A hopper with a ledge
Birds Choice Medium Hopper Bird Feeder
About 3 lb behind a removable screen floor that drains; cardinals feed from the ledge.
Safflower seed for birds
Safflower is a cardinal favorite, and grosbeaks, chickadees, doves and native sparrows eat it too. Its thick shell is hard for some birds to crack, and house sparrows, starlings and squirrels often leave it, though in some areas they have learned to eat it. Offer it on a tray or in a hopper.
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A small tray
Birds Choice Small Hanging Platform Feeder
A 10 in square tray with a stainless mesh floor that drains rain.
Where squirrels eat it anyway
Nature's Way Squirrel Shield Advantage Cage Feeder
A cage, plus a seed shield that drops over the ports under a squirrel; holds 3.2 qt.
A commission never decides the picks. How we choose.
Who eats it
15 of the 27 common feeder birds on our seed chart take it, according to Project FeederWatch. Birds in your area vary by region and season.
7 more feeders
Aspects · Seed feeder
Quick-Clean Seed Tube, Medium #424
- Holds 1.25 qt
- Comes apart to clean
A metal-capped sunflower tube whose base comes off to wash it.
Keep in mind: It has no squirrel guard; hang it on a baffled pole or away from jump-off points.
Aspects · Seed feeder
Big Tube Seed Feeder #421
- Holds 3.5 qt
- Comes apart to clean
A big 3.5 qt tube: the base comes off without tools, even with a seed tray attached.
Keep in mind: It has no squirrel guard; use a baffle and keep it away from jump-off points.
Birds Choice · Seed feeder
Large Hopper Bird Feeder with Suet Cages
- Holds 6 lb
- Comes apart to clean
About 6 lb of seed plus two suet cakes on one pole: a feeding station in one box.
Keep in mind: Pole mount only, and the 1 in pole flange (#1202) is sold separately.
Birds Choice · Platform feeder
Seed Catcher Platform Feeder, Medium
- Comes apart to clean
A big pole-mounted tray for cardinals, jays and doves, or a catcher under a hopper so less seed hits the ground.
Keep in mind: The 1 in pole flange (#1202) or the leg set (#SNLS) for ground use is sold separately.
Duncraft · Platform feeder
Eco-Strong Platform Feeder
- Holds 2 lb
An open tray that brings the most kinds of birds: seed, fruit, nuts or suet on a mesh floor that drains.
Keep in mind: An open tray collects droppings: scrape it daily and wash it every week or two.
Duncraft · Platform feeder
Open Air Ground Platform Bird Feeder
- Holds 5 lb
Ground-feeding birds such as doves and cardinals, with corner perches that chickadees and finches land on.
Keep in mind: Food at ground level is within reach of squirrels and other animals, so fill only what the birds finish in a day.
Birds Choice · Platform feeder
Supper Dome Bird Feeder for Seed Suet and Mealworms
Mealworms, peanuts, fruit or seed in a dish the dome keeps dry, with suet logs beside it.
Keep in mind: The dish is 6¼ in across and 1¾ in deep, so it holds a small amount at a time.
Why safflower
Safflower has a thick shell that some birds cannot crack, but cardinals love it, and some grosbeaks, chickadees, doves and native sparrows eat it too. House sparrows, European starlings and squirrels are said to leave it alone, though in some areas they seem to have developed a taste for it, Cornell notes: it can ease the crowding, not end it.
Switching from sunflower
Birds used to sunflower may ignore safflower for a few days, or a week or two. Mix a little safflower into the sunflower they already eat and raise its share each time you refill. In a mix most birds pick out the sunflower first, so once they take safflower readily, give it a feeder of its own.
Which feeder
Cardinals and grosbeaks prefer trays and hoppers, which makes those the feeders to fill with safflower. A tube with standard ports takes it too, for chickadees and titmice.
References
| Source |
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| Feeding Birds: a Quick Guide to Seed Types ↗ |
| Common Feeder Birds ↗ |