Many of us try to watch our calories. Unfortunately, this means we have to avoid or eat small amounts of some of our tastiest culinary delights.  Such is the case with birds.  Some of the best foods they can consume are high in calories.

       With that in mind, pound for pound sunflower seeds are packed with more calories than any of the other birdseeds on the market.

       Black oil sunflower seeds have thin hulls. This makes them easier for smaller birds to separate the hearts from the shell.

       When I began feeding birds quite some time ago, the only sunflower seeds available were striped sunflower seeds. They are much larger than black oil sunflower seeds. In addition, their seed coats are difficult for small birds to breach.  Also, their hulls make a bigger mess than black oil sunflower seeds hulls.

       You can also purchase hulled sunflower seeds (often called sunflower seed hearts).  The birds love ‘em, and they don’t leave a mess.  They are, however, more expensive and spoil much quicker than unhulled sunflower seeds.

       Well, there you have it.  While we tend to shy away from foods loaded with calories, they are great for birds.