If you’ve ever watched squirrels empty a bird feeder in minutes, you know the frustration. But there’s a simple, elegant solution that turns the tables: safflower seed.
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Why Safflower Is a Game-Changer for Cardinal Lovers
Cardinals’ large red beaks are designed to crack through tough outer seed shells like sunflower and safflower. These are two very common natural ingredients in any cardinal mix, so if you’re making your own mix, these are a good place to start.
According to some observers, one potential benefit to safflower seeds is that squirrels are said not to enjoy the bitter taste of the fresh seeds. While you likely won’t be able to keep squirrels from trying to make their way up your feeders, some people believe that safflower is one seed that scavenging squirrels won’t quickly gobble up.
Others aren’t so sure that’s true anymore. Another popular seed in cardinal mixes is safflower seeds.
These white seeds are similar to sunflower seeds, and you’ll find that the birds in your backyard, cardinals included, will also come to enjoy safflower seeds.
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Setting Up a Cardinal-Friendly, Squirrel-Resistant Feeding Station
Cardinals prefer sunflower and safflower seeds, so use those to fill your bird feeders. If you want a genuinely hospitable garden for cardinals, get a feeder with a cardinal ring around the food access area.
Cardinals prefer to face their food, and the ring will allow them to perch and eat comfortably. Perhaps the most common way is a squirrel baffle.
Squirrels can easily climb bird feeder poles, so a squirrel baffle is attached to the midsection of a bird feeder pole to prevent squirrels from climbing the pole to access your feeder. Squirrels are strong vertical jumpers, so be sure to place your baffle about four feet off the ground, and adjust accordingly if squirrels are still getting up over the squirrel guard.
When Squirrels Start Eating Safflower
While squirrel baffles are great, squirrels might be able to find their way over them. Motorized squirrel-proof spinning feeders’ batteries may die or not always perfectly sense the weight on their base.
Squirrels can develop a taste for safflower or get used to the smell of soap. This stuff happens.
A regular platform feeder should work for safflower seeds. if you want to go the extra mile, use a mesh or double grid feeder to ensure that curious or very hungry squirrels won’t decide safflower seeds are worth it.
While squirrels can deplete a seed supply in a hurry, you can at least try to keep them off your bird feeders by putting a tray of seed on the ground, giving birds a chance to feed on the feeder, and leaving the ground to the squirrels.
Fewer Bully Birds on Safflower Alone
Clean out your feeders well and then fill them with safflower seed only. Some birds love safflower, including cardinals, chickadees, and nuthatches, but most don’t, including starlings and some blackbirds.
Safflower versus squirrels
| Spec | What our writers say |
|---|---|
| What safflower looks like | White seeds similar to sunflower seeds |
| Why cardinals can eat it | Large red beaks crack tough outer shells |
| Squirrel taste | Bitter taste some squirrels will not gobble up |
| Feeder add-on | A cardinal ring around the food access area |
| Baffle height | About four feet off the ground |
| Safflower-only leftovers | Starlings and some blackbirds usually skip it |
| If squirrels persist | A mesh or double grid feeder |
| Ground compromise | A tray of seed on the ground for the squirrels |
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