Every seed here is one cardinals eat. The difference is budget, mess and how much your squirrels get.
Choose by what matters to you
- No shells under the feederSunflower Hearts →
- Best valueBlack Oil Sunflower →
- Sunflower + safflowerDazzle →
Cardinals love it. Squirrels and grackles mostly don't.
From $19.99
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Buying guide
How to choose
Start with safflower if squirrels or grackles empty your feeder. Choose black oil sunflower if you want the most seed for your money, or sunflower hearts if you don't want shells piling up under the feeder. All three are single-ingredient, so you know exactly what you're putting out.
The blends add fruit, nuts and smaller seeds. They suit a feeder that serves cardinals alongside chickadees, finches and jays, and they give you more variety at the feeder for a little more per bag.
Safflower or sunflower: which should I buy?
Both work for cardinals. Black oil sunflower costs less and attracts more species. Safflower costs more but squirrels, grackles and starlings mostly ignore it, so more of it goes to the cardinals. Many people run one feeder of each.
Can I mix safflower and sunflower in one feeder?
Yes. A mix is a good way to switch over gradually if your birds aren't used to safflower yet. Start with mostly sunflower and shift the ratio over a couple of weeks.
How long will a bag last?
It depends on how many birds you get and the season. Feeders empty fastest in deep winter. Our larger sizes cost less per kilogram, so they're the better buy once you know your birds are coming.