The striped sunflower seeds are also sometimes called “stripers.” The seeds are larger and thicker shelled than the black oil sunflower seeds. For that reason, this seed is more suitable for larger birds such as cardinals, jays, woodpeckers and grosbeaks. There are some smaller birds that can tear through the shell including chickadees, titmice and nuthatches. You can use striped sunflower seed as a distraction for larger birds to keep them away from feeders. Squirrels will also eat these seeds. These are the same seeds that are sold as snacks for us humans. The weight of the shells is approximately 40-50% (which means that only 50-60% of the weight can be actually consumed as food).

The striped sunflower is a good source of protein, carbohydrates and fat.

The term hulled simply means that the shell has already been removed from the meat of the seed. Benefits of this type of seed are; eliminates hulls from accumulating underneath your birdfeeders; and this enables more birds to enjoy the actual meat.

This seed is considered the most desired seed of wild birds. It is because of their smaller size, compared to the striped sunflower, and their thinner shells that make them an attractive meal to many birds. It has very high oil content. Outside of being used as a bird seed, the seeds are also pressed to produce sunflower oil that is used for human consumption. The weight of the shells for this seed is approximately 35-45% (meaning that 55-65% of the seeds are actually food).

Like the striped sunflower, the black oil is a good source of protein, carbohydrates and fat (black oil has a higher fat content).