Will Grackles and Starlings be able to reach the food? If not will they try to grab the feeder and shake seeds free? Will a cardinal be able to fit?
825872
I have heard cardinals prefer to eat from a flat surface type or feeder that is open so this type of feeder they tend not to got to. Grackles and startling can eat from it okay though. Cardinals always eat the fallen seed off the deck at my place.
825873
Small chickadees seem to be the best. Openings too small for Cardinals. Grackles and Starlings might try but I have not had any problrms with them over the past winter.
825874
No I even cut wires to make holes. Out of all the feeders that was the worst
825875
The grackles have left this feeder alone, and a cardinal should use it, if it choses
825876
Hello, concerning your question, grackles and starlings leave this feeder alone. They just wait for the sparrows to drop the seed. I have seen bluejays hang on to the bottom and get some seed and take off. Pigeons and dove are confused to. Squirrels can't get it either.Happy Feeding.
825877
Just lately having trouble with grackles. Yes they can reach in and get food. Also the squirrels are hanging on and reaching in. Have to mix red pepper flakes in again to keep squirrels away. The cardinal has trouble the male more than female. He does slot of fluttering trying to get seeds, she hangs on the side and reaches in calmly. Chipmunk fits in and fills up. Hope this helps!
825878
Smaller birds can reach the food. Ie grackles and starlings. Blue birds and full grown cardinals had no luck getting into mine. Sqirrels did shake it a wee bit. Better than any feeders except the No-nos.
802858
We have some grackles who are persistent, but they are too large to perch AND eat. The perch is too short for their big bodies. Mostly we have purple finches and a few cardinals. We hang suit squares for woodpeckers, bluejays, and starlings. The doves and pigeons hang out at the bottom of the feeders and catch the seeds that drop. The squirrels have never been able to feed there. We sometimes throw peanuts out the window for jays and squirrels and grackles. We like them all.
1573616
I'm in New England and the prominent birds that use the feeder are Goldfinches. That was the problem they hang out at this feeder & the titmice, chickadees, nuthatches don't have a chance to get the seed. We do have a finch feeder out but they prefer this. I have seen downy & hairy woodpeckers also occasionally a cardinal give it a go if it is quiet. Crackles (blackbirds) also are on the feeder. I'm looking for another feeder that will accommodate the variety of birds we are used to feeding.
75127
Woodpeckers and Nuthatches are the main users of the feeder. Other birds try, but do not have much luck. I have had some sparrows try, but they are not very successful. They try to hand by one leg..kinda funny looking. A cake lasts well over a month for me, and I have a lot of birds coming to it daily. It is my favorite feeder.
2222618
Actually, I have not seen Starlings on this suet feeder. They are usually a pesky bird, but no sign of them. We see pilated woodpeckers, lots of flickers, and other small birds. The bird that is usually a nuisance where I live are the Grosbeaks, they start feeding and won't leave, try to eat all the suet, and not leave food for others. You may not have them in your area.
1523320
We had to remove the other bird feeders in our yard for a week or so, so the birds had "no choice" but to use this one. At first, I thought it was going to be a wash because once the birds found it, they would still just grab one or two seeds and then fly away to eat them, then return only to fly away again to eat. I was a little bummed out because it seemed like more of a buffet tray than a table. Fast forward another few weeks and now we have woodpeckers, cardinals, and titmice that visit several times a day. I have my two feeders right next to one another about 3 feet from my desk and they don't hesitate to swoop right in. One thing you might want to consider is that the birds might want a "resting area" within three feet of the feeders so they avoid crashing into them ... a pole or plant or stick allows them to fly on to that and land, then take the little hop over to the feeders so they aren't coming in at full steam. Good luck, you and your cats should have a lot of fun! :)
839907
Hi Christine, Thanks for your question. In response, yes absolutely, this bird feeder works great for Cardinals & Red Bellied Woodpeckers. Basically, we typically see our customers use black oil sunflower seeds and fill the center portion (called the seed tank). When filled, some seeds stick out, and due to the double cage design, it allows birds to be able to stick their head/beak in between the outer cage holes and get to the seeds without problem. However, Squirrels cannot fit their heads or mouths through the outer holes as its too small and uncomfortable. Hope this helps! Mark ======= Skinny Squirrel Cages
2191195
NOT with this bird feeder. My birds LOVE it!! It's the first one emptied!! It may take awhile for them to eat out of a new feeder. I put up a feeder last year, that took the birds 3 months to *find* it!! No kidding!! Once they start eating seed out of this, you'll be out there all the time filling it up ;)
331463
It works very well with sunflower seed. That is what I use exclusively. the Cardinals will go to the perch of the feeder and eat from there.
1823215
Well, if chipmunks can climb up a tree or a pole and reach the feeder I would think perhaps their weight might shut the feeder ports..but I don't know..we don't have chipmunks here. You'll just have to chance it, I guess.
1061398
I agree with the first comment. Cardinals can use the feeder, but seem to prefer a platform style feeder. I have seen them sitting on the ground under the Squirrel Solutions Feeder waiting for another bird to spill seed onto the ground!
1606646
So far, the only "large" bird on this feeder is the cardinal. Starlings come to our other feeders but not to this one.
597624
Oh sure. Birds always do that regardless of the feeder. I've even seen them go out of their way to pick out items from a suet cake and drop them. All you can do is try to stock as much of the "favorite food" of the majority of the birds that visit your feeder. That might limit the variety of birds though. My chickadees only seem to want peanuts or corn while the finches eat only millet. Most of the niger seeds and sunflower seeds go over the side but the towhees and squirrels police those up off the ground. All just "part of the show."
2137685
Hello Bobbie...the answer to your question is "no." These little birds are having no trouble reaching the seeds. The only trouble they will sometimes have is waiting their turn as this feeder is very popular. I recommend purchasing two of these feeders. Happy Birding.
1618506
A good sized grackle will shut the feeder down. I have a lot of grackles, but since I have the squirrel buster feeder, the grackles are reduced to feeding off the ground. Since plenty of seed gets spilled on the ground, the grackles don't go hungry. They are now the clean up committee.
1770590
Yes, we have had blue jays and cardinals get into it. They can't lift the lid like the squirrels or chipmunks do, but they can get their beaks in and pick one out if its close enough. Yet the ones we have don't get much, the squirrels pretty much run it.
32854
We have doves and they don't use the feeder, I think they are to heavy when they land on ring. We have it set so Cardinals can feed. Also Crows can't use it, we love ours. Saving money on bird feed.