Suet provides a highly concentrated source of fat and calories, making it a valuable supplement for wild birds, particularly non-migratory species like the Northern Cardinal. Cardinals remain in the same region year-round, relying on readily available, high-energy food to maintain their body temperature and activity levels, especially during colder months. Selecting the right suet formulation is crucial for backyard bird enthusiasts aiming to attract the cardinal, requiring an understanding of the bird’s dietary preferences and feeding behavior.
The Cardinal’s Preferred Suet Formulation
Cardinals are primarily seed-eaters, and their preferred suet cakes reflect this natural inclination by incorporating large, calorie-dense seeds and nuts. The most attractive suet formulations feature a high percentage of black oil sunflower seeds, which are prized for their high fat content and thin shells that are easy for a cardinal’s powerful beak to crack open. Safflower seeds are another favored component, offering a benefit in that they are often avoided by less desirable feeder visitors like squirrels and blackbirds.
The consistency of the suet also plays a role in its appeal, as cardinals prefer softer, more accessible textures. Suet cakes made with rendered beef kidney fat, or beef tallow, are generally superior because this fat has a high melting point and provides a clean, easily digestible source of saturated fat. This base should be mixed with shelled peanuts or peanut pieces and cracked corn, which provide additional protein and carbohydrates. Suet doughs, a softer, more pliable form of suet, are also highly effective as they contain these preferred ingredients in an easy-to-consume form.
Seasonal Suet Adjustments
The composition of the suet should be adjusted seasonally to prevent spoilage and provide the correct caloric support based on environmental temperatures. During the winter, when temperatures are consistently low, high-calorie, pure beef suet blends are beneficial because they offer maximum energy for the birds to generate body heat. The fat content in these blocks helps insulate the birds and sustain them when natural food sources are scarce.
As temperatures rise, typically above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, traditional animal-fat suet becomes problematic, as it can soften, melt, and turn rancid quickly. Melting suet is particularly dangerous because the sticky fat can smear onto a bird’s feathers, impairing their natural waterproofing and insulation. For warm weather, birders should switch to commercial “no-melt” suet varieties, which incorporate stabilizers such as cornmeal or flour to raise the fat’s melting point. These stabilized formulations ensure the suet remains solid even when temperatures exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Optimal Suet Presentation
Cardinals are relatively large songbirds, and their feeding behavior dictates a preference for stable, spacious feeding surfaces over small, swinging feeders. The optimal presentation involves using a wide, covered platform or tray feeder, or a hopper feeder that provides a generous landing and perching area. These feeder types accommodate the cardinal’s size and weight, allowing them to feed comfortably without the instability that might deter them.
While standard wire-cage suet feeders are suitable, placing the suet cake in a feeder that allows the cardinal to perch upright rather than cling sideways can increase its use. Feeder placement is equally important for attracting these birds, which prefer to feed in safe locations near protective cover. Positioning the suet feeder within 10 to 12 feet of trees, shrubs, or dense vegetation provides a quick escape route from potential predators, encouraging the cardinals to visit more frequently.