Nyjer Seed (Guizotia abyssinica)

Nyjer seed is produced from the annual Ramtil plant (Guizotia abyssinica) which has yellow, daisy-like flowers. The seed is technically a fruit called an achene. It is grown as a crop for its edible oil as well as for the seed which is used in some curries and used in some dry chutneys.

It is imported from Ethiopia and southern parts of India. The importation costs and costs to sterilize the seed in order to prevent it from becoming an invasive weed as well as to kill Dodder seed which can contaminate the Nyjer seed, make it a relatively expensive bird food.

The word 'Nyjer' was created in 1998 and a registered trademark of the Wild Bird Feeding Institute, doing business as the Wild Bird Feeding Industry.  Originally it was sold as 'Thistle Seed', so the term was created to differentiate the two products as thistle seed is less desirable and a cheaper product as it is lower in both calories and oil.  The 'yj' was used to avoid the possibility of mispronouncing the word with any racial connotations of the word 'Niger' or 'Nigger'.

Niger seed must be fresh when offered to birds. You can tell if it is fresh by taking a close look at it. If fresh it will be shiny black. Old and less fresh seed will look more brown than black and birds will not eat it quite is readily. It also must be kept dry as birds will not be eaten by birds if is moist, and easily goes mouldy if left in the rain.

Goldfinches will be the biggest customers to the feeders but you will also find other finches and siskins attracted to the food.  There is little point putting Nyjer seed out (which incidentally need special feeders) if you do not have goldfinch or other finches in your garden already.

Other names for Nyjer seed are Thistle, Niger, Noog, Ramtil, Ramtilla, Inga or Black seed.