The best bird feeder and seed for grosbeaks
Heavy birds that need a wide ledge, much like cardinals. Black oil sunflower in a large hopper is the reliable grosbeak offer.
Which feeder types do grosbeaks use?
| Feeder | Holds | Squirrels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopper feeder | Sunflower, safflower, mixes | Poor unless weight-activated or baffled | A house-shaped reservoir with a wide ledge. The best all-round feeder for cardinals. |
| Platform or tray feeder | Anything | None at all | Draws the widest range of species, including ground feeders. Needs a mesh floor for drainage and daily cleanup. |
Feeders grosbeaks use, budget to premium
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What seed do grosbeaks like best?
| Food | Why | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Black oil sunflower | High oil content and a thin shell make it the widest-appeal seed there is. Most feeder birds in most of North America eat it. | Keeps well for months in a sealed metal can |
| Safflower | Bitter to many squirrels, grackles, starlings and house sparrows. Birds may need a week or two to switch to it; mix it with sunflower at first. | Keeps well |
| Sunflower hearts and chips | Costs more per pound but nothing is wasted as shell weight, and nothing sprouts under the feeder. The best choice over a patio or deck. | Spoils faster; buy what you use in a few weeks |
Food to buy for grosbeaks
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Where and when should you feed grosbeaks?
- Height and spot: 5 to 6 feet.
- When: Rose-breasted in spring migration in the East; black-headed in the West; evening grosbeaks irrupt some winters.
- Range: Varies by species.
- Feeding style: Feeds at hanging feeders; a pole with a baffle keeps squirrels off without bothering them.
The same setup also brings cardinals, blue jays, house finches, chickadees and titmice, which use the same feeder types.
Feeders for other birds
Cardinals · Blue Jays · Goldfinches · House Finches · Chickadees · Titmice · Nuthatches · Woodpeckers · Bluebirds · Wrens · Orioles · Hummingbirds · Mourning Doves · Juncos · Native Sparrows · Towhees · Robins · Mockingbirds · Pine Siskins · Purple Finches · Redpolls · Keeping starlings and grackles away · Red-bellied Woodpeckers · Downy Woodpeckers · Cedar Waxwings · Quail
Get the grosbeaks feeding checklist
Feeder, seed, height and cleaning schedule for grosbeaks on one printable page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What is the best bird feeder for grosbeaks?
A hopper feeder is the most reliable choice for grosbeaks. Heavy birds that need a wide ledge, much like cardinals. Pair it with black oil sunflower, place it 5 to 6 feet, and keep it clean every two weeks. A second feeder type such as a platform or tray feeder widens the appeal without adding much work.
What do grosbeaks eat at feeders?
In order of preference: black oil sunflower, safflower and sunflower hearts and chips. High oil content and a thin shell make it the widest-appeal seed there is. Most feeder birds in most of North America eat it. Offer one food per feeder rather than a mix, so birds are not flicking unwanted grains onto the ground to get at the one they want.
Where should I put a feeder for grosbeaks?
5 to 6 feet. Keep it within 3 feet of a window or beyond 30 feet to avoid collisions, at least 10 feet from anything a squirrel can jump from, and 10 to 12 feet from dense shrubs so grosbeaks can reach cover without cats being able to ambush them.
When do grosbeaks come to feeders?
Rose-breasted in spring migration in the East; black-headed in the West; evening grosbeaks irrupt some winters. Range: Varies by species. Keep feeders stocked and clean through the season grosbeaks are present in your area, since a feeder that is empty for several days is often abandoned for a neighbour's.
Do grosbeaks use birdhouses?
No. Grosbeaks build open nests in shrubs, trees or on the ground and do not use enclosed nest boxes. Dense native shrubs, brush piles and leaving leaf litter in place do far more for them than any structure.