Bird Feeders

How the bird feeder list is sorted

Every wild bird feeder in our data is in the table above, smallest stated seed capacity first. Capacity is in pounds of seed. The list starts with half-pound window and finch feeders and runs to hoppers and combination feeders that hold 10, 12 and 15 pounds.

Each value comes from the maker or the Amazon listing. Feeder type, ports, material, mount, the birds a listing names and any squirrel feature appear only when a listing states them. A dash means the listing doesn't say. Capacity is the field I trust least on a box, because listings mix cups, ounces and pounds. Our data keeps a number only when the unit is clear.

The list covers seed and suet feeders. Hummingbird feeders have their own page, and feeders with a built-in camera live on the bird feeder cameras page.

Buy the feeder for the birds you already see

Here's my one opinion on this page: buy the feeder for the birds already in your yard, not the bird on the box. The seed decides who comes, and the feeder style decides which seed it can hold.

You can check that against Penn State Extension's winter feeding basics. Black-oil sunflower is its "best all-round" seed, preferred by chickadees, nuthatches and titmice. Striped sunflower is popular with blue jays and cardinals. Nyjer, a very small seed, goes in a feeder with small holes and draws goldfinches, house finches and purple finches. Suet goes to woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches and titmice. Every one of those wants a different feeder.

So before you shop, spend a week writing down who shows up. A notebook and a pencil cost less than any feeder in the table. (I would say that. I have a shelf of them.)

The main feeder styles

Penn State Extension describes the main styles plainly, and they match the feeder type column in our table.

Tube feeders

A tube feeder is a hanging clear cylinder with feeding ports and small perches. Perch size affects which birds can use it. Tubes keep seed fairly dry and suit smaller birds. Our data holds dozens of tube feeders, most with 2 to 6 ports by the listing. A tray clipped to the bottom catches spilled seed. The tube bird feeders page narrows the list.

Finch and nyjer tubes

These are tubes with tiny slots or fine mesh made for nyjer. The finch feeders in our data start at half a pound. Nyjer is light, so a 1-pound finch tube lasts longer than you'd think. See finch feeders.

Hopper and house-shaped feeders

A hopper is a house-shaped feeder with clear sides over a tray. Penn State notes the seed is protected from weather and the clear sides show when it's low. This is the covered bird feeder most people picture, and the "bird feeder house" or "bird house feeder" that shows up in searches. It's a feeder shaped like a house, not a place to nest. Hoppers in our data run from 1.5 pounds up to the large 8- to 10-pound gazebo and combination models. See hopper bird feeders.

Platform and tray feeders

A platform is a flat, raised surface you spread seed on. Penn State says it draws ground-feeding birds, isn't squirrel- or weather-resistant, needs drainage holes and needs frequent cleaning. Put out only a day's worth at a time. See platform bird feeders.

Suet cages

A suet cage is a small wire box that holds a suet cake, a fat-based bird food. Suet cages are the single largest style in our data. Some come as a pair of cages on the sides of a hopper. See suet feeders.

Window feeders

Small clear feeders that stick to the glass with suction cups. The window feeders in our data hold about half a pound. See window bird feeders.

Pick a size you can keep fresh

Bigger isn't automatically better, and it's not only about how often you fill it.

Clemson's Home & Garden Information Center says to clean seed feeders at least every two weeks, more often after rain or heavy use. Penn State adds that seed should be stored cool and dry and thrown out if it gets moldy. A large capacity bird feeder that takes a month to empty is a month of seed sitting through every rain. A small one that empties in four days is fresh seed every time.

• Under 2 pounds. Window, finch and small tube feeders. Good for a first feeder, a balcony or a small yard.
• 2 to 5 pounds. Most standard tubes, hoppers and weight-activated feeders. A fair middle for a busy yard.
• 5 pounds and up. Large hoppers and combination feeders. Worth it when a crowd empties a small feeder in a day.

Field note: a large feeder also weighs more when it's full. Check that your hook, branch or pole is rated for it before you hang a 10-pound hopper over the porch steps.

Squirrel features are listing claims

Squirrel features show up in the table only as the listing states them. In our data they come in a few kinds.

• Weight-activated. A perch or shroud that closes the ports when something heavier than a songbird lands. This is the most common squirrel feature in the list. Brome's Squirrel Buster, Perky-Pet's Squirrel-Be-Gone and the Droll Yankees Yankee Tipper, Dipper and Whipper models are all listed as weight-activated.
• Caged. A wire cage around a tube that small birds slip through and larger animals don't.
• Chew-proof. A few listings say the feeder resists chewing, which isn't the same as keeping squirrels out.

I'll say it the way I say it on every page: "squirrel-proof" is a listing claim, not a law of nature. Our squirrel-proof bird feeders page lists the feeders whose listing makes that claim.

The Admiral's review of my feeder pole

A gray squirrel I call the Admiral has beaten two pole baffles at the feeder by our porch steps. Not by climbing. He jumped from the porch roof and skipped the pole. The feeder on top never stood a chance, whatever its name said.

What fixed it wasn't a new feeder. It was reading the baffle maker's spacing, every line of it, and moving the pole out into the lawn. Squirrels launch from roofs, fences and branches, so distance from those matters as much as the feeder.

Dell's take, from the porch: "You spent a winter studying one squirrel. He spent it studying you. I'd call it a draw." The Admiral now forages under the feeder for what the chickadees drop. I log it. I don't encourage it.

Where to put a bird feeder

Placement decides whether birds use a feeder and whether they stay safe doing it.

• Near a window or far from it. Utah State University's Swaner EcoCenter advises placing feeders within 3 feet of a window or more than 30 feet from the house to reduce window strikes. Window adhesives or screens break up reflections.
• Near cover, not inside it. Penn State suggests feeders within 10 feet of trees or shrubs, so small birds can reach shelter, but not so close that a cat can hide in thick branches.
• Up off the ground. Utah State says at least 4 feet.
• Where you can reach it. You'll fill and clean it more often if you don't need a ladder.

Penn State also notes that bears are particularly fond of black-oil sunflower seed. If a bear finds your feeder, it says to stop feeding right away.

Clean it on a schedule

Dirty feeders and wet, moldy seed can spread disease among birds. Clemson's schedule is at least every two weeks for seed feeders. Utah State says to clean more often during migration. The method from both:

1. Empty the feeder and throw out old seed.
2. Scrub off visible debris with a brush.
3. Soak the parts in 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. Clemson says 10 minutes.
4. Rinse well and let every part dry completely before refilling.
5. Rake up spilled seed and hulls under the feeder. Clemson suggests about once a month, more often if rodents find it.

Wear gloves while you clean, and wash your hands after. If you see sick or dead birds, Utah State says to take feeders down and report it to your state wildlife agency.

That's why I check one thing on every listing before the color: does it come apart? A feeder you can't open is a feeder you won't clean.

Materials: recycled plastic, metal, cedar, glass, copper

Material is about weather, weight and how it cleans up. Our table shows the listing's own word.

• Recycled plastic. The most common material in our data, used for hoppers, platforms and suet feeders. Several Birds Choice listings in the table state recycled plastic and made in USA.
• Metal and powder-coated steel. Common on weight-activated feeders, where the moving parts take wear.
• Cedar and wood. Classic for hoppers and platforms. Wood takes more scrubbing and longer drying.
• Glass. A few decorative hanging feeders use glass. Handle it like a dish.
• Copper. Mostly copper-colored tops and trims, such as the Perky-Pet Copper Panorama. Pure copper as the stated material is rare in our data.

Unique, novelty and decorative hanging bird feeders are welcome on this list when they still hold seed and come apart. A pretty feeder that can't be cleaned is yard art. Our metal bird feeders and wooden bird feeders pages sort by material.

No mess bird feeders and seed catchers

A no mess bird feeder is mostly a seed decision. Penn State notes that hulled sunflower leaves no shell mess. Pair it with a tray or seed catcher, and the ground under the feeder stays cleaner. The no-mess bird seed and bird feeder seed catchers pages cover both halves.

The lawn under ours used to look like a movie theater floor after a matinee. Hulled seed fixed most of it.

Who doesn't need a new feeder

If your current feeder comes apart, doesn't hold water after rain and the birds use it, keep it. Change the seed before you change the feeder.

Utah State lists a few cases where a feeder isn't right at all: backyard chickens, ducks or other poultry nearby, an outdoor cat, or sick birds showing up. In those yards, native plants and a clean bird bath help birds without a feeder.

Where to go next

For a short list built by a stated rule, see the best bird feeders. For food, start with bird seed. If you're shopping for someone else, gifts for bird lovers starts from this table.

Watch first, write it down, then buy. The notebook is the cheapest thing on this page.