The Safflower Solution: How To Outwit Those Pesky Blackbirds

Feeding birds year-round can be incredibly rewarding. Observing a male cardinal pass a seed to a female during courtship demonstrates the lengths some birds go to obtain a mate. Similar behaviour can be observed later in the season as many birds will bring their offspring to feeders once fledged and place food in their open mouths. These actions provide hours of entertainment for any backyard birder and are just one of the many reasons I leave my feeders up all year.

Year-round feeding can also come with some frustration if your yard is frequented by blackbirds such as Common Grackles or European Starlings. These birds often exhibit aggressive behaviour around feeders chasing away more desirable songbirds. A flock of grackles or starlings can make quick work of a feeder full of seed either by consuming it or scattering mixed blends on the ground searching for their favourite. 

Fortunately, there is something that can be done to prevent grackles and starlings from visiting your feeders. The solution is to fill your feeder with safflower seed. Safflower seed is white in colour and similar in shape to black oil sunflower seed though slightly smaller. High in protein, fat, and fibre this seed provides excellent nutritional value for songbirds. Safflower seed has a bitter taste which grackles and starlings will often leave alone while other birds readily accept this offering. Birds that frequently eat safflower seed include:

Northern Cardinal

Black-capped Chickadee

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 

House Finch

Mourning Dove

Downy Woodpecker

Blue Jay

White-breasted Nuthatch

Tufted Titmouse

Another benefit of offering safflower seed is most squirrels will turn their noses up at it.

Safflower seed can be offered in just about any type of feeder including tube, hopper, tray, fly through or seed cylinder. If you are hoping to attract Rose-breasted Grosbeaks to your feeder when they return to Southwestern Ontario in early May, fill your feeder with safflower seed, they absolutely love it!

If you are looking for a solution to the frustration grackles and starlings can bring to your feeders during the summer months, give safflower seed a try. If given a chance, you might just find that the variety of birds frequenting your feeders increases with the addition of safflower seed. 

Happy birding,

Paul Roedding