Sunflower seeds are a popular food source for many birds, but not all bird species eat them. There are some types of birds that tend not to eat sunflower seeds for a variety of reasons.
Seed Size
One factor that determines which birds eat sunflower seeds is the size of the seeds. Sunflower seeds can be quite large, which means birds with smaller beaks struggle to open and eat them.
Small songbirds such as finches, warblers, and chickadees have tiny pointed beaks that are best suited for eating insects and very small seeds. Their beaks lack the strength to crack open large sunflower seed hulls.
Larger bird species such as cardinals, grosbeaks, nuthatches, and woodpeckers have thicker, sturdier beaks that can easily split sunflower shells. So they have no trouble feasting on sunflower seeds.
Examples of Small Birds That Don’t Eat Sunflower Seeds
- Goldfinches
- House wrens
- Bluebirds
- Hummingbirds
- Kinglets
- Warblers
Seed Preference
Some birds are very selective about which seeds they prefer to eat. Even though sunflower seeds are nutritious, some species instinctively gravitate towards other seed types.
Sparrows, juncos, redpolls, and snow buntings would much rather eat tiny grass and weed seeds than larger sunflower seeds. They primarily forage for seeds on the ground.
Meanwhile, goldfinches and siskins use their tiny beaks to pry seeds out of thistles and dandelions. They ignore sunflower seeds in favor of smaller soft seeds.
Examples of Ground Feeding Birds That Ignore Sunflower Seeds
- Juncos
- Sparrows
- Towhees
- Snow buntings
Examples of Birds That Prefer Soft Seeds
- Goldfinches
- Pine siskins
- Redpolls
Diet
Some birds simply do not include seeds of any kind in their regular diet. Even though sunflower seeds provide fat and protein, they don’t appeal to species that primarily eat other foods.
Insectivorous birds like swallows, swifts, nighthawks, and flycatchers feed almost exclusively on flying insects which they catch in mid-air. They rarely come to bird feeders.
Fruit-loving birds including tanagers, orioles, and cedar waxwings get all the nutrients they need from berries and tree fruit. You won’t see them eating sunflower seeds.
Birds of prey such as hawks, eagles, and vultures are carnivorous. They hunt small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and other birds to satisfy their nutritional requirements.
Examples of Primarily Insect-Eating Birds
- Chimney swifts
- Nighthawks
- Flycatchers
- Swallows
Fruit-Eating Bird Species
- Cedar waxwings
- Tanagers
- Orioles
- Thrushes
Birds of Prey That Don’t Eat Seeds
- Hawks
- Eagles
- Falcons
- Vultures
Specialized Beak Structure
Some birds have beaks that are specially adapted for catching and eating prey, which makes it difficult for them to eat seeds. Pelicans, herons, and spoonbills all have long, pouched beaks perfect for catching fish, not crunching seeds.
Shorebirds like sandpipers and plovers probe into sand and mud with their thin pointed beaks searching for invertebrates. Their slender beaks are not built for cracking open sunflower shells.
Woodpeckers use their awl-like beaks to drill into wood and chisel out insects. Their unique beaks are great for extracting bugs but not opening seeds.
Birds With Pouched Beaks Unsuited to Eating Seeds
- Pelicans
- Herons
- Spoonbills
Shorebirds With Beaks for Probing, Not Cracking
- Sandpipers
- Plovers
- Stilts
Woodpeckers With Chisel-like Beaks
- Pileated woodpeckers
- Red-bellied woodpeckers
- Downy woodpeckers
Geographic Location
Where a bird lives can also determine if it will eat sunflower seeds. Some species reside in parts of the world where sunflowers are not native and therefore sunflower seeds are not part of their natural diet.
Australia has many seed-eating parrot species, but the seeds they consume come from eucalyptus trees and grasses, not sunflowers. Species like galahs and cockatiels are unfamiliar with and uninterested in imported sunflower seeds.
Tropical birds such as toucans and parrots living in jungles are surrounded by fruits and insects to eat. They don’t encounter sunflower seeds in their rainforest homes.
Penguins and puffins that live in the Arctic and Antarctic regions feed on fish, squid, and marine invertebrates while swimming in cold oceans. Sunflower seeds simply aren’t part of their habitat.
Australian Parrots That Don’t Eat Sunflower Seeds
- Cockatiels
- Rosellas
- Galahs
Tropical Birds Unfamiliar With Sunflower Seeds
- Toucans
- Parrots
- Hummingbirds
Arctic Birds That Don’t Eat Seeds
- Puffins
- Penguins
- Auklets
Conclusion
While many birds relish sunflower seeds, there are quite a few species that do not eat them. Tiny birds have difficulty cracking the hulls open. Other birds instinctively prefer different seeds or foods like insects and fruit. Shorebirds and aquatic birds have specialized beaks for catching prey not opening seeds. And birds living where sunflowers don’t naturally grow are unfamiliar with sunflower seeds as a food source. Knowing which birds do not eat sunflower seeds can help you choose the best bird feed to attract certain species to your yard.
