Quick Answer
Yes, red wing blackbirds will readily eat safflower seeds. Safflower is a favorite food source for these birds across North America. The oil and fat content within safflower seeds provides red winged blackbirds with the high energy nutrition they require. Providing safflower can attract flocks of red winged blackbirds to backyard feeders.
Red Winged Blackbird Overview
The red winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is a common and widespread bird native to North and Central America. They are sexually dimorphic, with males being all black with bright red shoulder patches (“epaulets”) outlined in light yellow. Females are mostly dark brown and heavily streaked.
Red winged blackbirds inhabit open grassy areas across much of North America. They thrive around wetlands and in agricultural areas. Their natural diet consists of insects, grains and seeds. They will readily visit backyard bird feeders.
In summer months, red winged blackbirds breed in wetlands across Canada and the United States. Large noisy flocks congregate in marshy areas. Males perform display flights and sing to defend territories. Females build nests low in vegetation near water.
Come autumn, flocks begin migrating south for the winter. Migrating red wings form enormous flocks numbering in the millions in some cases. They winter in southern U.S. states and Mexico, congregating in wet fields, pastures and agricultural areas.
Foods Eaten by Red Winged Blackbirds
Red winged blackbirds are omnivorous. Their diet varies somewhat depending on habitat and season. But they largely eat insects, grains and seeds.
– Insects – Beetles, dragonflies, caterpillars, spiders and many other insects are gleaned from vegetation or caught during aerial flycatching attacks. Insects are especially important for the protein they provide chicks during breeding season.
– Grains – Grains like rice, oats, corn and wheat are readily consumed when available. Red wings exploit agricultural grains in fields.
– Seeds – A variety of small seeds make up an important part of the red winged blackbird diet. Common natural seeds include ragweed, smartweed, sedges, grasses and bulrushes. They also eat cultivated grains and seeds from bird feeders.
Safflower Seeds as Bird Food
Safflower seeds come from an herbaceous thistle-like plant domesticated in semi-arid climates like India and the American Southwest. The seeds are small and oval shaped, with a white hull and light-colored kernel.
Safflower seeds offer benefits as birdseed:
– High fat content – Safflower seeds contain oils that provide birds with energy and insulation. The fat content ranges from 30-45%.
– Small size – The petite seeds are preferred by small-beaked songbirds. Larger birds like grackles and jays tend to pass them over.
– Shell hardness – Safflower seed hulls are tough for many birds to open. Cardinals, chickadees and finches have an easier time accessing the seed.
– Pure seeds – Safflower seeds have little other plant material mixed in compared to mixed birdseeds. There is less waste for birds.
Drawbacks of safflower include its tendency to go rancid in hot weather due to the oil content. It also is more expensive than mixed birdseed.
Do Red Winged Blackbirds Like Safflower Seeds?
Red winged blackbirds readily eat safflower seeds making safflower a favored food. The high fat safflower seeds provide redwings with the calories and energy they require, especially in winter.
Being a sturdy medium-sized blackbird, redwings have strong enough beaks to easily crack open safflower hulls. The pure seeds with little waste suits their feeding habits.
Red winged blackbirds will flock to platforms, hopper feeders or tray feeders stocked with safflower seeds. They are aggressive feeders, often scaring away smaller birds in their quest to dominate a food source. Specialized “dome” feeders can help prevent redwings from taking over feeders.
In general, red winged blackbirds should be limited or deterred from backyard bird feeding stations to prevent them from scaring away desired songbirds. But providing safflower seeds in a separate sacrificial feeder can be an effective way to draw redwings away from feeders for smaller native birds. The redwings become occupied with the safflower, allowing other birds to access the feeders in peace.
Experiences of Bird Watchers
Many birdwatchers and bird feeding enthusiasts report that red winged blackbirds eagerly eat safflower seeds based on their first-hand experiences:
– “I have a lot of red-winged blackbirds that love to hog my feeders. I started putting out safflower seeds in my ground feeder just for the red-wings. They go right for it and it keeps them occupied so the other birds can eat in peace at the other feeders.”
– “I fill up a hopper feeder with safflower seeds and the red-winged blackbirds go crazy for it. I think they like that they can just gorge themselves without competition from smaller birds that can’t really eat safflower.”
– “Red-wings absolutely love safflower seeds. I never had much luck attracting red-winged blackbirds until I started offering it. Word must have gotten out to the whole neighborhood flock. Now I get dozens of them feasting at my safflower feeder daily.”
– “The red-winged blackbirds in my yard act like flying pigs at the trough when I put out safflower seed. They voraciously feed and chase off any other birds, even large birds like grackles and jays. Providing them their own safflower feeder is the only thing that works to keep them away from the other feeders.”
Why Red Winged Blackbirds Are Attracted to Safflower
There are several key reasons why red winged blackbirds find safflower seeds so attractive:
– High fat content – The 30-45% fat content of safflower provides these birds with the energy-rich nutrition they seek.
– Plain seeds – Red wings favor the pure seeds of safflower compared to mixed birdseed blends containing plant debris and fillers.
– Seed size – The petite seed is perfectly suited for red winged blackbirds. Larger birds like grackles find safflower less appealing.
– Shell hardness – Red wings can easily crack open safflower’s tough outer hull with their strong beaks to access the nutritious inner kernel.
– Flock feeding – Redwings naturally feed in large aggressive flocks. Safflower allows them to gorge in groups and dominate a feeder.
By offering safflower seeds targeted specifically to red winged blackbirds, they become preoccupied with their own exclusive food source instead of chasing away more desirable backyard birds.
Conclusion
Red winged blackbirds are attracted to safflower seeds and will readily feed on them when presented in backyard bird feeders. The nutritional composition and size of safflower is appealing to these large flocking birds. Possessing strong enough beaks to crack open the hulls, redwings can access the oil-rich seeds.
While red winged blackbirds can be considered a nuisance at bird feeding stations, providing them their own safflower feeder can solved the problem. The redwings become occupied feeding on the safflower rather than bullying songbirds away from other feeders. Birdwatchers have found this an effective technique to enjoy feeding a greater diversity of wild birds. Any backyard enthusiast who wants to attract red winged blackbirds can do so with great success by offering up a bountiful supply of safflower seeds.