What do CARDINALS eat? (6 foods that attract Northern Cardinals)

What do Northern Cardinals eat? In this video, you will learn about SIX common foods that you can use to attract cardinals to your bird feeders.
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[@baneverything5580]

I had a large piece of watermelon one day at my new place at the time and put under a large oak tree to see if the squirrels would eat it. A Red Cardinal saw it and hopped over eyeing it suspiciously and finally decided to taste it. The his eyes got wide and the feathers on top of his head went up and he started hopping all around and tweeting like crazy to let the others know he`d found something delicious. Within minutes there were about 8 of them lined up around it sharing the melon.

[@dr.jillalicecooper2587]

Amazing😄

[@heathergeschke5238]

I put Watermelon out for the squirrels and Cardinals. I haven't found anything that attracts the Cardinals faster then Watermelon, they love it.

[@thegreyhoundgirls536]

Good to know! Thanks!

[@chuckcampbell3927]

Here in zone 7A, of course the black oil sunflower seeds has to rank number one for sure, But as you also pointed out they are very happy with peanuts that are halved or broken into pieces. I also serve them a mixture that includes various fruits and berries and they seem to really like anything that is soft and succulent. We are blessed to have such a variety of beautiful birds like the chickadee, tuffed titmouse, Blue Jays and other corvids, but certainly can't forget the beautiful little sparrows of different types. What a gift God gave to this planet when he gave us birds. 📖🛐

[@buckeyefangirl1976]

I love cardinals too.❤️❤️ Ever since my husband passed I take even more comfort in seeing them. Thank you.

[@lupem240]

I had hair some triplets hatch yesterday on my front porch.. Can't wait to see them grow 🐣

[@meezle1904]

I put out mixed nuts for our squirrels (helps keep them from eating all the birds' food). We have a female cardinal who loves nuts - walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews. She munches on them all! Our male cardinals stick to sunflower seeds.

[@heidimarie6252]

My cardinals love peanuts and safflower seeds in NY. I trained them to come to my window when I whistle. I don’t need to whistle anymore. When they see me look out the window, they are already zooming over to me to get their peanuts. They just had babies, and yesterday I saw a juvenile female in my yard near my window. I threw a few peanuts to her, and she was happy to eat them.

[@kathymcgrath1718]

Wow, that's amazing! I live in Michigan and I'd love to be able to see that! Thanku for sharing that.

[@deirdrekiely6187]

I had great luck with the safflower seeds. Cardinals sure did like that.

[@teresadasilva4777]

The Cardinals here in Northern Massachusetts sem to prefer the black oil sunflower seeds.

[@one_chance_fancy]

Cardinals in my yard in Western Massachusetts absolutely love black oil sunflower seeds!

[@masspatriot5409]

South shore here and same! Love western MA 😊

[@maryforemansavard7230]

how do you keep the squirells out of feeders? and how do you keep our bluejays, crows and blackbirds?

[@tammyque1506]

Cardinals in Honolulu, Hawaii likes the black sunflower seeds but so does all the other birds. The cardinals don't like to scare off other birds eating so they just wait around hoping to eat alone.

[@winnhill3736]

Only disadvantage for sunflower seeds is it also attracts unwanted birds like grackles,starlings,and not to mention squirrels.I still use it but watch 4 the undesirables and switch back 2 safflower here in east central Arkansas.

[@hammieinvestigations5392]

No such thing as an unwarnted bird.

[@dr.jillalicecooper2587]

​@@hammieinvestigations5392I agree, add squirrels too. I feed them all, and all of them are getting along😄

[@lindak990]

Yes safflower is great

[@dmh6873]

I just put out safflower seeds for the first time last week and the cardinals seem to love it, much more so than the different sunflower seeds I have out. I also notice them going often for the cracked corn I’ll put in a tray feeder on the ground. This is in central Ohio.

[@neildbarker]

Great list and I've had the best luck with Sunflower Kernels/Chips and Shelled Peanuts. The local Northern Cardinals in my area will chirp and make calls if I walk nearby - expecting me to give them a refill if the feeders are low or empty, haha. One of my favourite local birds to watch. Thanks for sharing.

[@maryannsarkady7950]

The cardinals in my yards have been most attracted to black oil sunflower seeds

[@birdmoments2see]

Very nice video! We feed the cardinals a mix of all these seeds and nuts. We used to buy ready mixes and now we make them ourselves. And we also use blocks of seed mix - birds love them very much!

[@galaxystarrs5432]

I have a pair of Cardinals in our yard. I named the Male "Bob" and the female "Bobette" and now they are having a lot of babies near us.

[@claudiacurry1]

My cardinals LOVE the Concord grapes. They come when the leaves come on in the spring & cock their heads asking where are the grapes? They use the strings off the vine to build nests. They usually peel them & eat the inside. Messy but they really love them.

[@pretibrowniss]

Thank you for doing the video on Cardinals one of my favorite birds 🎉❤

[@dr.jillalicecooper2587]

Mine too😄

[@MCCRITTERS]

Nailed it, pretty much my same experience in Southwest Ohio.

[@lauralonati7048]

I am in ST Louis Mo and I have many beautiful male and female cardinals. So I am in an apt and not supposed to feed them! But I have a ground feeder. They do love black sunflower seeds but I stopped feeding them that because it makes such a mess! I found out they love roasted almonds. I also have Blue jays and woodpeckers and a few other birds and squirrel! They love cracked corn but again very messy I give them peanut butter on toilet paper tools and sometimes birdseed on the peanut butter they go wild over that! Also yes peanuts I get at the farm store the cardinals LOVE that and the Bluejays too! I am always searching for inexpensive food but not easy!

[@johndough-jr6od]

St. Louis Cardinals at that. Cheers.

[@jodibedard4306]

My cardinals love black oil sunflower seeds. They werent too crazy about the safflower seeds tho. Maybe we should try them again. I'm also going to try some shelled peanuts! Thanks for the tips! We have a male and a female in our yard that love to feed each other. We call them Red and Mama.

[@plantpoweredcertifiednutri6740]

Thank you!! Enjoy seeing the cardinals here in the northeast. 😊

[@melodioushaste]

The couple that visit me regularly like plain commercial birdseed which I put out on the rail of my porch daily. I have a small birdfeeder with birdseed in it, but the only birds to find it so far are the chickadees. I put some peanuts on top of the birdseed in the feeder in hopes of attracting more, but no one has found it for weeks. My cardinal pair is here as I'm trying this. I put my desk in front of the window overlooking my porch so I can see them.

[@graceislove3]

They absolutely love black oil sunflower seeds the most

[@timmysteph]

Thank you scott now I cann attract cardinals to my feeders.

[@NANCYB004]

They Are Loving that Mix❤😊

[@Climate_Hoax]

Good information thank you.

[@tamipalin8171]

Gorgeous birds!! Sadly, they don't venture into my neck of the woods, here in Southwest Idaho.

[@kevenmcginn5406]

Here in Tampa Cardinals are attracted mostly by striped sunflower seed and I only see them before Hurricane season. I loved this informative video with the birds' characteristic sweet chirps! Thanks!

[@dankeener3307]

I think my takeaway from this video is to try striped sunflower seeds hoping house sparrows can’t use them.

[@lindadice9580]

My birds like to eat the black oil seeds also 😊

[@user-hk7sx6kg2u]

yaay red jay!!

[@beckyrains6033]

Great video! All of the birds love black oil sunflower seeds! Problem with that is I get alot of unwanted birds!

[@hammieinvestigations5392]

How can you get unwanted birds? I love all the birds. My motto is I'll get more seeds.

[@dankeener3307]

Unwanted birds such as house sparrows compete and always win the nesting boxes intended for eastern Bluebirds on our small lot. This is the reason for not attracting them.

[@jburke850]

Definitely the black sunflower seeds. I put peanuts out but didn't know that I should take the nut from the shell. I will do both going forward. The Blue Jays love the peanuts in the shell. Thank you for this info!

[@uppityglivestockian]

In my neck of TX, the cardinals love the black sunflower seeds, kernels and peanut halves and pieces. Been feeding them for years but they've gone missing entirely for the past week and counting. Very weird. We've had them go offline before but not for this long nor at this time of year. We're hoping we have a new neighbor with a better buffet. Better than if a hawk has shown up anyway. Them, the blue jays and chickadees have vamoosed, but the finches are tenacious. lol We tried safflower oil seeds and cracked corn, both of which were stubbornly ignored by all comers. Love the channel. Paz.

[@streamgirl70]

Are you in north texas

[@hammieinvestigations5392]

i live in rural central-northern Florida and I have 3 bird feeders. I feed black oil sunflower. Each morning I fill the feeders and by end of day the seeds are gone. I get birds fly in all day and I have 2 squirrels. I also have a suet square as backup. The suet is usually gone within a week. Love the birds and squirrels. I put treats in on occasion, but I got to be careful because of ants.

[@winnhill3736]

Great video and i have lots of cards at my country home in Arkansas and they love the seeds you mentioned.I generally use safflower to deter squirrels and other unwanted birds.When the cardinals cousin(rose breasted grosbeaks) pass through,they really go 4 the safflower alond with chickadees, peckers,finches and titmouses.

[@tylershenenberger8112]

I'm gonna try all and see what they like here in lancaster county pa

[@nddickens1630]

East Texas Cardinals also like hen scratch thrown on the ground and also very affordable..

[@ryancreson7115]

Cardinals are one of my top backyard birds! I have a pair in my back yard every year. Love the video keep up the good work.

[@angelag9141]

Walnuts, raisins, pumpkin shelled seeds

[@1968wlj]

Suet.... That's what you didn't mention was suet especially during the colder months they really like to eat suet there's sunflower seed a suet I think that's what they prefer mostly but they will eat a mealy bugs every now and then

[@johnraypatterson6141]

I feed Cardinals Peanut in shell and shelled peanuts, sunflower hearts and black oil sunflowers seeds.

[@kathymcgrath1718]

I've been using a mixture called Nuts and Berries. I've also used Black sun flower seeds. I've been having a problem for awhile now trying to keep the Cardinals coming to my yard. I adore watching and feeding all the different birds! I also love your posts of all the different birding!

[@chantalrochon3566]

Same types of food😊

[@jolantajasiak501]

You right Werry nise video. I have naw 2 days baby cardinals in may front tree

[@user-ic9jz4rn1d]

Sun flower seeds 👍🏻

[@kimwatrous5322]

Here in AZ I feed them chicken scratch grain

[@maspauschannel1224]

Jos mantap🥰🥰

[@robertlosasso4222]

I use Katee no waste bird food , no shells no hulls , on top of that I buy shelled peanuts unsalted. I spread two hands full on a paper plate and crush them with a mallot , adding them to their feed .

[@judithgoodwin8013]

What I appreciate is knowing… What… To buy…. I spent $15 on a bag of seeds for a small birds and it was a picture of the cardinal on it and I cannot tell you how many of the seeds are left behind by all the birds who do not want to seem to eat them. And truthfully it makes me extremely angry. So anyone reading this Is that those bags of so-called next seeds that are small birds like at least the ones I bought in Walmart were not accepted by the birds…

[@cindyhill8343]

I’ve only tried safflower seeds and my cardinals love them❤

[@gstlb]

I have quite a variety of birds coming to my yard, and I can verify that if I put out striped sunflower seeds, I know that the cardinals will have something to eat even if many other birds come first. The larger male grackles are the only other birds I’ve seen that can crack these open, and luckily I don’t have many of them (if they come around, the local swallows run them off).

[@gendoll5006]

I put out a cardinal bird seed mix with black and striped sunflowers, walnuts, and others but they still like the dog food!

[@kathik2262]

I believe I only have one pair of cardinals that have been coming to my backyard for several years, since I've never seen more than just them at one time. But now white winged doves are taking over and clean out the feeders within minutes. They perch in the neighbor's tree and as soon as I put out the feed and go back in the house they swoop down. It looks like they too like the all the things you've listed, but I haven't tried the cracked corn, which would be a lot cheaper to try in the amount I'd need. I had mourning doves earlier this summer but the larger doves chase them off. Is there a bird feeder that the cardinals can access but the larger white winged doves can't monopolize?

[@awestphal9602]

At 3:23, who makes the bird feeder with the green wire cage around the vertical clear plastic container for the seeds?

[@hellsfury666]

I only have 1 cardinal that visits my feeders. I put out the black oil sunflower seeds, shelled sunflower seeds and peanuts. But one is better than none ❤

[@lindsaymeyer2171]

Where is your platform feeder from?

[@antlerking69]

I've had 40 species of birds here, Cardinals one time...

[@russhfan]

We have 6 Feed mainly black oil

[@shirleywilhelm1495]

I'm in San Antonio and use shelled sunflower hearts, shelled peanuts. I need to use dove guard so doves can't get to feeders , therefore leaving food for cardinals and other birds.

[@Marcuswelby-nx2te]

Grape jelly

[@fuan2573]

my cardinal bird has no problem with large peanuts in shell😊

[@truenreal365]

Do they like dried mealworms?

[@kathymcgrath1718]

It's just me again. I noticed a little bit ago that other people are stating the state there are living. I live in Michigan. If anyone could help me to figure out what I might not have been doing right? I'd be grateful for the help! Thank you

[@maniachill3069]

They can be very shy. Having cover like trees too hide in close to the feeder helps. The problem could be that you're too far out in the open. However, many others will argue this.

[@winnhill3736]

​​@@maniachill3069You are correct as they can be very shy,especially the males.They hide and watch in my cedar trees as they are evergreens.Early a.m. and sunset are best times 2 see them.They are my 1st and last visitors feeding daily.East Arkansas.

[@meezle1904]

Be sure your feeders have plenty to munch on later in the day. Cardinals will often visit late in the evening. If you keep your feeders full they will love it and keep coming back. I refill my feeders around dinner time just for the late snacking cardinals!

[@diannenash2703]

Is this just for Cardnials or can Blue Jays eat them as well..

[@ricardodelano2205]

grapes .

[@ToddBeach-yn7ns]

I have crushed pecans expensive but cardinal eats them

[@brightoncook9662]

Do peanuts work

[@rochelleholmes9271]

I mix together safflower seeds and a bag of wagner gourmet seeds. All the birds like this but unfortunately so do the squirrels!!

[@lauraoeser8401]

What is the best feeder for Cardinals😊

[@justincarmello8493]

Peanuts and wet cat food.

[@ChristopherMarshburn]

What’s your set up to video the birds?

[@BirdWatchingHQ]

Here is the type of camera, Axis P1448-LE network security camera and here is how I set it up. birdwatchinghq.com/stream-live-animal-cam/

[@BirdWatchingHQ]

Here is the camera I used Axis P1448-LE network security camera, and this is how I set it up: birdwatchinghq.com/stream-live-animal-cam/

[@maryjanekolesar8325]

So, our cardinals must have acquired different tastes: they prefer the shelled peanuts and I put put ones that are already cracked, giving them a head start, and as for the corn, none of the birds, squirrels or chipmunks seem to care for it- except the raccoons whi would eat up the nut shell but who we don't want to attract- and we got an infestation of cereal moths. So, NO to corn. Oh and safflower noone one wanted.

[@catpoke9557]

Black oil sunflower seeds are edible to humans. They're just not as good for eating.

[@masspatriot5409]

Low in price 🤣 not anymore

[@a.h.s5152]

They need them seeds and 🥜 and the corn since it has that vitamin they need to turn their feathers red, you fed them the right food.