Although safflower seed is one of the oldest oilseed crops in the history of mankind – some of the first mummies were wrapped in linens dyed with safflower flowers – it has become popular in wild bird feeding only in recent years. The high fat, protein and oil content of safflower make it a valuable nutritional food source for wild birds. Widely known as the cardinal’s favorite food of choice, safflower has also been recognized as the solution to many squirrel problems at birdfeeders.

Safflower seeds are found in most of the quality wild birdseed mixes available on the market today. They are rarely found, however, in any of the bottom-end mixes available at mass merchants or grocery stores since they are more expensive than some of the other seeds commonly used in the cheaper blends. Some wild birdseed mixes offer safflower seed as one of the main ingredients in order to attract more cardinals, one of North America’s favorite backyard birds, and are named for them.

In addition to cardinals, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, grosbeaks are also attracted to safflower seed, among others. More important, however, is the fact that grackles and starlings – species known as “feeder hogs” that keep other, more desirable birds away from backyard birdfeeders – are not attracted to it.