Hopper feeder
Food: Black-oil sunflower + Safflower
Placement: Place near dense shrubs but outside a cat's ambush range.
Use a broad ledge that supports a cardinal comfortably.
Build a better invitation
Match bird, feeder, food, and season.
Results improve your odds; wild birds choose where and when to visit.
Good July target
Northern Cardinal
Year-round Missouri favorite that prefers sturdy perches and sunflower seed.
Ground or platform feeder
Food: Black-oil sunflower + Safflower
Placement: Use a raised tray with drainage.
Cardinals readily feed on open platforms.
Maintenance: Clean fallen seed and make reflective nearby windows bird-safe.