Sunflower hearts cost more per pound but leave nothing behind for you to clean up, while black oil sunflower costs less per pound and still feeds a wide range of birds, including the ones that forage on the ground below a feeder. The right choice comes down to whether mess-free feeding or lower cost per bag matters more in your yard.
What's the Main Difference Between Black Oil Sunflower and Sunflower Hearts?
Black Oil Sunflower is a whole, shelled seed: birds crack it open and discard the hull, so some seed falls to the ground unopened or in pieces. Sunflower Hearts are the same seed with the shell already removed, so every piece in the bag is edible and nothing is left over once a bird takes it.
Which Seed Is Messier?
Black Oil Sunflower is the messier of the two. Its own product page calls out "the amount of unopened seed and shells discarded by the birds as they eat it" as its one real drawback, and that fallen seed and husk builds up on the ground under a feeder over time. Sunflower Hearts' product page describes it as "the only true no-mess, no-waste seed," since there's no shell to fall and the birds eat the whole thing.
Which Seed Is Better Value for the Price?
Per pound, Black Oil Sunflower is the cheaper seed at every bag size Urban Nature Store sells: its 50 lb bag works out to a little over $1 a pound, against roughly $2.25 a pound for a 50 lb bag of Sunflower Hearts. But the Sunflower Hearts product page states that 75 lb of black oil sunflower is needed to match the nutrition in 25 lb of hearts, since a large share of that 75 lb is inedible hull. Once that ratio is factored in, the two seeds land close to each other in cost for the same amount of actual feeding value, while Sunflower Hearts save the cleanup.
Which Birds Prefer Each Seed?
Black Oil Sunflower is popular with sparrows, doves and finches, and the seed that falls to the ground is commonly eaten by ground feeders such as pigeons and doves. Sunflower Hearts are especially popular with cardinals, chickadees and finches, according to Urban Nature Store's own product listings.
Does One Work Better in a Tube or Squirrel-Proof Feeder?
Both Black Oil Sunflower and Sunflower Hearts work well in a tube feeder. Urban Nature Store's own guide to winter bird food calls tube feeders ideal for both seeds, since the tube protects either one from snow and keeps it clean until a bird feeds.
Which Should You Buy?
Choose Sunflower Hearts if a clean patio or lawn matters more than the price per bag, or if cardinals, chickadees and finches are the birds you most want to keep coming back. Choose Black Oil Sunflower if a lower price per bag matters more than mess, or if you're happy to let ground-feeding birds such as doves and pigeons clean up what falls. Either seed is available online and at Urban Nature Store's ten Ontario locations, backed by the store's price match guarantee and 45-day return policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Does Black Oil Sunflower Leave So Much Waste Under a Feeder?
Birds crack the shell open to get at the seed inside and drop the empty hull, and some whole seed falls uneaten, so both the hulls and the dropped seed build up on the ground over time.
Do Ground-Feeding Birds Benefit From the Seed Black Oil Sunflower Leaves Behind?
Yes. The fallen seed under a Black Oil Sunflower feeder is commonly eaten by ground-feeding birds such as pigeons and doves, according to the product's own description.
Is a 50 lb Bag of Black Oil Sunflower Cheaper Than a 50 lb Bag of Sunflower Hearts?
Yes. A 50 lb bag of Black Oil Sunflower costs $52.95, compared to $112.95 for a 50 lb bag of Sunflower Hearts, more than double the price for the same weight.
Which Seed Attracts Cardinals More Reliably?
Sunflower Hearts. Urban Nature Store lists cardinals among the birds most popular with Sunflower Hearts, while Black Oil Sunflower's own listing names sparrows, doves and finches instead.
Can Sunflower Hearts Be Fed on Their Own Instead of Mixed With Other Seed?
Yes. Urban Nature Store's own description recommends Sunflower Hearts as the one seed to offer if you can only offer a single kind of birdseed, since it already appeals to a wide range of species without being mixed with anything else.
