Today, I’m sharing tips on how to attract cardinals to your backyard. The cardinal also known as “redbirds” is my state bird, West Virginia. They were also the mascot for my high school growing up, so I’ve always had an infinity toward them. Cardinals are known as visitors from heaven, which makes me think of my mother, father and grandparents. As a result, they are one of my favorite backyard birds.
Fortunately, my backyard is full of them year round. And, as you can see my northern cardinals love seeds. The males are red with black back/tail feathers and are a standout anytime of the year. But, they are breathtaking during the winter months against the snow. During mating season, the brighter the better to the female cardinals.
The females have some red, but are mostly tan and gray. They sing outside my bedroom window in the morning. Cardinals are known to have up to 12 different songs. While watching them, I’ve found them to be quite sociable. They wait their turn at the feeder and interact well with other species.
How to attract cardinals to your backyard:
- Provide mixed birdseed as well as black oil sunflower seeds.
- Safflower seeds are another favorite.
- Cracked corn and apples are also favorites.
- Use a platform or hopper feeder near shrubs and bushes.
- Offer a birdbath or other water feature, especially in the summer.
- Plant nasturtium, purple coneflower, safflower, sunflower and sweet pea plants.
- Cardinals love berries such as dogwood, hackberries, and northern bayberry.
- Cardinals nest in evergreen and rose bushes if they are are least 8 feet or taller.
They also eat insects and sap from the trees. However, I have yet to see them eat from the suet feeder. The male is quite the gentleman. The majority of the time he will perch on a branch while the female eats and than he takes his turn.
