Our Top Picks For The Best Bird Feeder for Cardinals | iPetCompanion

Best Bird Feeder for Cardinals

In this review of the best feeder for cardinals we will take a close look at a range of different cardinal feeders that have all been designed specifically to both attract and accommodate cardinals. In the list of Our Top Picks we will perform an in depth review, stating any pros and cons, before then giving the cardinals feeder a star rating out of 5.

From there we will attempt to answer some of those frequently asked questions asking how to attract cardinals into your yard and how best to feed them. Then and only then will we make a recommendation as to which cardinal tube feeders we think is the best one of all.

The Best Bird Feeder To Attract Cardinals: Our Top Picks

nature's way platform tray bird feeder

  • Charming looking
  • Feeds multiple birds
  • High quality wood

Rated by: Amber

droll yankees squirrel proof feeder

  • Contemporary design
  • Completely squirrel proof
  • High quality product

Rated by: Amber

perky-pet c00322 cardinal wild bird feeder

  • Holds 2 pounds of bird seed
  • Great for bird watching
  • Protects birds from rain

Rated by: Amber

1. Nature's Way Bird Products CWF3 Cedar Platform Tray Bird Feeder

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

For those indivduals living in a country setting, this charming wooden cedar tray bird feeder is the perfect choice. The large open tray is big enough to accommodate numerous birds all at the same time, meaning there is no need for you to put up multiple different bird feeders if you have lots of birds in your yard. Thanks to the simple design of the Nature's Way Bird Products CWF3 Cedar Platform Tray Bird Feeder it is easy to fill with bird seed and so minimizes any spillage.

As well as looking good, the wooden cedar tray is completely rot proof thanks to its construction from a high quality wood. It has been treated with a water based stain that works to protect the wood from all different weather conditions. 

However, there is no protection for the birds when they are eating at the Nature's Way Bird Products CWF3 Cedar Platform Tray Bird Feeder, as there is no roof.

Thanks to the size of the feeding tray, you can load the bird feeder up with enough bird seed to last for as many as two days. This is, of course, dependent on how many birds you have feeding in your yard at any one time. For the best results, the Nature's Way Bird Products CWF3 Cedar Platform Tray Bird Feeder should be hung in a location that can be easily seen by cardinals.

PROS

  • Charming looking
  • Able to feed multiple birds at once
  • Constructed from a high quality wood

CONS

  • Does not protect birds from different weather conditions

2. Droll Yankees Bird Feeder

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

The completely transparent design of this bird feeder makes it ideal for those individuals that enjoy bird watching. As well as being ideal for feeding cardinals, the Droll Yankees Bird Feeder will also attract other small birds such as Chipping Sparrows and American Robins. It also acts as a great way of feeding birds of all sizes, whilst keeping squirrels and rodents away thanks to its anti squirrel features.

The large dome that sits at the top of the Droll Yankees Bird Feeder works to protect any birds feeding from the elements, whether that be rain, sleet or snow. As you can always see the bird seeds, you are always aware as to when and by how much it needs topping up. Thanks to its design, cleaning the bird feeder is really easy to do.

Thanks to the strong build of the bird feeder, it comes with a guarantee that lasts a lifetime. This means that if anything ever breaks or stop working then it can be fully replaced, free of charge. The Droll Yankees Bird Feeder is completely adjustable and can be opened as wide as 10 inch should you want to feed larger birds. However, this also opens it up to attracting squirrels and other rodents.

PROS

  • Feeds birds of all sizes
  • Easy to clean
  • Comes with a lifetime guarantee

CONS

  • Can attract squirrels and other rodents

3. Droll Yankees Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

This bird feeder is not only squirrel proof, but is also great for bird watching thanks to the many bird friendly features that the Droll Yankees Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder has. These include a large perch, so that many birds can feed all at the same time, a large pole (7.5 ft) so that it can be stuck into the Earth and be high off the ground, and a clear bird seed container, so that you can see cardinals and other birds eating the food.

The perch on the Droll Yankees Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder acts as a squirrel baffle, so you will never have the issue of those, or any other pesky rodents, steeling bird seed from the bird feeder. They may be able to climb up the pole, but they will never be able to reach the perch or any bird seed.

Because the Droll Yankees Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder has a nice and contemporary look to it and is generally a high quality product, it comes with quite an expensive price tag compared with others in the list of Our Top Picks. Thanks to the bird seed tube being clear, it is easy to see when it needs topping up again. To do this, simply unscrew the lid and fill; there is no need to completely dismantle the bird feeder.

PROS

  • Contemporary design
  • Completely squirrel proof
  • High quality product

CONS

  • Higher price point

4. Perky-Pet 312B Blue Sparkle Panorama Bird Feeder

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

This feeder features a clean, durable, and highly functional design. The tray feeding port that goes all the way around the edge of the Perky-Pet 312B Blue Sparkle Panorama Bird Feeder works well to attract cardinals, as well as various other birds. Holding approximately 2 pounds of bird seed, it should take a few days before the feeder needs topping up.

The feeder has an oversized wide cap at the top that works to keep any birds feeding at it protected from the elements, including rain and snow. This is also true of the bird seed that is protected thanks to the plastic tube that it sits in. The completely circular perch on the Perky-Pet 312B Blue Sparkle Panorama Bird Feeder allows for a great bird watching experience.

The fact that the bird seed is stored in a transparent plastic tube means that you can always see what level the food is at and so you know when to fill it back up. The only problem here is that because it is plastic it can get easily scratched when cardinals peck away at it or when squirrels claw at it.

PROS

  • Holds 2 pounds of bird seed
  • Great for bird watching
  • Protects birds from rain and snow

CONS

  • Bird seed tube made out of plastic

5. Perky-Pet C00322 No/No Cardinal Wild Bird Feeder

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

This well built bright red bird feeder is made out of a mesh steel that will no doubt stand the test of time and last for numerous years. It has a large perch around it, which allows for plenty of cardinals, and other birds, to sit on and eat the bird seed inside. The Perky-Pet 338 Squirrel-Be-Gone II Country Style Wild Bird Feeder has a roof on the top, which works to protect the birds from harsh weather conditions, such as rain or snow.

Thanks to the strong and robust construction of the feeder, it is able to withstand lots of birds perching on it and pecking away at it without it braking. The Perky-Pet 338 Squirrel-Be-Gone II Country Style Wild Bird Feeder is easy to clean and filling it with bird seed is equally easy to do. Simply pull open the lid and pour the seeds in.

With a seed capacity of around 2 pounds, you should not have to be constantly refilling the feeder. One of the downfalls of the Perky-Pet 338 Squirrel-Be-Gone II Country Style Wild Bird Feeder is that it is not squirrel proof, meaning those pesky rodents are able to climb on and steel some of the seed from it.

PROS

  • Strong and robust construction
  • Easy to fill with bird seeds
  • Large seed capacity

CONS

  • Squirrels can access the bird seeds

6. Perky-Pet 338 Squirrel-Be-Gone II Country Style Wild Bird Feeder

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

If you are having issues with squirrels in your yard that try to get bird seed from your bird feeder, then you should seriously consider the Perky-Pet 338 Squirrel-Be-Gone II Country Style Wild Bird Feeder. Not only does it look great, but also it is highly effective in keeping squirrels away from the bird seed inside, thanks to its strong and robust build. Additionally, the perch is too small for them to stand on, as it has been specially designed for cardinals.

Because of where the perch is located on the Perky-Pet 338 Squirrel-Be-Gone II Country Style Wild Bird Feeder, it is great for watching the birds come and go. When it comes to the time of filling the feeder with bird seed, simply pull up the roof and pour in. The roof on the bird feeder works to keep the bird seed dry in all weather conditions. 

Depending on what vantage points you have in your yard, the feeder can either be hung from a tree or a wire, or even mounted to a pole.

When it comes to cleaning the Perky-Pet 338 Squirrel-Be-Gone II Country Style Wild Bird Feeder, this is a simple and straight forward task. The springs on the perch that work to release the bird seed can be changed in order to accommodate larger birds than cardinals, such as Black Billed Magpies or Boat Tailed Grackles. However, the perch is only big enough to accommodate only a few birds at any one time.

PROS

  • Perch can be adjusted to accommodate larger birds
  • Good looking and bright design
  • Can be either hung or mounted

CONS

  • Perch not very big

FAQs – A Buyer’s Guide

So now that we have done the reviews and told you all there is to know about those bird feeders in the list of Our Top Picks, it is time to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about cardinal bird feeders, how to attract the birds in to your yard, and what to feed them so that they keep coming back. We have scoured the Internet for resources and done all of the research on these topics so that you do not have to.

What is the best kind of bird feeder for cardinals?

A good bird feeder is really important given that northern cardinals are territorial birds. In order to attract them, you should always go for one that has been specially designed to attract them, rather than just a normal bird feeder. Because they are shy, cardinals typically spend an entire season of feeding at just one feeder. With the birds being anywhere between 7.5 and 9.25 inch in size, it is important to get a feeder that can accommodate their size. 

Cardinals generally prefer space when eating, so any feeders that have small feeding ports should be avoided. A bird feeder that provides plenty of space and where the seed is easy to access is the best choice for cardinals. 

What type of bird feeder attracts cardinals?

There are a number of feeders that are currently available for purchase on the market that have been specifically designed to attract cardinals. You should always go for this kind rather than a regular feeder. Any of the ones that features in the list of Our Top Picks will effective work in attracting cardinals to feed.

Others that are equally as effective but did not make Our Top Picks for various other reasons include the Brome Squirrel Buster Standard Bird Feeder, the Roamwild Squirrel Proof Cardinal Bird Feeder, and the Woodlink GGPLAT Going Green Platform Feeder.

How do I attract cardinals to my bird feeder?

This is not an easy thing to do given how shy and territorial that cardinals are. However, there are some specific things that you can do so that you are more likely to attract them in to your yard and on to your feeder. The first thing to do is make your yard a more attractive and inviting place. With cardinals feeding early in the morning, it is important that this is done in time for the first feed.

The next thing you can do is purchase a feeder that has been designed specifically for cardinals, such as any of those that featured above in the list of Our Top Picks. Carry on reading to find out which one of these we think is the best of all. Other ways of attracting cardinals in to your yard, include placing a bird bath just a few meters away from the feeder and placing the feeder as close to trees as possible so that there is somewhere for them to nest.

What do cardinal birds eat?

The favorite food of cardinals is sunflower seeds. They much prefer these over regular seeds. Because of their large and strong beak, breaking through sunflower seed is a simple and straight forward task for them, whereas some other small birds may struggle. Putting sunflower seeds on your feeder is a sure fired way of attracting cardinals into your yard.

As well as sunflower seeds, there are also specialist cardinal blend feeds that you can purchase to put into your feeder in order to specifically attract these bright red birds. These include the Aududon Park 12231 Cardinal Blend Bird Food and the Wagner’s 62032 Cardinal Blend Food. These are made up of a blend of safflower seed and sunflower seed. One good thing about the inclusion of safflower seed is that squirrels do not eat them, so you do not have to worry about those pesky rodents stealing any.

The Best Bird Feeder To Attract Cardinals Of All

There you have it; that was our review of some of the best bird feeders for cardinals that are currently available on the market. As well as that, we have also answered some of the most frequently asked questions about the birds and how to feed them. This means that the only thing left to do now, is state which one we think is the best of all.

While any from the list of Our Top Picks would make a great bird feeders for cardinals, for us, there was one that clearly stood out from the rest. This was the Droll Yankees Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder, even though it is at a higher price point than most. However, for this you get a high quality product, that incorporates a contemporary design, whilst being 100 percent squirrel proof.

About the Author Amber