Safflower vs Sunflower Seed: Which Should You Feed?
For most backyard feeders, black oil sunflower seed is the better default: it draws the widest range of species, from chickadees to cardinals to woodpeckers, and its thin shell is easy for small birds to crack. safflower seed earns its place as a problem-solving seed rather than an everyday one, since many squirrels, grackles, and starlings tend to avoid its thicker, bitter shell, letting cardinals and other safflower-tolerant birds feed with less competition. Neither claim is absolute, some individual animals will eat safflower anyway, so treat it as a strong tendency, not a guarantee.
| Black oil sunflower | Safflower | |
|---|---|---|
| Shell thickness | Thin, easy to crack | Thicker, more bitter |
| Squirrel appeal | High | Lower for many, not all |
| Grackle and starling appeal | High | Lower for many, not all |
| Cardinal appeal | High | High |
| Mess under feeder | More hull litter | Less hull litter |
| Works in most feeder types | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | General backyard variety | Reducing bully-bird pressure |
Both sides, current prices
Prices move constantly; the button shows the current figure.
Choose Black oil sunflower seed if: Best for readers who want to attract the widest possible mix of backyard birds.
Choose Safflower seed if: Best for readers whose feeders are being dominated by squirrels, grackles, or starlings.
What makes black oil sunflower the default backyard seed?
Black oil sunflower seed has a thinner shell than striped sunflower and a high fat content, which makes it both easy to crack and calorie-dense, two qualities that appeal to a wide range of birds from chickadees and titmice to cardinals, finches, and woodpeckers. It is the closest thing to a single seed that covers the most backyard visitors, which is why most all-purpose feeding stations lead with it rather than a specialty seed.
Why do some birders switch to safflower?
Safflower seed has a noticeably thicker, more bitter-tasting shell than sunflower, and many squirrels, grackles, and starlings tend to avoid it in favor of easier food sources nearby, while cardinals and several other songbirds still readily eat it. That combination makes safflower a common fix when a feeder is being overrun by bully birds or squirrels rather than the smaller, targeted species a birder actually wants to see. It is worth repeating that this is a tendency, not a rule; some individual animals in some yards will eat safflower anyway.
Does switching seed actually solve a squirrel problem on its own?
Seed choice helps, but it works best paired with feeder placement, not as a replacement for it. A determined squirrel that is already established at a feeder may still sample safflower before moving on, so pair a switch to safflower with proper pole distance and a baffle, covered in our squirrel-proofing guide, rather than expecting the seed alone to end the problem.
Which seed is messier under the feeder?
Sunflower seed hulls pile up under a feeder as birds crack the thin shells and drop the husks, which can lead to a thatch of hulls on the ground or a deck below. Safflower produces noticeably less visible hull litter in many yards, partly because fewer animals are cracking through it at high volume. If under-feeder mess is a concern on a patio or deck, that is a real, practical reason to lean toward safflower even without a bully-bird problem.
| Consideration | Black oil sunflower | Safflower |
|---|---|---|
| Shell thickness | Thin | Thick, bitter |
| Avoided by many squirrels, grackles, starlings | No | Yes, not universally |
| Cardinal appeal | Yes | Yes |
Can you feed both at the same time?
Yes, and many backyard setups run one feeder of each rather than picking a single seed. Offering black oil sunflower in one feeder and safflower in another lets you see for yourself which species and animals in your specific yard prefer which seed, since local behavior varies more than any general rule can capture. Track your monthly seed spend across both with the bird seed cost calculator.
Which seed should you buy first?
If you are starting from scratch with no specific problem to solve, start with black oil sunflower for the broadest appeal. If squirrels, grackles, or starlings are already dominating a feeder, add a feeder of safflower alongside it rather than replacing your sunflower entirely, and watch which birds shift over. See our bird seed types chart for how these two compare against millet, nyjer, and other common seeds.
Get the printable checklist
One page with every item, the placement distances and the cleaning schedule. We send it once. No sales sequence.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
Do squirrels really avoid safflower seed completely?
No, not completely. Many squirrels tend to avoid safflower because of its thicker, more bitter shell compared to sunflower, but individual squirrels vary, and a hungry or persistent squirrel may still sample it, especially if no easier food source is nearby. Treat safflower as a seed that reduces squirrel pressure for many yards rather than one that guarantees squirrels will stay away entirely.
Will cardinals still visit a feeder if I switch to safflower?
Yes, cardinals are one of the species most associated with readily eating safflower seed, which is part of why it became popular as a way to feed cardinals while discouraging some other visitors. If attracting cardinals specifically is your goal, safflower paired with a sturdy platform or hopper feeder is a common, effective combination.
Is black oil sunflower or striped sunflower better for feeders?
Black oil sunflower has a thinner shell and higher fat content than striped sunflower, making it easier for a wider range of birds, including small-billed species, to crack open and access. Striped sunflower has a thicker shell that tends to favor larger-billed birds like cardinals and jays. For an all-purpose feeder, black oil sunflower is the more commonly recommended default.
Can I mix safflower and sunflower seed in the same feeder?
You can, but mixing them in one feeder makes it harder to tell which seed is actually solving a specific problem, such as reducing squirrel visits. Most birders get clearer results running separate feeders, one with sunflower for general variety and one with safflower where bully-bird or squirrel pressure is heaviest, then comparing activity at each over a couple of weeks.
Does safflower spoil faster than sunflower seed?
Both seeds store reasonably well in a dry, sealed container, and neither spoils notably faster than the other under normal conditions. The bigger spoilage risk for any seed is moisture getting into a feeder or storage bin, so keep either seed in a sealed metal or heavy plastic container and check feeders after heavy rain for clumping or mold before refilling.