In the last few years Sunflower Hearts have steadily overtaken Peanuts as one of the most popular seeds to feed our wild garden birds here in the UK. Their soft, spongy texture and healthy composition make them a great year-round seed for all kinds of birds. Here on the Ivel Valley farm they're one of the most popular seeds we offer to our birds and we often see Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Siskins, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Long Tailed Tits and Chaffinches enjoying a hearty nibble.

So what exactly are Sunflower Hearts?

Sunflower Hearts are the inner seed found when you remove the black husk from Black Sunflower Seeds.

Why are Sunflower Hearts good for birds? 

Sunflower Hearts are packed with healthy oils, protein and have a high energy content (high calories) which makes them great for birds in all weathers and stages of life.

- Birds in the winter benefit from the extra energy that Sunflower Hearts offer, helping to keep them warm
- They're packed with plenty of nutrients to help fledglings and chicks grow
- All kinds of birds can eat them, so if you're looking to attract a variety of wild birds to your garden, Sunflower Hearts are a great choice

They're great for all kind of birds because they're much softer than Black Sunflower Seeds. The tough husk on a Black Sunflower Seed is often hard for birds to crack through, especially those that have softer bills, so the spongy, soft Sunflower Heart is an all-round crowd pleaser.

Which birds eat Sunflower Hearts?

Birds that typically enjoy this food tend to be smaller birds with soft bills which can include Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Chaffinches, Collard Doves, Goldfinches, Great Tits, Greenfinches, House Sparrows, Nuthatches, Robins, Siskins, Song Thrushes and Starlings.

How do I feed Sunflower Hearts to birds?

Sunflower Hearts are a versatile seed and can be fed in all standard tubular seed feeders, in tray feeders, and in dishes. A lot of bird seed produced for retail is heat treated to prevent them from moulding and germinating.

This means that there's no harm in offering Sunflower Hearts on the ground or on bird tables - but there's no guarantee that you won't find a stray sunflower at some point.

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