birdseed

American

[burd-seed] / ˈbɜrdˌsid /

noun

any seed or mixture of seeds used for feeding birds.
the seed of a grass, Phalaris canariensis, used as food for birds.

birdseed British

/ ˈbɜːdˌsiːd /

noun

Also called: canary seed. a mixture of various kinds of seeds for feeding cagebirds

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of birdseed

First recorded in 1830–40; bird + seed

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

birdseed

Walk down the birdseed aisle in any hardware store and you’ll find an entire product category promising “squirrel-proof” solutions.

From Slate ● Jan. 25, 2026

The true gut punch came when I ran into the store for birdseed and walked straight into a wall of school supplies where beach towels and sunscreen had been.

From Salon ● Sep. 21, 2025

In the suburbs, turkeys can take advantage of edge habitat, like woods and open spaces, and dine on a never-ending buffet of food provided by people—particularly birdseed.

From National Geographic ● Nov. 20, 2023

Recently, while picking up bags of birdseed at a local agriculture supply store, I saw in the parking lot quite a few preassembled sheds ready to be delivered to homes.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 26, 2022

Before I even had a chance to respond, she was already grabbing the birdseed from the cabinet and filling Koocah’s bowl.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023