Striped Sunflower Seeds are also know as stripers, due to the seeds striped outer shell are larger than black sunflower seeds and have a harder, thicker husk, making them more difficult for small wild birds to eat and are often included in parrot seed and fruit mixes that can easily manage to crack open the seeds in seconds. Larger wild birds such as jays, woodpeckers and nuthatches are also attracted to the seed and have no problems either breaking and removing the striped sunflower husks to eat the delectable high energy nutmeat inside.
Due to the popularity of striped sunflower seeds as snacks for human consumption, the crops are screened so that the largest striped seeds are kept for us and the smaller sunflower seeds are used in wild bird food products! Striped sunflower seeds are nutritious and a good source of protein, dietary fibre, carbohydrates, fat and oil, but also linoleic acid an essential fatty acid, calcium, magnesium, zinc, vitamin E, b vitamins, potassium, selenium, iron, phosphorus and cholesterol lowering phytosterols, that are beneficial to both wild birds and people!
Striped sunflower seeds are also very popular with squirrels, making them an inexpensive treat that will help you encourage them away from bird feeders, allowing small birds especially, to eat without interruption and competition from hungry squirrels. Feeding striped sunflower seeds, makes sense if you want to encourage as many wild birds into your garden as possible, as larger birds and squirrels will be attracted by the striped sunflowers, allowing smaller birds to eat more freely from bird feeders.
Striped Sunflower Seeds - Nutritional Information
- High energy nutmeat
- Larger than black sunflower seeds
- Seeds contain high levels of oil and fibre
- Suitable for large birds and parrots, but also squirrels
- Rich in beneficial nutrients, protein and essential fatty acids
