The Best Bird Feeders for Cardinals: Transform Your Yard Into a Haven

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You can attract more cardinals to your outdoor space by choosing the right bird feeder for these stunningly vibrant birds.

Cardinals aren’t very timid, but to successfully attract these beautiful birds to your yard, it’s important to choose the right type of food and bird feeder for cardinals. Designed to provide these birds with plenty of space to perch and feast, all while looking nice in the garden, cardinal feeders come in a range of materials and designs to suit personal preferences. We tested 10 different bird feeders in order to examine their versatility and discover which feeders would stand out from the flock.

If you’re eager to transform your backyard into a haven for cardinals to bathe and eat, this guide can help. Below, we’ll review some of the best bird feeders for cardinals and recommend their best uses based on our first-hand observations from testing. 

1. BEST OVERALL: Woodlink Heritage Farms Squirrel-Resistant Feeder 
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Style Selections Hanging Hopper Bird Feeder
3. BEST FOR POLE MOUNTING: Woodlink Deluxe Cedar Feeder With Suet Cages
4. BEST FOR TABLETOPS: Gray Bunny Bird Feeder Tray
5. BEST FOR GROUND: DutchCrafters Amish Poly Covered Ground Bird Feeder
6. BEST FOR WINDOWS: Nature’s Hangout Window Bird Feeder With Suction Cups
7. BEST SQUIRREL-PROOF: Brome Squirrel Buster Plus Feeder With Cardinal Ring
8. BEST HOPPER: Woodlink Going Green Large Premier Feeder
9. BEST TRAY: Nature’s Way Bird Products Cedar Platform Tray
10. BEST COLLAPSIBLE: Perky-Pet Red Cardinal Wild Bird Feeder

How We Tested the Best Bird Feeders for Cardinals 

Cardinals are midsize songbirds that feast on black oil sunflower seeds. We used that information to choose a variety of different feeders for testing. Our cardinal birdseed feeders included hoppers, trays, tubes, and window feeders of different sizes. Some hung from a branch or shepherd’s hook, others mounted on a pole, and a couple of them sat on the ground. For best results, we tested each feeder independently. Afterward, we followed a rubric, scoring each feeder for ease of assembly and installation, durability, ease of filling and cleaning, and bird visibility. We observed birds feeding thrice daily for a week to confirm that cardinals were indeed attracted to these feeders. We also noted susceptibility to squirrels, seed spillage, and rain.

Testing Stats

• Products tested: 10
• Hours spent testing: 15
• Tests performed: 4
• Price range: $17 to $180

Our Top Picks

The following cardinal bird feeders are some of the best on the market. In our tests, each one proved easy to set up and maintain. While each has its strengths and weaknesses, all of the picks on our list are effective for watching and feeding cardinals. These feeders feature comfortable perches, plenty of space for larger birds, squirrel-proof features, and a wide range of styles and materials, so there are plenty of excellent options to choose from. 

Best Overall

Woodlink Heritage Farms Squirrel-Resistant Feeder

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.3/5; Effectiveness 5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.6/5

Product Specs 

• Feeder type: Hopper
• Materials: Metal
• Capacity: 9 pounds

Pros

• Very large capacity; can hold 9 pounds of seed
• Durable powder-coated steel material is rust- and damage-resistant
• Includes necessary hardware for hanging and pole mounting
• All feeding ports are on one side, which ensures that birds will be visible

Cons

• Crafty squirrels may figure out how to bypass the critter-resistant features
• Can be too heavy to hang when filled with seed; must hang from a sturdy frame

For yards and gardens teeming with birds, a large bird feeder is the right choice to keep up with demand. This hopper bird feeder from Woodlink holds an impressive 9 pounds of seed, which is enough to feed a lot of cardinals. It is designed to avoid feeding squirrels, with a weight-triggered closing mechanism and locking top. The adjustable weight-triggered perch locks access to the seeds when it senses a squirrel. 

The front-facing perch and spacious feeding area are ideal for cardinals, but plenty of other birds will love this feeder as well. The powder-coated steel body is long lasting, and the deep green finish looks nice. To suit different homes, this bird feeder can be hung or pole mounted, and it includes the necessary hardware for either option. 

We mounted the feeder on the included pole. Assembling the bracket beneath the feeder was not difficult—it involved just 8 screws and nuts, and it came together in about 5 minutes. Anchoring the pole in soil took another 20 minutes of digging and tamping soil. Everything fit well and felt secure, but it was difficult to get a perfect vertical pole position.

To fill the feeder, we had to squeeze the release tabs at the back and tilt the roof forward. This opens the entire top, making it super easy to load. There is no fastener holding the feeder base to the pole, so we could have dismounted the feeder easily enough if we needed to. 

While the weight-sensitive perch makes this feeder highly squirrel-resistant, one of these furry scoundrels learned to sprawl across the roof and reach down to the open feeding port. Nonetheless, it still did a better job than most of keeping squirrels out. In addition to the sturdy build and large volume, our favorite thing about the Heritage Farms bird feeder was that the feeding area is only on one side. This allowed us to position the perch for easy viewing, which, for many people, is the top reason to feed birds, after all. Feeding space was more limited than some of the other feeders, but the feeder itself didn’t block the view. The cardinals seemed to especially love feeding while being somewhat sheltered by this feeder during rainy weather.

Read our full review: Woodlink Heritage Farms Squirrel-Resistant Feeder

Get the Woodlink Heritage Farms bird feeder for cardinals at Amazon, Lowe’s, or Wayfair.

Best Bang for the Buck

Style Selections Hanging Hopper Bird Feeder

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.7/5; Effectiveness 5/5; Durability 4/5; Value 4.2/5

Product Specs 

• Feeder type: Hopper
• Materials: Plastic
• Capacity: 6 pounds

Pros

• Lightweight bird feeder is easy to hang from a branch or shepherd’s hook
• Roof lifts off to provide a large opening that is easy to fill
• Hopper-style feeder with sheltered feeding area attracts lots of different birds
• Inexpensive and well designed; suitable for a variety of birds and habitats

Cons

• Squirrels can easily access the feeding area and make a mess of the bird food
• Although it is ultraviolet (UV)-resistant, the plastic may become brittle and crack over time

For cost savings and general bird-feeding success, consider this simple and effective hanging bird feeder from Style Selections. This plastic hopper-style bird feeder holds up to 6 pounds of bird food, and our backyard birds loved it during testing.

The midsize lantern-style feeder features a clear plastic hopper and a hexagonal shape that helps users see the feeding birds more easily. The hopper continuously fills a feeding tray at the base, where small and midsize birds feed from the comfort of a perch. It measures 9.6 inches tall and 11.5 inches in diameter.

The Style Selections feeder arrived ready to use, with no assembly required. We filled the hopper and hung it on a shepherd’s hook, which flexed only slightly under the weight of the full feeder. It was an immediate hit with all types of birds, including our neighborhood cardinals.

Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for the squirrels to find it. They climbed the shepherd’s hook (which we could have coated with petroleum jelly or protected with a squirrel baffle as a preventative measure) and entered the perching and feeding area. After a couple of days, they learned to remove the top of the feeder and go right to the source.

This is an excellent feeder for the price. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and clean, and the birds love it. Just be sure to take all precautions to keep squirrels away.

Get the Style Selections bird feeder for cardinals at Lowe’s.

Best for Pole Mounting

Woodlink Deluxe Cedar Feeder With Suet Cages

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.7/5; Effectiveness 5/5; Durability 4/5; Value 4/5

Product Specs 

• Feeder type: Hopper
• Materials: Wood
• Capacity: 5 pounds

Pros

• Can be hung with included cable or pole mounted 
• Features a birdseed feeder and 2 suet cages; great for year-round use
• Hinged roof makes refilling and cleaning straightforward

Cons

• Suet holders are on the smaller side and may not fit some suet cakes 

Appeal to cardinals with both seed and suet using this attractive hopper-style bird feeder. Made from cedar, this feeder can hold up to 5 pounds of birdseed as well as two suet cakes. Although it includes a cable for hanging, this model can also be pole mounted, making it a great option for those who want to keep squirrels away. The pole and mounting hardware are not included.

The hinged roof opens for easy cleaning, and the plexiglass makes it easy to see when the feeder needs refilling. It has front-facing perches to accommodate cardinals, and since it holds different types of food, it’s like having two feeders in one.

Since the Woodlink Deluxe Cedar Feeder came with a preinstalled hanging cable, all we had to do was fill the hopper, add suet, and hang it on our shepherd’s hook. Even when it was packed with 5 pounds of food, the weight was not a problem with this one. We also really liked the natural wood appearance, which will mellow to a grayish-brown color with age. 

The squirrel situation was similar to the other unprotected models we tested. It only took a day for our squirrels to hone in and make a mess. They started with the perch area and quickly found that the hopper lid did not latch securely. This is a really nice-looking and easy-to-use feeder—just be sure to protect it from squirrels. 

Get the Woodlink Deluxe bird feeder for cardinals at Amazon, Wayfair, or Walmart.

Best for Tabletops

Gray Bunny Bird Feeder Tray

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Effectiveness 5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 3.8/5

Product Specs 

• Feeder type: Tray
• Materials: Metal
• Capacity: 1 pound

Pros

• Ideal for new bird-feeding stations; birds are able to find the exposed seed easily
• Small platform feeder can be placed on a tabletop or on the ground
• Works with various feed types, such as sunflower seeds, peanuts, mealworms, and fruit
• Metal mesh tray is easy to clean, corrosion-resistant, and allows water to drain 

Cons

• Exposed cardinal food is open to potentially unwanted bird types, squirrels, and other wildlife
• Must be cleaned and dried frequently to prevent clogging and food spoilage

Tray or platform bird feeders help birds find new feeding stations and are suitable for a wider variety of food types than most feeders. The Gray Bunny bird feeder tray is made of durable metal mesh to let rainwater and snowmelt drain freely. The tray measures 11 inches square, and thanks to its metal feet, it elevates off the ground by about 1 inch. It holds about a pound of birdseed for cardinals.

This feeder arrived fully assembled and ready to use. During the test week, we moved it to several different locations around the yard, including an outdoor patio table, a tree stump, and directly on the ground. After feeding the cardinals a tray full of sunflower seeds, we filled it with dried mealworms for our bluebirds and then with peanuts for the squirrels. Given the openness of the feeder, we were surprised at the lack of scattered bird food mess.

We also noted that the feeder, although generally easy to clean, required more frequent cleaning than the other feeders we tested. This was largely due to rain exposure. The mesh prevented puddling during rain, but debris quickly clogged the mesh. To make cleanup easy, we allowed the food to run out and hosed off the mesh before every fill-up.

Get the Gray Bunny bird feeder for cardinals at Amazon.

Best for Ground

DutchCrafters Amish Poly Covered Ground Bird Feeder

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Effectiveness 5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 3.8/5

Product Specs 

• Feeder type: Platform
• Materials: Recycled plastic
• Capacity: 5 pounds

Pros

• Covered platform feeder keeps feed dry during inclement weather
• Removable seed tray with metal mesh bottom allows for easy cleaning
• Large-capacity seed tray saves time filling and maintaining
• Weatherproof plastic material for years of dependable use

Cons

• Roof can make it more difficult to view birds from some angles and in certain light conditions
• Versatile and very durable, but it comes at a premium price

If it was designed to mount on a post or hang, we might refer to this as a “fly-through” feeder. But due to its large size and the fact that it sits directly on the ground, we consider it a covered platform feeder. Either way, it’s a great place to set out a large quantity of bird food, with plenty of room for several birds to feed at once.

This was the largest cardinal feeder we tested, measuring 23 inches long by 14.75 inches wide by 18.5 inches tall. No assembly was required, either. The seed tray is not fastened to the superstructure, which makes it easy to remove for cleaning. We tried this feeder in two different locations: first on the ground and then on a low table. 

The legs are about 4 inches tall, which is a really nice height for ground feeding. The only thing we didn’t like about the design was that the roof obscured the view into the feeding area when viewed from above, such as while we were sitting on the deck with the feeder on the ground nearby. The shade provided by the roof also made viewing a bit more difficult on clear, bright days.

The large covered tray space was an advantage during stretches of poor weather or busy times when we couldn’t get out to fill it every day. Plus, though it was covered, even larger birds were able to access the feed inside. The cardinals seemed to appreciate sheltered feeding, too.

Get the DutchCrafters bird feeder for cardinals at Amazon or DutchCrafters. 

Best for Windows

Nature's Hangout Window Bird Feeder With Suction Cups

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.3/5; Effectiveness 5/5; Durability 4/5; Value 3.8/5

Product Specs&n