Cardinals are beautiful red birds found across North America. With their bright red plumage, distinctive crest, and lovely songs, cardinals are a favorite among bird watchers. When it comes to feeding cardinals, many people want to know what type of bird seed these birds prefer. Understanding a cardinal’s favorite foods can help attract more of these stunning birds to your backyard.
Why Do Cardinals Like Certain Bird Seeds?
All birds have preferences for certain types of food based on their natural diets and nutritional needs. Cardinals specifically favor seeds high in oil content.
Cardinals are seedeaters by nature. Seeds compose about 90% of an adult cardinal’s diet. They use their strong beaks to crack open seeds and nuts in order to extract the nutritious contents inside.
Cardinals prefer seeds with a high oil content for two key reasons:
1. High oil content provides more calories. Cardinals need a lot of energy, especially during cold winter months when food sources are scarce. Oil-rich seeds give them more calories per bite.
2. Oils help cardinals maintain their bright red feathers. The oils in certain seeds contain carotenoids, which are pigments that cardinals metabolize into the red hues of their plumage. Without enough oil in their diet, cardinal feathers would appear less vibrant.
The Cardinal’s Favorite Bird Seeds
When it comes to selecting bird seed, what are the top choices that cardinals love? Here are five of the best bird seeds to feed cardinals:
Sunflower Seeds – Sunflower seeds are universally loved by all backyard birds. For cardinals, the high oil content of sunflower makes it an ideal food source. Black oil sunflower seeds are especially attractive, offering a thin shell with high meat and oil content. Offer sunflower seeds in feeders or sprinkle them on the ground.
Safflower Seeds – Safflower is another oil-rich seed beloved by cardinals. Safflower seeds have hard shells that cardinals can crack open with their powerful beaks. An advantage of safflower is that squirrels and other rodents tend not to like it as much as sunflower seeds.
Peanuts – Peanuts are technically legumes, though cardinals treat them much like seeds. Peanuts offer a nutritional bonanza of fat, protein, and calories, making them a favored snack. Buy them shelled or unshelled.
Nyjer Seeds – Also known as thistle seed, nyjer attracts finches but cardinals love it too. The small size and thin shells make nyjer easy for cardinals to eat. Nyjer has high oil content that helps cardinals maintain healthy feathers.
Soybeans – Cardinals will eat both roasted and raw soybeans. Soybeans offer protein, fat, and fiber. As a bonus, soybeans are less likely to attract squirrels.
Other Favored Cardinal Foods
In addition to bird seeds, there are other types of foods that cardinals relish:
Fruit – Cardinals enjoy various fruits such as berries, raisins, currants, apples, and bananas. Offer cut fruit in small pieces or dried fruit in feeders.
Nuts – Whole peanuts, chopped walnuts, almonds, pecans and other nut pieces will attract feeding cardinals.
Mealworms – Live and dried mealworms make tasty, protein-rich treats for cardinals.
Suet – Suet is nutritionally balanced bird food made from animal fat and seed bits. Offer suet cakes with fruit, nuts, or insects to appeal to cardinals.
Corn – Whole kernels, cracked corn, and coarsely ground corn all make good year-round staples.
Oats – Raw oatmeal and oats appeal to ground-feeding birds like cardinals.
Offering a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits and other foods will provide complete nutrition for cardinals while attracting them to your backyard.
Best Feeders for Cardinals
To get cardinals visiting your yard, use certain types of bird feeders:
Hopper or Tube Feeders – These enclosed feeders with perches are ideal for serving cardinal favorites like sunflower seeds, safflower, peanuts, and more.
Platform Feeders – Open platform feeders allow access for cardinals to munch on loose seeds, nuts, and fruits.
Ground Feeders – Flat trays or platforms on the ground let cardinals forage for their preferred foods.
Suet Feeders – Offer suet cakes in hanging suet cages or suet feeders to attract cardinals.
Fruit Feeders – Use mesh fruit feeders to safely hold cut apple slices, oranges, bananas and other fruits cardinals will relish.
Having multiple feeder styles providing different seed and food types will satisfy cardinals’ tastes and nutrition needs.
Feeder Type | Recommended Foods |
---|---|
Hopper or Tube Feeder | Sunflower seeds, safflower, peanuts, nyjer |
Platform Feeder | Sunflower chips, safflower, cracked corn, oats |
Ground Feeder | Cracked corn, sunflower chips, oats, chopped nuts |
Suet Feeder | Suet cakes with fruit/nuts |
Fruit Feeder | Chopped fruit like apple, banana, berries |
Tips for Attracting Cardinals
Follow these tips to tempt cardinals into your yard:
– Offer a wide variety of seeds, focusing on their favorites like sunflower, safflower, and peanuts
– Include nuts, fruits, suet cakes, mealworms for diversity
– Use multiple styles of feeders placed in different spots
– Provide both high feeders and low, ground feeders
– Make feeders visible from shrubs and trees where cardinals perch
– Situate feeders near natural cover like bushes or woods
– Use shades of red for feeders and accessories since red attracts cardinals
– Provide a source of fresh water like a fountain, mister, or bird bath
– Offer grit like sand or egg shells to aid digestion
– Use good quality, fresh bird food and clean feeders regularly
With the proper bird foods and feeders, you’ll soon enjoy the beauty of cardinals visiting your backyard as they fill up on their favorite feasts.
Conclusion
Cardinals are a favorite backyard bird whose bright coloration and songs bring joy. Understanding what cardinals like to eat and using the best feeders will allow you to attract more of these beautiful birds. Cardinals prefer oil-rich seeds like sunflower, safflower, and peanuts along with nutritious fruits and suet. Offer these foods in hopper feeders, platform feeders, and on the ground to satisfy cardinals. With a rich menu suited to cardinals’ tastes, you’ll be rewarded with more sightings of these striking songbirds at your feeders.