Best Cardinal Bird Feeders

Cardinals are amazingly beautiful birds that any new birder would want in their garden.

You can see this amazing creatures year round with their magnificent color. They also have beautiful songs that match their attractive plumage. That along with their friendly demeanor make the cardinal a very desirable bard to have in your garden!

If you’re attracting them to your home, keep a good 8×42 pair of binoculars handy to observe them any time of the day.

Fortunately, attracting cardinals to your garden is easy, if you take the right steps and use the right bird feeders.

About the Northern Cardinal

The northern cardinal’s bill is thick and strong. So, it is perfect for large seeds such as black oil sunflower or safflower seeds. Here is more some basic information about these birds.

Appearance and Identification

The Northern Cardinal, known scientifically as Cardinalis cardinalis, is a medium-sized songbird that is instantly recognizable. Male cardinals are particularly striking with their bright red plumage and a black mask that extends from the beak to the throat and around the eyes. This vivid red is contrasted by their sharp, red-orange beak. Females, while less colorful, exhibit an elegant blend of warm brown tones with hints of red in their wings, tail, and crest. Both sexes share a distinctive crest on their head, which can be raised or lowered depending on their mood.

Habitat and Distribution

Cardinals are adaptable birds, inhabiting a range of environments from woodlands and wetlands to suburban gardens and urban areas. They are particularly common in areas with dense shrubbery or thickets, which provide essential cover and nesting sites. Found across the eastern United States, extending into parts of Canada and Mexico, Northern Cardinals are a familiar sight in many backyards, often drawn to bird feeders.

Diet and Foraging

The diet of the Northern Cardinal is quite varied, consisting predominantly of seeds, grains, and fruits. They are primarily ground feeders and can often be seen foraging beneath bird feeders or in garden areas. During the breeding season, their diet is supplemented with insects, providing a high-protein source of nutrition for their growing chicks.

Vocalizations and Behavior

One of the most notable characteristics of the Northern Cardinal is its song. Males are known for their clear, melodious singing, often used to mark their territory. Their song comprises a series of clear whistles, which can accelerate into a trill. The familiar “cheer-cheer-cheer” or “birdie-birdie-birdie” song is a common sound in their habitats. Cardinals are also known for their variety of calls used for communication between mates or signaling alarm.

Breeding and Nesting

Northern Cardinals are monogamous birds, often forming long-term pair bonds. The female is primarily responsible for nest building and egg incubation, while the male provides food and protection. Their nests are typically built in dense shrubbery or low in trees, providing safety from predators.

Adaptability and Cultural Significance

Remarkably adaptable, Northern Cardinals have thrived in human-altered landscapes. Their ability to utilize bird feeders and gardens has helped them maintain robust populations. The cardinal is not only admired for its beauty but also holds significant cultural value. It is the state bird of seven U.S. states and is a popular motif in sports team logos, state flags, and other cultural representations.

Make sure you feed cardinals in wide bird feeders that are on the larger side. They love to have plenty of room to perch. Small tube bird feeders are not suitable for cardinals unless that have a nice and large tray. Hopper feeders that are large along with platform feeders are perfect choices. Try to avoid narrow perch platform bird feeders.

Providing nesting material is a great idea to get them to nest nearby. You can also make sure things such as twigs, pine needles, and grass clippings are available.

They will not use a birdhouse and nests are not reused. But, a cardinal pair may raise several broods each year. So, provide several areas of dense cover to help ensure they will keep coming back and stay nearby.

Choosing the Best Bird Feeder

Choosing the right bird feeder for cardinals is not an easy task. As we mentioned above, they prefer food sources that are low, wide, and open. Unfortunately, this is also a perfect food source for squirrels.

So, this will leave us with wide tray hanging bird feeders, or window mounted wide trough bird feeders. While both have their pros or cons, these will be the preference for the cardinal.

The other key consideration is to make sure you stock plenty of food that these birds love to start attracting them.

Now that we have our criteria, let’s dive into the best bird feeders for Cardinals.

No/No Red Cardinal Bird Feeder

The No/No Red Cardinal Bird Feeder is an all around great choice and it’s a solid bird feeder choice for Cardinals.

Durable Metal Construction

This bird feeder is made with no plastic and no wood, hence the name no/no.

Most feeders are made from either plastic which breaks or chips especially after a year or two in the sun. Wood bird feeders age and splinter or even rot where water pools.

Metal can be cleaned by running it under the hose and repainted after a few years to keep it looking fresh.

It’s also great against the destructive nature of squirrels.

Feeder Capacity

This cardinal feeder can be filled with 2.5+ pounds of bird feed. The decent capacity means you won’t have to be out there every day filling it up. While we love watching birds, we don’t love yard work. Anything we can do to save some time is great. A large bird feeder capacity is a must.

Wide Feeding Tray

As we mentioned before, the northern cardinal loves wide and open feeding areas. This bird feeder can accommodate up to 20 birds at a time, which is perfect for the red cardinal to feed because there is plenty of space. Plus, plenty of other birds will be attracted as well, so it’s a win-win.

The feeding area is also perfect for birds that wish to hang or perch when feeding.

Pros of The No/No Red Cardinal Bird Feeder

• Very wide and can accommodate up to 20 birds at one time.
• Cover helps protect food from the weather.
• Large feed hopper so you don’t have to refill it constantly.
• Metal construction – durable against squirrels and the weather.
• Inexpensive

We love the metal construction. If you had squirrels destroy other bird feeders, you shouldn’t have to worry about this one.

Cons of This Cardinal Bird Feeder

• Tight Screen wires make it difficult for larger seeds to pass through (cardinals favorites).

Squirrel Buster Plus With Cardinal Ring by Brome

This is a perfect bird feeder for cardinals. Here are some of it’s features.

Squirrel Proof

It’s not called the “squirrel buster” for nothing. This bird feeder is designed to protect your bird feeder and bird seed from the destructive nature of hungry squirrels.

It is weight activated. So, when birds perch to eat, they get access to the seed. But, when a squirrels gets on it, it forces the shroud down which closes off the feeding ports. This prevents squirrels from eating all of the seed.

Adjustable

Additionally, this bird feeder is adjustable to fit the specific birds you have. Some feeders allow larger birds to eat all of the seed, leaving smaller birds with nothing.

You can simply twist the dial that will adjust the weight required to close off the feeding ports. This will allow smaller birds to use the feeder while larger birds have to go elsewhere.

Feeder Capacity

This feeder holds up to 5.2 lbs of bird seed, which is amazing! The large capacity of the hopper is coupled with Brome’s patented seed ventilation system which allows hot and humid air to escape and keeps bird seed fresh longer.

Construction

All squirrel accessible parts are non-chewable and made out of metal. This allows the bird feeder to last longer.

Additionally, you gain their life-time service warranty. So, if there is something going on with your feeder, Brome guarantees to service it for free.

Water Proof

Because of the ventilation system, this bird feeder isn’t always waterproof. That’s why we recommend getting the bird feeder + accessory kit which includes a weather guard to keep your seed totally dry

Pros of The Squirrel Buster Plus Bird Feeder

• Huge hopper holds 5+ lbs of bird seed.
• Prevents our mortal enemies (squirrels) from accessing the bird seed.
• Adjustable to protect against large birds as well.
• Metal surfaces prevent squirrels from chewing

We love the metal construction and huge bird seed hopper.

Cons of This Cardinal Bird Feeder

• Not entirely waterproof, so it requires the purchase of the weather guard.

Perky-Pet 2-Tier Panorama Bird Feeder (325S)

The large circular perches are perfect for cardinals and other perching birds to feed. it’s copper color is sleek and timeless and looks great in your garden.This is a great bird feeder, so, here are some of it’s features.

Construction

This is a dual layer bird feeder with 8 seed ports that gives extra access. Their “evenseed” system allows various chambers to get seed at variable rates, so seed won’t accumulate on one side if a bird eats on the other side.

It also has a wire for sturdy hanging in your garden or near your house. Additionally, it’s cap is locked in place to keep squirrels out.

Capacity

This has a 4.5 pound capacity with a super easy to use setup. You can fill the hoppers with different types of seed to attract a larger variety of birds, or just fill it with one.

Pros of The Perky-Pet Panorama Bird Feeder

• Clear plastic keeps it cleaner than other models.
• Easy to use cap also locks in place to keep squirrels out.
• Large hoppers can hold two types of seed.
• Sturdy wire hanger

We love how you can attract a wider variety of birds with two different bird feeds in one feeder.

Cons of This Cardinal Bird Feeder

• Wire hangers are not great in windy environments
• Sometimes the seed can get clogged up in their evenseed system

Kingsyard Bird Feeder

Enjoy Watching Cardinals at Your Bird Feeder

Selecting the best bird feeder for cardinals is an essential step towards creating a welcoming environment for these vibrant birds. Cardinals, with their striking red plumage and melodious songs, are a delightful addition to any backyard. When choosing a feeder, it’s important to consider factors such as the feeder’s design, the type of food it can hold, and its durability. Platform or tray feeders, hopper feeders with large perches, and even certain tube feeders with spacious feeding ports are excellent choices. Additionally, incorporating cardinal favorites like sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, and cracked corn can further entice these birds to visit.

Beyond the joy of watching these beautiful birds, providing a suitable feeder for cardinals also plays a role in supporting local bird populations, especially in urban or suburban areas where natural food sources may be limited. By choosing the right feeder and maintaining it well, bird enthusiasts can enjoy the vibrant sight of cardinals in their gardens year-round, contributing to the health and vitality of these beloved birds. Whether you’re an experienced birdwatcher or a casual observer, the presence of cardinals can transform your outdoor space into a lively and colorful bird haven.

Don’t forget to check out the guide on bird watching binoculars which will help you pick your first pair of binoculars.