The Northern Cardinal is a familiar, year-round resident across its range, distinguishing itself from many songbirds by choosing not to migrate south for the winter. This means the bird must endure the season’s harshest conditions, relying on its ability to fluff its feathers for insulation and shiver to generate internal heat. Winter presents a significant survival challenge as natural food sources become scarce and energy demands soar. By providing a consistent source of high-calorie nutrition, safe feeding stations, and reliable shelter, homeowners can significantly improve the survival prospects of these vibrant birds.
High-Energy Food Sources for Cold Weather
Winter feeding efforts should focus on dense, high-fat, and high-calorie foods that provide the energy necessary for cardinals to survive cold overnight temperatures. The most attractive food for Northern Cardinals is the black oil sunflower seed. These seeds are preferred over their striped counterparts because their thinner shells are easier for the cardinal’s strong beak to open. They also boast a higher oil content, translating directly to more fat and calories per seed.
Safflower seeds are another excellent, nutrient-dense choice, offering a rich blend of protein and fat that supports winter survival. A key advantage of safflower is that it is often ignored by squirrels, starlings, and house sparrows, which helps ensure the food remains available. Suet, a rendered fat product, is also highly beneficial for its concentrated fat and protein content, providing a quick source of energy to help birds maintain their body heat.
Although cardinals will consume various items, offering foods like cracked corn or millet is generally less effective for attracting them specifically. These grains tend to attract ground-feeding species that compete with cardinals. They also do not offer the same concentrated caloric value as sunflower or safflower seeds. Crushed peanuts, provided unsalted and shelled, are enthusiastically consumed. They contribute a substantial amount of necessary fat and protein.
Strategic Feeder Placement and Protection
Cardinals prefer to feed on stable surfaces and are often described as shy, which dictates the ideal type and placement of a feeding station. Platform or tray feeders are highly effective because they mimic ground-foraging behavior. They also provide a large, comfortable area for them to land and feed. Hopper feeders with large trays or sturdy, extended perches are also suitable, as cardinals dislike the swaying motion of lightweight, hanging tube feeders.
The feeder should be placed in a location that offers a balance between visibility and safety from predators. Positioning the feeder approximately 10 feet from dense cover, such as a thick shrub or evergreen tree, allows the cardinals a quick escape route while preventing predators from ambushing them from too close a distance. Feeders should be placed at a height that is comfortable for the birds, often between five and six feet off the ground, and protected with baffles to deter squirrels and other climbing pests. Cardinals rely on a consistently full feeder, making regular replenishment important during periods of harsh weather.
Essential Winter Shelter and Water Access
Providing dense, year-round shelter is as important as food for winter survival, offering protection from cold winds, snow, and avian predators. Evergreen trees and shrubs, such as juniper, pine, or holly, are highly favored because their dense foliage provides excellent thermal cover. Cardinals will roost within this thick vegetation, which helps them conserve energy.
Homeowners can create simple brush piles or repurpose old Christmas trees to increase the available protective cover. Liquid water is often overlooked but becomes scarce when natural sources freeze over, yet it is necessary for hydration and digestion. A heated birdbath or a standard birdbath equipped with a de-icer is the most effective way to ensure a continuous supply of water. This reliable water source can be a significant draw for cardinals, as consuming snow requires the birds to expend valuable energy.