Bird Feeders for Cardinals: Reviews of the 9 Best Options

Bird Feeders for Cardinals: Reviews of the 9 Best Options

If you love having cardinals in your yard, you know that it’s absolutely crucial to offer a quality bird feeder that will make them choose your place as their first stop for food.

If you don’t get the right bird feeder, or your bird feeder isn’t functional, you won’t see cardinals nearly as often. With so many options out there for bird feeders, though, it can be difficult to know which ones are truly the best.

To help you out, we’ve taken a deep dive into the world of cardinal-specific bird feeders and have prepared a definitive list of the nine best bird feeders for cardinals in 2019 and beyond. Follow along with our reviews to learn more about these nine feeders and what to look for during the buying process.

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Best Bird Feeders for Cardinals – Review of the Top 9 Picks

You could comb through every option on the market to find the best bird feeder for cardinals, but why not let us do the work?

Here are the nine best bird feeders for cardinals that we’ve identified, and some essential information about each of them. Regardless of which one you like best, you should be able to find your next cardinal bird feeder on this list!

Perky-Pet C00322 Red Cardinal Bird Feeder – 9.0/10.0

Features & Specifications

  • Color: Red
  • Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 7 inches (approx. 25 x 25 x 18 cm)
  • Weight: 2.65 pounds (approx. 1 kg)

Pros

  • Circular perch for many cardinals
  • Sold in multi-packs
  • Zinc finish for durability

Cons

  • Low capacity

Editorial Review

If you’re looking for a traditional, functional option, this might be a good feeder for you. It’s not the most decorative out of all the options here, but it’s certainly not ugly, either. This bird feeder is easy to use and can accommodate many cardinals at a time. It’s easy to hang and fill, and will look great on virtually any lawn. It’s also pretty affordable at the current price point.

What Others Are Saying

Thousands of people have bought this product, and almost all of them love it! If there’s one complaint that we should point out, it’s that the fill capacity is pretty low in comparison to that of other feeders.


Roamwild PestOff Red Cardinal Bird Feeder – 9.0/10.0

Features & Specifications

  • 3-pound seed capacity
  • Dimensions: 16.5 x 7.5 x 7.5 inches (approx. 42 x 19 x 19 cm)
  • Weight: 2.1 pounds (approx. 953 g)

Pros

  • Squirrel-proof features
  • Large capacity
  • Available in multiple colors

Cons

  • Can only accommodate two cardinals at a time

Editorial Review

This cardinal feeder is great for those who need help preventing squirrels from stealing their seed—a common problem for those who like to feed and observe birds. This feeder is available in multiple colors, is waterproof and weatherproof, and has a large filling capacity.

What Others Are Saying

Most customers have loved using their Roamwild feeder, reporting that it keeps out both squirrels and raccoons and is very durable. One user actually reported that a bear removed it from the tree and then took it apart to get the seeds, but the parts were strong enough that it could easily be assembled and hung again.

That being said, a large number of users have reported having the exact opposite experience. Many people have found the plastic bottom of the feeder too flimsy, and assert that squirrels have had no trouble chewing through it to get to the birdseed.


New Creative Cardinal Mesh Bird Feeder – 8.5/10.0

Features & Specifications

  • Holds about 5 cups of seed
  • Measures 13 x 13 x 4 inches (approx. 33 x 33 x 10 cm)
  • Weight: 11.4 oz (approx. 323 g)

Pros

  • Durable metal mesh construction
  • Attached chain for hanging
  • Shaped like a cardinal

Cons

  • Non-decorative design
  • No squirrel prevention

Editorial Review

If you’re looking for something that’s no-nonsense and very affordable, then this could be a good option for you. This mesh feeder is a lesson in simplicity and will provide you with the basics you’ll need to feed the cardinals in your yard. It’s not a fancy feeder, but it does get the job done, and because of its functionality, it’s on our list.

What Others Are Saying

The feedback on this feeder is very positive, but some past users wish it had some anti-squirrel features to prevent squirrels from eating the seed they put out. This is a pervasive problem, but considering the price, most past users are very satisfied.


Perky-Pet Copper Panorama Cardinal Bird Feeder – 9.5/10.0

Features & Specifications

  • Brass/copper color
  • 8.3 x 8.3 x 8 inches (approx. 21 x 21 x 20 cm)
  • 1.54 pounds (approx. 699 g)

Pros

  • Panorama perch for maximum cardinals at a time
  • Good-looking design
  • Durable metal construction
  • Can feed all kinds of birds
  • Available with 1 or 2 tiers

Cons

  • Low seed capacity

Editorial Review

This is a simple bird feeder, but the design or appearance haven’t been sacrificed for simplicity’s sake. This pleasant little bird feeder is perfect if you’re just getting started with putting out seed for your local cardinals. It’s small, functional and one of the most affordable options on our list. We highly recommend it to anyone who’s looking for something basic yet effective.

What Others Are Saying

The feedback on the Perky-Pet copper feeder for cardinals (and other birds) is quite promising. While it’s not the most luxurious bird feeder in the world, it will provide you with a pleasant and effective way to feed your local birds. We don’t have many complaints, especially taking the price into account, but we’d like to see this bird feeder with an increased capacity. It can be a pain to have to constantly replace the seed in a feeder, as you may very well know.


Squirrel Buster Standard Squirrel-Proof Cardinal Bird Feeder – 9.5/10.0

Features & Specifications

  • Color: Green
  • Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 21 inches (approx. 13 x 13 x 53 cm)
  • Weight: 1.6 pounds (approx. 726 g)

Pros

  • Available in multi-packs for increased affordability
  • 4 metal perches to accommodate multiple cardinals
  • 1.3- pound capacity

Cons

  • Small perches

Editorial Review

This is one of the most effective cardinal feeders on the market, if you’re looking for something to keep the squirrels away. The feeder is affordable, and it’s also available in multi-packs, if you’re looking to fill out your whole yard with feeders!

What Others Are Saying

Past users of this product absolutely love it because of how good a job it does at keeping the squirrels away. One complaint that came up a couple of times, though, was that the perches are very small, so some birds might have trouble balancing upon them while eating. Other than that, this will make a great bird feeder for your cardinals.


Perky-Pet 338 Country House Cardinal Bird Feeder – 9.0/10.0

Features & Specifications

  • Color: Red or green
  • Dimensions: 11.7 x 14.5 x 10.7 inches (approx. 30 x 37 x 27 cm)
  • Weight: 4.45 pounds (2 kg)

Pros

  • Durable metal to withstand elements
  • Unique design
  • Keeps squirrels away

Cons

  • Won’t go with just any decor
  • Can only feed a couple of birds at a time

Editorial Review

This feeder by Perky-Pet is definitely unique, and will certainly catch the eye of the neighborhood cardinals. If you have a rustic or farmhouse look that you’re trying to achieve within your yard, this feeder would be an excellent option for you. It’s made of durable metal and is available in multiple colors, so you can choose the one that best suits your yard.

What Others Are Saying

People generally love the farmhouse design of this feeder, combined with the fact that it keeps squirrels away. However, we’d love it if the feeder could accommodate more than one or two cardinals at a time. The tray in front really doesn’t have much room, if you’re trying to feed multiple cardinals simultaneously.


Evergreen Solar Cardinal Bird Feeder – 9.0/10.0

Features & Specifications

  • Includes solar panel
  • Dimensions: 10 x 11.9 x 10 inches (approx.. 25 x 30 x 25 cm)
  • Weight: 1.7 pounds (771 g)

Pros

  • Collects sun during the day to light up at night
  • Decorative cardinal panel display
  • Attracts birds with the light

Cons

  • Low seed capacity

Editorial Review

This light-up cardinal bird feeder is sure to catch the eye of your local cardinals, as it collects sunlight during the day and uses that stored energy to light up at night. If you’re looking for something unique for your yard that will also attract cardinals, this is the right choice for you.

What Others Are Saying

This is a relatively new product, but so far, people love it! It’ll make a wonderful addition to any lawn, and will serve your cardinals well. On the negative side, however, many people wish it had a higher seed capacity.


Gift Boutique Cardinal Bird Feeder

Features & Specifications

  • Includes metal chain
  • Dimensions: 14.6 x 8.3 x 7.4 inches (approx. 37 x 21 x 19 cm)
  • Weight: 2.55 pounds (approx. 1 kg)

Pros

  • Gives off rustic and traditional vibe
  • Attractive red cardinal design

Cons

  • Only feeds one cardinal at a time
  • Decorative, but not the most functional

Editorial Review

This bird feeder is truly a cardinal bird feeder! We say that because it’s literally shaped like a cardinal, which makes it a perfect choice for someone who loves this type of bird. There are some drawbacks to this design, but overall, this is a great feeder that has a traditional yet popular look.

What Others Are Saying

While many people love the design of this feeder, there is one key complaint about it. The design of this feeder means that it’s shaped like a literal cardinal, which allows it to feed only one cardinal at a time, and it can also be a little difficult to fill. Nonetheless, despite this common complaint, past users seem to be satisfied with their investment.


Droll Yankees Cardinal Bird Feeder

Features & Specifications

  • Platform feeder that holds up to a pound of seed
  • Dimensions: 15.2 x 8 x 15.1 inches (approx. 39 x 20 x 38 cm)
  • Weight: 5 pounds (approx. 2 kg)

Pros

  • Cool dome design
  • Protects food from elements
  • Very easy to hang and use

Cons

  • No anti-squirrel features
  • Not very decorative

Editorial Overview

Finally, we have this domed design by Droll Yankees. This is a more upscale take on cardinal bird feeders, and would be good for people who want something simple and elegant. We recommend it to those cardinal enthusiasts who don’t have a squirrel problem.

What Others Are Saying

While it’s plain and doesn’t have any anti-squirrel features, past users are very satisfied with this product. They love that it has a good capacity for seed and that the dome design protects the seed from the elements so your birds can enjoy it after they’ve found it.


The Bottom Line

Based on all of our criteria (such as affordability, appearance and seed capacity) and our detailed exploration of the other options out there, we feel that the Squirrel Bust Cardinal Feeder by Brome is the best cardinal feeder on the market. It will protect your feed from squirrels and provide your cardinals with plenty of places to eat from while enjoying your yard.

image: Pixabay