Niger seeds are a firm favorite for wild birds, but what do we actually know about this small and exotic seed? If you’re new to this type of premium bird food, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to this seed and look at why you should start using it in your garden.
Guizotia abyssinica, the source of niger seed.
What is Niger Seed?
Nyjer seed, also commonly known as thistle seed, is not related to the actual thistle plant but comes from the African yellow daisy (Guizotia abyssinica). It actually comes from the Ethiopian highlands. It’s also located in other parts of Africa such as Malawi. This tiny, fine seed is black in colour but usually sprouts into a yellow colored flower.
Guizotia abyssinica is the scientific name and it is often mistaken for a thistle, which it isn’t. To be honest, no one has really agreed on what the correct term is. Niger, nijer, nyjer or thistle seed are the main variations, but it doesn’t really matter which one you use.
Other than bird feed, this seed can be used for human consumption. You will find the oil and the seed in recipes for curries, chutneys and other foods.
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Why is Niger Seed Good for Birds?
Because it is rich in oil and high in nutrition, it makes it an outstanding food for garden birds all year round. It’s even better used as winter bird food as it will give garden birds an extra calorie hit that will help them store fat to keep them warm.
A typical niger seed feeder.
Which Birds Eat Niger Seed?
Smaller seed-eating birds like Finches and Sparrows have developed into experts at eating this tiny seeds. These species have smaller pointed and sharp beaks, ideal for cracking open the shells of the seed. These smaller birds are acrobatic when they feed from a niger seed feeder, often seen feeding from them upside down.
Although nyjer seed is commonly fed to goldfinches and pine siskins, other birds can develop a taste for this small seed. We have found chickadees will indeed partake of nyjer seed, especially when that is all that is available.
Yesterday, while watching one of our tube feeders filled with nyjer seed, I noticed a substantial amount of chickadees were coming to our humble offering. Literally, every 30 seconds or so for several hours, countless numbers of black-capped chickadees were coming and going to or from the feeder in a non-stop feeding frenzy.
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Be wary though, this will also encourage big bully birds like pigeons who will scour the floor for any niger seed that has fallen.
Here's a quick look at birds that enjoy niger seeds:
- Goldfinches
- Pine Siskins
- Sparrows
- Finches
- Chickadees
- Redpolls
Choosing the Right Feeder
Due to the small size of the seed, nyjer requires special feeders. Feeders with either small holes or small mesh are required to prevent the seed from spilling on the ground as would happen with feeders with larger ports. Nyjer is also an expensive seed so you don't want to waste money as well as seed.
Nyjer feeders are available in a variety of sizes. Mesh feeders are great for people with lots of goldfinches. Nyjer tube feeders come in a variety of sizes: we recommend feeders that offer the "easy clean" style where the bottom is quickly removed to make cleaning easy. If space is an issue, you can also use "thistle sacks" to feed nyjer.
Just about any type of feeder is suitable for chickadees, including a finch feeder. We use tube feeders, mesh feeders, and hopper feeders, and the chickadee is well adapted to utilize them all. In preference, however, we prefer to put out a standard hopper style feeder for the chickadees.
Read also: Learn about Lovebirds
Keeping Niger Seed Fresh
One word of caution I would like to give about nyjer seed is that this particular seed seems to be very prone to getting moldy when even a little bit of moisture is present. Because nyjer seed is an imported seed, it is heat sterilized before it enters North America. This treatment kills any weed seeds that may have been packaged accidently with the nyjer and prevents the spread of any invasive plants. 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.
Goldfinches enjoying niger seeds.
When feeding nyjer seed, make sure the feeder is dry and clean. If you only have a small number of birds using it, which isn’t uncommon during the summer months, consider not filling the feeder all the way to the top, leaving it only partially full. Also, check the feeder itself each time you fill it with seeds. Look for mold or seeds sticking to the sides of the feeder and clean the feeder if it looks like mold is setting in. Routine cleaning is a good habit to get into each time you fill your feeder.
Birds, including chickadees, don’t eat the whole thistle seed but only eat the meat portion from inside the hardened shell.
Tips for Success:
- Freshness Matters: Ensure the niger seed is fresh when you purchase it.
- Clean Feeders: Regularly clean feeders to prevent mold and keep birds coming back.
- Feeder Placement: Experiment with feeder locations to find what works best in your yard.
Chickadees are a fun and interesting bird to have at your feeders. Whatever food you put out for the chickadees in your area, enjoy them as much as we do.
Niger Feeder Goldfinch Flocker
Along with niger seed, we also stock a wide range of high-quality and affordable bird food products in our online store.
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