Ever spot a bright red cardinal and feel like it made your whole day? Same here. These birds are year-round favorites for a reason. They’re stunning, easy to recognize, and surprisingly easy to attract with the right setup. If you’re hoping to welcome more cardinals to your backyard, here’s exactly how to get started.
1. Feed Them What They Actually Like
Cardinals aren’t too picky, but they definitely have their favorites. If you want to catch their attention, start with the good stuff:
- Black-oil sunflower seeds, hands-down their top pick.
- Safflower seeds, cardinals love them, and squirrels usually don’t.
- Peanuts and cracked corn, fun treats now and then.
Cardinals are medium-sized birds, so they prefer tray feeders, platform feeders, or sturdy hopper feeders with enough space to perch. I have noticed they tend to skip the tube feeders with tiny perches.
2. Pick a Peaceful, Safe Feeder Spot
Cardinals are a little shy. They’ll visit more often if they feel safe.
- Try placing your feeders near shrubs or dense trees so they can dart in and out quickly.
- Avoid windy, open spots they like feeders tucked in or near natural cover.
- If you have neighborhood cats around (I do!), keep feeders up high and away from low branches they could use to pounce.
Need ideas on feeder spot?
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3. Don’t Forget Water
Birds need water just as much as food, and moving water is especially inviting. A basic birdbath works great just make sure it’s shallow (no more than 2 inches deep).
What works best:
- Adding a small bubbler or solar fountain (they’re inexpensive and fun to watch).
- Keeping it clean and filled, especially in summer.
- In the colder months, I recommend a heated birdbath to help all the birds get through our long northern winters.
4. Create a Safe, Natural Habitat
Cardinals love dense shrubs and native plantings where they can perch, nest, and hide. They won’t use nesting boxes, so skip those.
Some great choices:
- Dogwood, viburnum, and elderberry, they offer both food and shelter.
- Evergreens! Cardinals use them for winter roosting and nesting.
- If you’re okay with a wilder look, let part of your yard stay a little “messy” brush piles, untamed corners, and native thickets are bird magnets.
5. Add Native Plants They’ll Come Back For
If you really want to make your yard irresistible, plant things that cardinals naturally feed on:
- Sunflowers, coneflowers, and black-eyed Susans. Seed heads are a fall and winter snack.
- Berry bushes like serviceberry, chokeberry, or sumac.
- Grasses like switchgrass or little bluestem for cover and seeds.
Even a few native plant additions can make a big difference.
6. Keep It Low-Key and Consistent
Cardinals are most active early in the morning and just before sunset. Once they find a yard they like, they’ll return often but it takes a little time.
Keep your setup consistent:
- Refill feeders regularly.
- Clean birdbaths weekly.
- Keep the noise and activity down around feeding areas.
Final Thoughts
Attracting cardinals isn’t about doing everything perfectly it’s about creating a space where they feel safe, fed, and welcome. With a bit of patience (and maybe a few sunflower seeds), you’ll start to notice those flashes of red more and more.
Let me know if you’ve had success attracting cardinals or if you’re trying something new! I love hearing what works in other yards across the Great Lakes region.
