Sunflower hearts and chips: which birds eat it
No shells, no mess. Hulled.
Which birds does sunflower hearts and chips attract?
| Bird | Where it feeds | Best feeder |
|---|---|---|
| Goldfinches | Hanging feeder | Nyjer (finch) tube |
| Chickadees | Hanging feeder | Tube feeder |
| Titmice | Hanging feeder | Tube feeder |
| House Finches | Hanging feeder | Tube feeder |
| Nuthatches | Hanging feeder | Suet cage |
| Woodpeckers | Hanging feeder | Tail-prop suet feeder |
| Juncos | Ground or tray | Ground tray |
| Native Sparrows | Ground or tray | Ground tray |
Sunflower hearts and chips: bags from small to bulk
Prices move constantly; the button shows the current figure.
Cheapest per pound among these listings: $2.00 per lb; dearest: $4.40 per lb. Bulk bags only save money if you can store them dry.
How do you feed sunflower hearts and chips?
| Feeder | Tube feeder, Hopper feeder, Platform or tray feeder |
|---|---|
| Squirrels | Loved by squirrels |
| Mess | Almost none: nothing to drop |
| Storage | Spoils faster; buy what you use in a few weeks |
Feeders that suit sunflower hearts and chips
Prices move constantly; the button shows the current figure.
Other seed and food types
Black oil sunflower · Striped sunflower · Safflower · Nyjer (thistle) · White proso millet · Cracked corn · Milo (sorghum) · Shelled peanuts · Peanuts in the shell · Suet and suet dough · Mealworms · Fruit (oranges, apples, berries) · Grape jelly · Nectar (sugar water) · Mixed seed blends
Get the seed-by-bird cheat sheet
Which food brings which bird, the feeder it needs and how to store it, on one printable page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What birds eat sunflower hearts and chips?
goldfinches, chickadees, titmice, house finches, nuthatches, woodpeckers, juncos and sparrows are the main takers. Costs more per pound but nothing is wasted as shell weight, and nothing sprouts under the feeder. The best choice over a patio or deck. Offering it in a tube feeder gives the birds that want it easy access without spilling it for the ones that do not.
Do squirrels eat sunflower hearts and chips?
Loved by squirrels. Put it on a smooth pole with a baffle 4 to 5 feet up, at least 10 feet from anything squirrels can jump from, or use a weight-activated feeder.
How should I store sunflower hearts and chips?
Spoils faster; buy what you use in a few weeks. Keep any seed in a sealed metal can in a cool, dry place so mice, insects and moisture cannot reach it. Throw out anything that smells musty, clumps or shows mould, since mouldy food can make birds sick.
What feeder is best for sunflower hearts and chips?
tube feeder, hopper feeder and platform or tray feeder. The workhorse for small clinging birds. Metal ports resist squirrel chewing. Matching the feeder to the food matters: the wrong ports either jam or pour the food out onto the ground.
Is sunflower hearts and chips messy?
Almost none: nothing to drop. Hulled. If mess under the feeder is a concern, hulled foods such as sunflower hearts leave nothing behind, and a seed tray under the feeder catches most of what is dropped.