat they need to keep warm through the season.
Why have my goldfinches stopped coming to feeder?
Goldfinches:
Because of this, their nesting time coincides with the weed seed crop of late summer (July and August), which is much later than most other songbirds. During this part of the year, Goldfinches are busy, well..getting busy, so they tend not to visit our feeders as often as they do the rest of the year.
Why is nyjer seed so expensive?
Expensive:
It’s one of the more expensive seeds due to the transport costs from tropical regions and because it is heat sterilized to kill weed seeds such as Dodder that is present in many Niger seed harvests.
Why do birds throw seed out of feeder?
Feeder:
Birds throw seed hulls from the feeder Birds eat the meat of the seed, the kernel They discard the seed’s fibrous outer covering, the hull. If you examine the seeds under the feeder you may see that it is mostly the two inedible halves of the hull that have been tossed on the ground.
Thistle Year: Do birds eat thistle year round
Birds eat thistle all year round: spring, summer, fall, and winter Birds especially like thistle or Niger seeds in winter. They can attract siskins and redpolls that may not be an every-year bird in your area. Young goldfinches in fall may really swarm to your thistle feeders!.
Thistle Seed: Do blackbirds eat thistle seed
Fill Finch Feeders with Thistle Seed To get rid of grackles and blackbirds, supply food they won’t eat To feed finches, fill hanging tube feeders with only nyjer seed (thistle).
How long does nyjer seed last?
This also means that the nyjer seed has a very short shelf life – nyjer can go stale in as little as 4-6 weeks during the summer For this reason, it is important to only buy as much nyjer as your birds will eat in that period of time. Due to the small size of the seed, nyjer requires special feeders.
Bird Food: What is eating my bird food at night
There are a variety of animals that will eat birdseed at night. In the USA the main culprits are rodents, squirrels, chipmunks, skunks, opossum, raccoons, deer, and bears These animals are opportunistic eaters and bird feeders are an easy food source especially when supplies are scarce.
Cayenne Pepper: Is it OK to put
cayenne pepper
in bird seed
Using Cayenne Pepper in bird seed is not harmful to birds at all People use it in their bird seed feeders to deter squirrels and other rodent pests. This is something recommended by the RSPB.
Irish Spring Soap: Does Irish Spring soap keep squirrels away
Squirrels can be one of the trickiest garden pests to deal with. They chomp on
flower bulbs
and other leaves, dig up your favorite plants, and otherwise love to wreck your garden. Protect it by grating some Irish Spring soap around your plants. Squirrels can’t stand the smell of it and will stay away.
Bird Seed: Is it OK to put bird seed on the ground
Can I just throw bird seed out on the ground in my yard? Yes, you can throw bird seed out on the ground Many birds will eat seed on the ground. But it could become messy, attract pests, and harm the birds if not done with some planning and forethought.
Bird Seed: What bird seed do rats not eat
Offer Unappealing Food Rats hate the spiciness, but birds can’t taste it. In addition, try to choose birdseed that does not contain a lot of grains, such as millet or sorghum, and peanuts or sunflower seeds The husks of those fillers tend to end up on the ground and easily attract rats.
How long does thistle bird seed last?
Bird seeds last for 6-12 months with proper storage. Store the seeds in a cool, dry place to preserve maximum freshness.
Bird Feeder: How often should I refill bird feeder
Refill your feeders only once per day Natural food sources come and go during the year, so birds are always looking for new supplies. Birds are unlikely to starve if you stop feeding birds in your backyard.
Thistle Feeder: Where do you put a thistle feeder
Feeders left out in the open cause finches to feel vulnerable to predators. Placing your feeders near trees and shrubs encourages safety. Position your feeders 10 to 12 feet away from shelters so that birds can quickly escape when a predator approaches. Birds prefer feeders that are hung higher than the head height.
What birds are attracted to nyjer seed?
Birds:
The most common bird you’ll attract with nyjer seed is the finch Nyjer feeders are sometimes called “finch tubes” or “finch socks” because they’re the main eaters of nyjer seed. They’ll also attract other clinging birds such as pine siskins, nuthatches, and chickadees.
Thistle Seed: Do finches like thistle seed
Finches like backyards that have open, grassy field-like space. Plant grassy, weedy species, as well as plants and flowers with many seeds. Goldfinches are known to enjoy thistle plants They eat the thistle plant seeds and use the mature thistle down in their nests during breeding season.
Nyjer Seed: Why is nyjer seed called thistle
It was originally called Niger but frequently got mispronounced as a racial slur So many retailers referred to it as thistle. Since some got confused that it might be seeds of the noxious weed thistle, some cities tried to ban its sale.
Nyjer Seed: Will squirrels eat nyjer seed
Squirrels love birdseed (as well as nuts, sunflower seeds, fruit, and corn), but they don’t favor everything that birds eat. So stock your bird feeder with such fare as safflower seed, nyjer seed, and white proso millet, which squirrels don’t care for and they’ll likely head elsewhere for their next meal.
How do I attract goldfinches to my feeder?
Feeder:
Goldfinches are are big fans of bird feeders. Although goldfinches will eat most small seeds, they love thistle (Nyjer) and sunflower seeds. Keep goldfinches coming back by replacing uneaten food every three to four weeks Make sure the seed stays dry.
Nyjer Seed: Will Cardinals eat Nyjer seed
Natural fruits that attract these birds include blueberry bushes, mulberry trees, and other dark-colored berries. Bird seeds that have been known to attract Cardinals include black oil sunflower, cracked corn, suet, Nyjer ® seed , mealworms, peanuts, safflower, striped sunflower, and sunflower hearts and chips.
House Sparrows: Do
house sparrows
eat Nyjer seed
B. First, House Sparrows don’t particularly like nyjer seed , and it’s almost never their first choice among foods. Second, most people put Nyjer seed inside of feeders that ONLY use Nyjer seed. While possible, House Sparrows have a bit of trouble using these types of feeders.
Bird Seed: What bird seed do blue jays like
Feed. Blue jays enjoy nuts, especially peanuts–whole or already shelled. They also like common bird feed like suet, cracked corn, and black oil sunflower seeds However, blue jays will need to feed on a platform feeder or a large tray because of their size.
Thistle Seed: What does thistle seed grow into
Although sometimes also called thistle or niger, the nyjer seed sold today is not a thistle at all. Rather, it is a daisy-like plant, known as Guizotia abyssinica. Nyjer is an annual flower with bright, yellow-orange flower heads that turn into seed pods.
Bird Seed: What bird seed do Robins eat
Robins are natural ground feeders, so feeding trays are ideal. Make a mixture of bird seed, sunflower hearts and mealworms , sprinkle it out on a tray and wait for the robins to arrive.
References
https://www.amazon.com/Thistle-Seed-Birds/s?k=Thistle+Seed+for+Birds
https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/kaytee-thistle-seed-wild-bird-food
https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/beginners/attracting-birds/laura-erickson-tells-why-finches-might-not-eat-the-nyjer-seed-you-provide/
https://www.thomaspestservices.com/blog/post/how-to-reduce-unwanted-animals-at-bird-feeders