The Safflower Solution: How To Outwit Those Pesky Blackbirds

Feeding your backyard 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 combat 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
• Purple Finch
• Mourning Dove
• Downy Woodpecker
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Blue Jay
• White-breasted Nuthatch
• Tufted Titmouse

Another benefit of offering safflower seed is most squirrels will turn their noses up at it. Chipmunks, on the other hand, love safflower and will make repeated trips to a feeder if accessible filling their cheeks each visit. 

Safflower seed can be offered in just about any type of feeder including tube, hopper, tray, or fly through. If you are introducing safflower seed for the first time, be patient as it can sometimes take a bit of time for the birds to become accustomed to it. Adding small amounts of safflower seed to your regular seed may help birds adjust to the change quicker. Increase the ratio of safflower seed slowly until you are offering 100% safflower. Some birds may scatter the seed at first as you make the transition but in my experience, many of the birds listed above accept safflower wholeheartedly. If you are hoping to attract Rose-breasted Grosbeaks to your feeder when they return to Southwestern Ontario in a few weeks, fill your feeder with safflower seed, they absolutely love it!

In terms of cost, safflower seed is an economical option. It is roughly the same price as a bag of quality mixed seed while coming in slightly more expensive than black oil sunflower but less pricey than peanuts, a favourite of grackles and starlings.

If you are looking for a solution to the frustration and terror grackles and starlings can bring to your feeders during the summer months, give safflower seed a try. Remember to be patient when first introducing it as it can be an acquired taste. If given a chance, you might just find that the variety of birds frequenting your feeders increases with the addition of safflower seed. 

Good birding,
Paul