Birdseed use. No nationwide statistics are kept on sunflower birdseed usage, but it is certain that hundreds of thousands of acres are used for this purpose. Sunflower is considered the premium component in most birdseed mixes, and is priced higher than other typical birdseed components such as sorghum, millet, or cracked corn. Although confectionery sunflower that doesn’t meet food grade standards is usually sold into the birdseed market, most of what is used for birdseed is the oilseed type. From a packagers perspective, the oilseed type is used because it is cheaper than confectionery. However, the reason birdseed feeding books recommend use of the oilseed type is due to its thinner hulls and smaller seed size, making it easier for small songbirds to eat. Birds do not care if the sunflower seed is striped or black, but most buyers want black seed for uniformity in what they package.