JCs Wildlife Medium Poly Fly-Thru Bird Feeder I love fly-through feeders like this one. My first recommendation for a Cardinal bird feeder would be to set up a fly-through tray feeder on a sturdy post (if you have space for it). The key thing to remember is that cardinals are large song birds (7 to 9 inches long) and will need something big enough to support them. Want to avoid the mess (and critters) that comes with having a ground feeder? Get a feeder that you can hang or elevate that Cardinals will enjoy! However, for city/suburban bird feeders, you may want to try a different approach… 3. If you live in a rural area with a lot of space, this probably isn’t a big concern for you. Putting seed on the ground is almost certain to attract squirrels, mice, chipmunks, and all sorts of critters. However, there’s a significant downside to this approach. Kaytee Ground Bird Feeder Tray Cardinals love to eat seed from the ground. If you’re looking for a neater option, a simple ground feeder (like the one linked below) is an easy (and cheap) option for Cardinals and other birds. They’re naturally inclined to eat seed straight from the ground. Want to know a secret? You don’t even need a bird feeder for Cardinals. Related: The Definitive Bird Seed Power Rankings 2. I recommend adding suet and peanuts to your feeding station simply to increase your chances of Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Nuthatches, and other birds. Keep an eye out and stock up whenever it’s on sale.Ĭardinals also enjoy eating peanut bits, suet (on occasion), cracked corn, and millet. A 30 pound bag of Cardinal bird seed from Costco is one of the best deal I’ve seen. It’s also become very popular for my Chickadee and House Finch guests. That’s the best value I’ve seen! I almost always have a bag of it on hand. This 30-pound bag of Cardinal and Songbird Blend is typically around $22-$25 (I’ve seen it on sale at $15 too). RELATED: Check out this comprehensive guide to attract a variety of Minnesota birds to your feedersĪn economical option for birdseed is at Costco. This Wagner’s Cardinal blend was the first I ever bought and I’ve had a lot of luck with it (a ton of other birds also love it!)Ĭlick here to purchase Wagner’s Cardinals Blend You can buy a Cardinal birdseed blend that offers an 80/20 mix of sunflower and safflower seeds too. It’s a little pricey, but I’ve seen Cardinals go especially bananas for golden safflower seed, which has slightly higher oil, fat, and protein content compared to white-shelled safflower. It also has a thick shell, making it hard for annoying birds like House Sparrows, Starlings and Grackles to get into. Safflower has a bitter taste and squirrels tend to leave it alone. Related: Read My Ultimate Bird Seed and Bird Food GuideĬardinals also enjoy safflower seed, a great alternative if you’re having issues with squirrels. Meadow Ridge Farms Black Oil Sunflower Bird Seed I’m also biased because it’s locally sourced from Minnesota, my home state! It’s popular with a ton of my feeder birds and comes with no filler seeds or sticks. I buy the 40-pound bag and it lasts me months. My top Amazon bird seed choice for Cardinals is Meadow Ridge Farms Black Oil Sunflower seed. This is one of my favorite sights in the winter! Want proof? Here’s a video of a female Northern Cardinal eating sunflower seeds from my apartment balcony in the winter! Here’s a list of other common feeder birds that love sunflower seed: Perfect for sunflowers! An added bonus: Sunflower seeds will attract the largest variety of birds to your yard compared to anything else. Cardinals have thick bills that they use to pry open seeds. This is my top pick from personal experience, which is also backed by the Cornell Bird Lab and Audubon. The best bird seed for Cardinals is black oil sunflower seed. CARDINAL FACT: Cardinals are the state bird of seven states – Illinois, West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, North Carolina and Virginia. While they are a common bird, there are a few things you can do to have a high chance of drawing in these awe-inspiring birds to your yard. They are found in woodland edges, the suburbs, swamps, city parks and even some deserts. They’re a perfect combination of familiarity, conspicuousness, and style: a shade of red you can’t take your eyes off.” The range of the Northern Cardinal – Cornell Bird LabĬardinals are common at feeders in their range. I think the Cornell Bird Lab puts it best: “The male Northern Cardinal is perhaps responsible for getting more people to open up a field guide than any other bird. When my grandpa passed, I was often lucky to see a bright Cardinal in my backyard that reminded me of him. Cardinals are stunning birds and hold a special place in my heart. My top goal was to attract a Cardinal when I started my bird feeding hobby.
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