Safflower Seeds

[Mallard44]

The books on bird feeding list safflower seeds as a favorite of cardinals. I place some on my tray feeder every day, but I have never seen a cardinal there. Who is eating the seeds?

[seb_seb]

Safflower?

[crazybirdlady]

Hello..
I have also read this ...Have never tried it not sure ...Safflower are seeds that come from a plant that reminds me of dandilions!!! they are white seeds and the flowers are bushy tops that are yellow/gold colored .
I read in the book that I have that not much else eats them!!! Cardinals feed early in the morning and just before dark so maybe look and see if they are that ones eating and maybe you are just missing the action!! Good luck!!!!! Have a GREAT day!!!
Bobbi

[AnnieW]

Safflower?
I'd never come across it either, but found this web site :

http://safflower.wsu.edu/

Wonder if I put it in one of my feeders would I get cardinals :eek!:

[songbird6666]

Safflower seeds are included in parakeet and cockatiel mixes that I use, these are a favourite with my birds, and the doves like them too.

[snowyowl]

Safflower seed is eaten by Purple Finches, Black-capped Chickadees, Blue Jays and Mourning Doves as well as by Cardinals. I usually add a bit to seed mixes that I put out on the platform feeder.

[Mallard44]

Safflower seed is eaten by Purple Finches, Black-capped Chickadees, Blue Jays and Mourning Doves as well as by Cardinals. I usually add a bit to seed mixes that I put out on the platform feeder.

Thanks, That explains it. I have chickadees, finches, and mourning doves.

[goldfinch]

Hello,

We use safflower 90% of the time... and have cardinals, black capped
chicadees, titmouse, yellow rumped warbler, carolina wren, house finches,
& nuthatches at the feeders.

Was also told that the safflower had a bitter taste and that most squirrels
avoided it.

As soon as we add black stripped sunflower seeds, the squirrels come back!

[tifoso]

My squirrels learned to love safflower, unfortunately.

When I was using safflower exclusively, we had cardinals, nuthatches, titmice, chickadees, Carolina wrens, and mourning doves ground feeding on the spillage. I've changed over to hot pepper coated sunflower "meat" (no shells). Now towhees have joined the doves ground feeding and blue jays and crows have arrived to hog the feeder. It's always something!

[suebee]

In addition to the above, I have rose-breasted grosbeaks enjoying the safflower.

[humminbird]

Hello..
I have also read this ...Have never tried it not sure ...Safflower are seeds that come from a plant that reminds me of dandilions!!! they are white seeds and the flowers are bushy tops that are yellow/gold colored .
I read in the book that I have that not much else eats them!!! Cardinals feed early in the morning and just before dark so maybe look and see if they are that ones eating and maybe you are just missing the action!! Good luck!!!!! Have a GREAT day!!!
Bobbi


Well Bobbi, despite what the books say, I have watched squirrels EMPTY a safflower seed feeder - with a sunflower feeder right beside it!

Mark
Bastrop, TX

[humminbird]

The books on bird feeding list safflower seeds as a favorite of cardinals. I place some on my tray feeder every day, but I have never seen a cardinal there. Who is eating the seeds?


There may be something else working here causing the lack of Northern Cardinals. These birds like brushy situations. You can put out all the "cardinal food" you want but if the cover is not there the birds probably won't be.

Mark
Bastrop, TX