How to read labels on bird food bags
Poor Quality Mixes
The worst mixes make no claim at all, the label might state "For most wild birds"
They will have names such as All-purpose Seed Mix or Premium Wild Bird Feed.
They will have cheap fillers, usually inexpensive, but most of the ingredients will end up on the ground uneaten or will be eaten by Sparrows and Starlings. Poor Quality Mixes will list milo, wheat, cracked corn, millet, and a small amount of Sunflower Seed. Backyard Birds do not like milo or wheat and only a few will eat corn. Medium Quality Mixes will list millet, sunflower, cracked corn. peanuts, safflower. This counts as a medium quality blend because it's majority ingredient is millet, with a decent amount of sunflower and peanuts. Milo and wheat are used as a poor filler. Excellent Quality Blends are formulated for precise purposes. There is no such thing as good, better and best; each blend is excellent for its intended purpose. The price of each is determined by its ingredients.
Wild Bird Connection Blends (with Shells) Favorites
Dakota Mix - White Proso Millet, Cracked Corn, Sunflower, Oat Grouts. White Millet is the favorite seed of ground feeding birds. The Cracked Corn and Sunflower takes care of Northern Cardinals and other birds (Juncos, Native Sparrows) that feed close to the ground. Place on a tray or feeder close to the ground.
Connection Special - Sunflower (in & out of shell), Peanuts, Cracked Corn, White Millet, Safflower. This is a great blend for most birds. Seed for ground feeders, plus high calorie Sunflower and Peanuts for all other birds.
Deluxe Cardinal - Sunflower (black oil and stripe), Sunflower Hearts, Peanuts, Safflower. This blend has only the good stuff, with a high portion of sunflowers for all the sunflower loving birds. The peanuts add protein and fats to the diet of chickadees, blue jays and attract woodpeckers and other peanut lovers. Cardinal favorite.
Fruit N Nut - Oil Sunflower, Sunflower Hearts, Peanuts, White Millet, Cracked Corn, Cranberries. This blend has everything. Sunflower loving birds and Fruit loving birds.
Wild Bird Connection Blends (no Shells) Favorites
No Waste , No Mess Blends
Kracker Jax - Sunflower Hearts, Peanuts Pieces, Cracked Corn. No seeds have shells. Any seeds that falls will be eaten, no messy shells, no growth of seeds. Pieces are small and easy for Birds to eat.
Wild Bird Delight - Sunflower Hearts, Peanut Pieces. Deluxe blend for all birds, and No Mess.
Rich and Tweet - Sunflower Hearts, Tree Nuts, Fruit, minerals. This blend will attract fruit loving birds. This blend has something for everyone! No Mess.
Bird Food Cylinders - Woodpecker Feast (Seed block with Seed in the shell), Bugs, Nuts, Fruit (Seed Block with no shells and no mess), Disco Inferno ( No shell bird food mixed with hot peppers) Great Food cylinder to keep Squirrels out.
These are all high quality bird foods considered a "less no mess" "no waste" blends.
Peanut Lovers - Woodpeckers and Nuthatches will love shelled peanuts. Blue Jays and Woodpeckers go crazy over peanuts in the shell.
