What are sunflower hearts?
Sunflower hearts, also known as sunflower kernels or hulled sunflower seeds, are the inner meat of the sunflower seed without the hard outer shell. These sunflower hearts are rich in essential nutrients like protein, fat, and vitamins, making them a highly nutritious food source for birds.
Bird enthusiasts often use sunflower hearts as a primary ingredient in bird feeders, mixes, and blends, as they are known to attract a wide variety of bird species.
The benefits of sunflower hearts for birds
Birds love sunflower hearts and they offer a lot of health benefits for all the birds.
Packed with essential nutrients, including vitamins, protein and fibre, sunflower hearts provides birds with the energy they need for activities like foraging, nesting, and migration.
Unlike whole sunflower seeds that require birds to crack open the hard shell, sunflower hearts are already hulled, making them effortless for birds to consume as they can eat the whole seed. This accessibility makes them particularly attractive to smaller birds, like the Long Tailed Tit, and those with less powerful beaks.
Sunflower hearts have a relatively long shelf life when stored properly, making them a convenient and practical option for bird feeding. This extended shelf life ensures that bird enthusiasts can keep their feeders stocked without worrying about spoilage, ultimately reducing waste and ensuring a consistent food source for visiting birds.
What wild birds eat sunflower hearts?
Sunflower hearts are highly favoured by a diverse array of different birds due to their rich nutrient content and easy accessibility.
Some small birds you might feed sunflower hearts to are: the Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Collared Dove, Coal Tit, Great Tit, and Blackbirds. Please note sunflower hearts and not for human consumption.
Larger birds like the Common Magpie, Eurasian Nuthatch, and European Green finch are attracted to these nutritious seeds as well. Ground feeding birds such as the Song Thrush and House Sparrow also benefit from sunflower hearts scattered on the ground or in low bird ground feeders.
What season should I put sunflower hearts out?
Sunflower hearts can be offered to birds throughout the year, making them a versatile and popular choice for bird feeding.
They are particularly beneficial during the colder months when birds require extra energy for maintaining body heat and survival. However, keeping feeders stocked with sunflower heart chips throughout the year can support birds during different stages of their life cycles, ensuring a thriving and healthy bird population in your area.
Additionally, during the breeding season in spring and summer, sunflower hearts provide essential nutrients for parent birds as they raise their young, supporting their increased energy demands.
Where is the best place to put Sunflower hearts for birds?
The best place to put sunflower hearts for birds is in a location that is easily accessible to them while also providing safety from predators and adverse weather conditions.
A traditional bird feeder or a bird table placed near trees shrubs or natural covers is the perfect place for a sunflower hearts feeding station. Place the bird feeder so it is visible from nearby cover so that birds can easily spot it from a distance and feel confident feeding there.
Ensure that the sunflower hearts aren't going to see too much rain so the feed remains fresh and keep the area clean of debris.
Where can I buy sunflower hearts for birds?
Sunflower hearts are a great, year round feeding option for all type of birds in your garden. They are available to buy here at the Awesome Wildlife Company.
With our expert team only sourcing premium and quality product and bird feed, you can be sure that our sunflower hearts are a great option for your seed feeders and bird table.
Are black sunflower seeds or sunflower hearts better for birds?
Black sunflower seed and sunflower hearts are excellent bird food choices for feeding birds, and each has its own advantages.
Black sunflower seeds have a high oil content, which provides garden birds with a concentrated source of energy, especially during colder months but wild birds have to crack these sunflower seeds open themselves.
Sunflower hearts are already hulled, eliminating the need for birds to crack open shells and reducing waste from discarded husks. This makes them a cleaner option for garden birds feeding areas.
