Top Bird Feeders

What are the differences between types of bird feeders?

Different bird feeders have different designs and setups. They tend to attract different species, and each unique design might have its own maintenance needs.

Some of the most common types of bird feeders on the market are:

• Platform and tray feeders
• Birdhouse and hopper feeders
• Tube feeders
• Window feeders
• Suet feeders
• Nyjer feeders

Each category comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. If you want to attract hummingbirds, you'll need a nectar feeder instead of a traditional bird feeder.

When you picture bird feeders, there's a good chance that you're imagining a platform or tray feeder. These types of feeders are the most popular among backyard birders because they attract a huge variety of different bird species.

A tray feeder is easy for birds to access since the seeds rest in a tray that they can perch on. However, this means that the seeds aren't protected from snow or rain. In fact, if your seeds become wet enough before being eaten, they might start to sprout roots or grow fungus.

In addition, birds can ruin the birdseed by leaving droppings in it.

Because of all of these issues, the most effective platform feeders have screens on the bottom. This allows moisture to drain after rain and snow. Designs with solid bottoms can hold large amounts of water. If you do use a solid-bottomed design, it ought to have some drainage holes.

Another ideal feature of these feeders is to have a removable bottom. This lets you hose the material down to get rid of any bacteria, fungus, or droppings that may have been left.

Tray feeders are extremely appealing to squirrels and other wild rodents. You might have to take measures to deter them.

House and hopper feeders tend to have fairly good protection against bird droppings and rain, so they're good for people who live in unpredictable climates. That said, the feeder can breed fungus and bacteria if the seed inside becomes moist. Like tray feeders, hoppers tend to be targeted by squirrels.

Window feeders, as the name implies, are designed to fit against windows. These small plastic feeders attach to the glass using suction cups, or larger platform feeders attach to the windowsill with hooks. They attract only a limited number of bird species, but you get to see the birds up close.

The positioning of a window feeder helps to prevent birds from colliding with the glass. One potential drawback is that the seed can easily become soiled by bird droppings, since birds stand in it as they eat. It does tend to be easy to clean and fill window feeders, though.

Tube feeders use hollow tubes to store the food. This helps to keep the seed dry and clean, since the birds don't directly stand in it. Designs with metal ports are often difficult for squirrels to access, though determined rodents might chew through the plastic barring them.

Some tube feeders have perches that are above the ports instead of below them. These are specifically made for birds that eat while upside down. As such, they attract a limited number of species. The type of seed used varies depending on how large the tubes are.

There is a risk that the tubes themselves will become clogged with bacteria and fungi. This can be mitigated by blocking the open tube from being accessed.

Tube feeders come in many shapes and sizes. Some are similarly sized to the average platform feeder. But there are also large options that can feed up to a dozen birds simultaneously. Larger options work best if you already have a huge bird population. With smaller populations, a smaller feeder doesn't need refilling as frequently.

Nyjer feeders are named for the type of seed they use. They're also called thistle feeders. There are two types of nyjer feeders on the market: extremely small-ported tube feeders, and "socks."

Thistle socks are bags made of fine mesh that contain the seeds. Birds cling to the outside and extract the food through the mesh. The fabric often retains moisture, so the seed tends to become very wet when it rains. Because of this, it's best not to overfill the feeder.

A suet feeder is made of some kind of mesh. Usually it's wire mesh that might be coated in plastic, although there are inexpensive DIY designs that just use the mesh bag for your onions. You can tie or nail the mesh to a tree, affix the mesh to the side of your hopper feeder, or suspend the bag.

There have been rare cases in which birds became tangled in mesh onion bags, which can be fatal if they aren't freed. The safest suet feeding option is a suet cage.

What birds are attracted to each type of bird feeder?

With platform feeders, you'll typically attract birds including:

• Jays
• Titmice
• Sparrows
• Cardinals
• Finches
• Starlings
• Pigeons

Platforms hung close to the ground attract additional ground feeding species like:

• Goldfinches
• Juncos
• Doves
• Towhees

House feeders tend to attract most seed-eating birds, including:

• Finches
• Cardinals
• Grackles
• Jays
• Titmice
• Buntings
• Red-winged blackbirds
• Chickadees

Window feeders attract more limited species, but they offer an up-close view of:

• Chickadees
• Finches
• Titmice
• Some sparrow varieties

Tube feeders tend to attract:

• Redpolls
• Pine siskins
• Chickadees
• House finches
• Goldfinches

Nyjer feeders attract only birds who eat Nyjer seeds. These species include:

• Redpolls
• House finches
• Pine siskins
• Goldfinches

Suet feeders attract bird species that eat suet. The specific feeder design might affect what birds can feed there. Some of the most common suet-eating species are:

• Bluebirds
• Warblers
• Wrens
• Woodpeckers
• Nuthatches
• Titmice
• Chickadees
• Cardinals
• Jays
• Starlings

How do hummingbird feeders differ from traditional bird feeders?

Rather than eating seeds, hummingbirds consume nectar. Hummingbird feeders are set up with food specifically formulated for hummingbirds rather than for other species.

There are two main types of hummingbird feeder on the market: vacuums and saucers.

Many people make vacuum feeders themselves at home. These designs use an inverted bottle that has a feeding port or a tray underneath. The bottle is then filled with nectar for the hummingbird. The trapped air inside the feeder creates a pressure vacuum that holds the nectar inside.

Vacuum feeders tend to be easy to refill and clean. When the design is functioning properly, they take a long time to empty. However, if the vacuum pressure doesn't work, the nectar will leak out due to gravity.

Saucer feeders don't rely on pressure or gravity. Instead, they look like bowls of nectar. The birds feed by probing their beaks downward into the feeding ports. Saucer feeders don't tend to leak, but they can be occasionally hard to clean.

With both types of feeder, the hummingbirds drink from feeding ports. This means that the design must have ports that are the right size for the hummingbird to use, without being so big that they leak nectar.

Some designs include plastic flowers that you can use to "highlight" the feeding ports. That's a quick and easy way of telling the hummingbirds where to look. If you want to avoid insects looking inside, though, you'd need to use a bee guard over the port instead.

If you're looking for a hummingbird feeder, these are the best guidelines to keep in mind:

• Take into consideration the number of birds you'll be feeding. If this is your first hummingbird feeder, start small and then upgrade later.
• The best feeder designs have easy mechanisms for cleaning and maintenance. It's important to clean bird feeders regularly to avoid making the birds sick.
• A hummingbird feeder should be functional before beautiful. Get one that works, not one that looks like a pretty garden decoration.
• Hummingbirds don't need perches, but larger nectar-eating birds might use them. You can also see hummingbirds more clearly if they use a perch.
• You can set up cameras or observe in real time to see which feeders are getting the most attention from hummingbirds - that's how you know which designs are most effective.

How do I keep squirrels from eating out of my bird feeders?

Unfortunately, many of the most versatile bird feeder designs are also easy for squirrels to access. Chipmunks and squirrels are extremely determined, and they may work together to "crack" a bird feeder like a safe.

One of the fastest and easiest ways to deter squirrels is to use a squirrel-proof feeder pole. You place the pole in the middle of your lawn or another open space, and the feeder is mounted on top.

There are two types of "squirrel-proof" pole on the market. One is specifically designed to keep squirrels from climbing. This type of design might include a squirrel baffle, which keeps creatures from climbing the pole.

The other type of pole is one that you create yourself. You take your existing feeder pole and attach your own baffles. Baffles can be purchased by themselves, or you can follow a DIY tutorial at home.

It's also important to be conscious of where you place your feeders. A squirrel is capable of leaping up to ten feet. That means that if there's anything within a ten-foot radius of your feeder, it's vulnerable to rodents.

Some bird feeder designs are specifically made to prevent squirrels from partaking without preventing birds from feeding. Feeders might employ squirrel-deterring mechanisms like:

• Having perches that dump the creature sitting if it weighs more than a bird
• Being enclosed by cages that can't be penetrated by squirrels but can be penetrated by birds
• Having battery-operated motors that spin the feeder when a squirrel is detected

What are some mistakes you should avoid when setting up your bird feeders?

If you're new to birding, there are a few common mistakes that you should avoid. It's important to use the right food and clean your bird feeders regularly, but there are other errors that you might not consider.

One potential mistake, especially if you're an avid birdwatcher, is to buy only one feeder. There are many different types of feeders, and different birds eat different foods. Most open tray designs will attract several species, but to bring the most variety into your yard, you'll need different types of feeders.

Another mistake is to leave your feeders empty for too long. For birds to be attracted to the feeder, they need to know that it's a consistent source of food. If the feeder is empty for a few days, you generally won't lose your bird population. But frequently-empty feeders will be ignored by birds.

Many beginners buy the cheapest birdseed on the market when they get started. But even if a seed mix isn't actively harmful to birds, it might not be very nutritious for them, either. Inexpensive birdseed tends to have fillers that aren't appealing to birds.

You also shouldn't feed bread or baked goods to birds. It might seem harmless, since bread and seeds are both wheat-related. But processed human food does not have the nutrition that birds need.

If you have hummingbird feeders, using the wrong nectar can be dangerous. Hummingbirds have very sensitive digestive systems, and they cannot process many materials. Nectar should only be sweetened with white sugar, and it should not be dyed artificially.

Some sweeteners that hummingbirds can't process include:

• Brown sugar
• Artificial sweeteners
• Fruit juices
• Honey

Not only do these sweeteners mess with a hummingbird's nutritional balance, but they can cause mold to grow. Hummingbirds that eat mold can die.

It's also important to consider how your backyard naturally attracts birds. Do you have a garden that produces nectar? Do you have fruit-producing trees? These are natural places that birds forage for food.

Some birds eat insects. If you use insecticides to kill the insects in your yard, you're depriving the birds of a vital food source. Certain insecticides can also make the birds themselves sick if they come into contact with the chemicals.

Do birds still visit bird feeders in the winter?

Yes!

Many birds do fly south during the winter. Depending on where you live, you might believe that all the birds have vanished. It's common to hear less birdsong on winter mornings than spring ones.

But there are actually dozens of species of birds that might populate your backyard in the winter. Some of these birds won't be looking for food during the warmer months, so the winter is the only time you'll get to see them.

Winter is a dangerous time for birds. They have to eat more so that their bodies stay warm when the temperature drops. Ice also makes it hard to find drinking water. Many birds are dependent on backyard feeders during the fraught winter months.

When you keep filling your feeders in the winter, you're doing more than just opening an opportunity to see more birds. You're helping your local ecosystem survive and thrive.

These are some elements of bird-friendly winter backyards:

• Feeders provide nutrition and calories when there are no flowers blooming or insects outside. Suet, nuts, peanut butter, and other high-calorie foods are particularly prized.
• Bird baths give birds a steady source of drinking water. A flowing bird bath won't freeze when other sources of water do. Some bird bath models are also heated, which helps birds fight the cold.
• Bird shelters give birds places to weather the elements when the trees have lost their leaves and aren't providing cover.
• If you have nesting sites, winter birds will remember them and come revisit you in the spring.

What foods should you not give to birds?

As a general rule, you should only give birds food specifically certified for them. Some particularly harmful foods include:

• Salted peanuts and other salted foods
• Coconut
• Any foods with mold growths
• Milk and other lactose products

In the spring and summer, chicks hatch. During these times, you need to be careful about the foods you offer. Large hunks of food, loose peanuts, and hard foods are all too difficult for chicks to break down. The little birds might choke and die if the food is too big.