The California poppy has officially been the state flower since 1903, which grows throughout California and attracts diverse wildlife, such as bees, butterflies, caterpillars, and deer. But what about birds?
Some birds eat California poppy seeds, whether in the wild or from garden and backyard feeders. Budgies, canaries, finches, parrots, songbirds, and other granivorous birds eat California poppy seeds, which are also a common supplement used in feeds for poultry.
Granivorous and Omnivorous Birds Eat California Poppy Seeds
The staple diet of granivorous birds comprises various types of seeds.
Nyjer, sunflower, and a few other seeds are more popular among birders because they attract many species to their backyards.
California poppy seeds can also serve the same purpose for birders and birds.
You can feed California poppy seeds to your pet budgies or parakeets.
However, the different wild bird species that might eat California poppy seeds from your outdoor feeders depend on where you are.
Suppose you want to attract finches, as most species and subspecies of these birds might eat California poppy seeds.
If you are in California, you may attract house finches and pine siskins throughout the state.
But Cassin’s finches and purple finches have a smaller range in California.
The gray-crowned rosy finch is confined to only a few inland regions in Northern California, and the black-rosy finch is barely found in the state.
The brown-capped rosy finch isn’t found in the state, but birders in New Mexico may attract the species with California poppy seeds.
California poppy grows in the wild in several parts of New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon, and Nevada.
Unlike the distinct ranges of finches, the house sparrow is a perennial resident throughout the United States.
That means that you will probably find house sparrows at feeders loaded with California poppy seeds.
Song sparrows have a year-round presence in most parts of the state and are likely to visit your bird seed feeders.
You may also attract the white-crowned sparrow, a wintering species in many regions of California.
While finches are mostly granivorous, they can adapt their diet to eat insects depending on the season.
Likewise, sparrows are drawn to various seeds, but they are largely omnivorous.
The same is true for most songbirds you may find in your area.
Many Birds Don’t or May Not Eat California Poppy Seeds
Carnivorous birds don’t eat seeds. Many omnivorous species aren’t drawn to bird feeders.
This is either due to their ground feeding habits or because they like to hunt for their food, such as arthropods or insects.
Such birds are unlikely to be interested in California poppy seeds.
Some birds are fond of seeds but can be picky about the type.
Birds are generally opportunistic feeders, so they don’t mind the type of seed as long as it isn’t stale.
But you might have more luck with sunflower seeds than California poppies if you want to attract scrub jays.
California scrub jays are found throughout the year in most state regions.
But they prefer sunflower seeds and crushed peanuts at bird feeders, so they might respond to nyjer but not to California poppy seeds.
You may still try using a mix of different seeds for various birds.
Many companies selling bird seeds have an assortment to attract multiple species. You can either buy a mix or make a blend at home.
Are California Poppy Seeds Safe for Birds?
California poppy is an abundant wildflower in the state. The popular species is also known as:
- California sunlight
- Cup of gold
- Golden poppy
Eschscholzia californica, or California poppy, is from the same family of Papaveraceae that the opium poppy plant belongs to.
But the breadseed poppy or opium poppy plant called Papaver somniferum is distinct from California poppies.
There are recorded events of birds getting addicted to poppy crops.
At least one event in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh had wild parrots ravaging opium poppy crops at farms licensed to cultivate Papaver somniferum for the pharmaceutical industry.
BBC and CNN reported on the story and published videos showing these wild parrots wreaking havoc, some gorging on poppy crops up to 40 times a day and a few flying away with entire flowers and pods.
In another incident in Tasmania, Australia, cockatoos almost destroyed the poppy crops of many farmers.
A flock of as many as 300 cockatoos descended on one farmer’s farm and decimated the harvest.
However, the parrots in India or the cockatoos in Australia aren’t really addicted to opium or any narcotic alkaloids.
The wild birds are instead attracted to the high fat and protein content in the poppy seeds.
Poppy seeds have around 50% fat and almost 22% protein.
The nutritious seeds provide a jolt of energy to these wild birds, similar to how people feel after drinking caffeine in coffee or tea.
The instant energy and feeling compel these birds to get “addicted.”
The California poppy plant doesn’t contain opiates, but the seeds are rich in fat and protein.
They won’t harm the birds in any way, whether pets or wild species, and instead, most birds might benefit from the fat and protein intake.
Therefore, you can certainly give California poppy seeds to pet cockatoos and parrots or the other birds in the family, such as budgies and parakeets.
You can also safely feed them to wild birds.
How To Use California Poppy Seeds for Birds
If you have this wildflower growing near your house or you have some in the garden, the poppy seeds may draw some birds.
The flower and the plant will likely attract other animals, too, but the plant won’t entice hummingbirds because it doesn’t produce any nectar.
Birders who use seeds that can germinate, like these Sweet Yards California Orange Poppy Wildflower Seeds (available on Amazon.com), should be cautious of spillage from outdoor feeders, tubes, or platforms.
An alternative like Coops & Feathers Healthy Hen Poppy Seed (available on Amazon.com) might be a better choice.
The Healthy Hen natural supplement is recommended for chicken and duck. Poppy seeds have several health benefits for birds, including the following:
- Improves digestive health
- Source of fiber and protein
- Supports egg production
Healthy Hen poppy seeds are an integral part of the entire lifecycle of poultry, so the supplement is included in feeds for:
- Chicks
- Starters
- Growers
- Layers
- Breeders
You can safely use Healthy Hen poppy seeds for pets and wild birds.
If you already have some California poppy seeds, you can use them in a hanging or ground bird feeder, depending on the species you want to draw.
Consider mixing the poppy seeds with others to entice more birds.