birdseed

noun

bird·​seed ˈbərd-ˌsēd How to pronounce birdseed (audio)
: a mixture of seeds (as of hemp, millet, and sunflowers) used for feeding caged and wild birds

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Portland Press Herald/Getty Images A chickadee takes a piece of birdseed. Heather Souvaine Horn, The New Republic, 17 Mar. 2023 To develop good pheasant habitat, Roseland converted much of his ranch into wild grassland (that the cows are kept off of), left tree belts intact and marshes undrained, and planted crops like milo, which is one of the grains found in commercial birdseed. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 1 Apr. 2021 Miss me with this birdseed. Zoe Guy, Marie Claire, 5 Mar. 2021 With wildlife biology unlikely to change, the onus is on humans to reduce the risks, and experts recommended that people dispose of trash properly and store birdseed, pet food, garbage and other animal attractants in secure, indoor spaces. Emily Anthes, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2023 These birdseed mixes can be customized by Zip code to attract native species. Mari-jane Williams, Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2022 And the costs to keep the canary on duty would be appealingly low, only requiring everyday birdseed. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2021 Clean up birdseed that has fallen below the feeders to discourage large numbers of birds and other wildlife from congregating in a concentrated area. Elissa Welle, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'birdseed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of birdseed was in 1661

Dictionary Entries Near birdseed

Cite this Entry

“Birdseed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/birdseed. Accessed 2 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

birdseed

noun
bird·​seed ˈbərd-ˌsēd How to pronounce birdseed (audio)
: a mixture of seeds (as of sunflowers and millet) used for feeding birds

More from Merriam-Webster on birdseed

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