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Birdwatching is one of the greatest and simplest joys. Getting to know the birds that live in or pass through your backyard area is a rewarding way to deepen your relationship with your local ecosystem.
Simply getting a bird feeder (or a few!), placing it in a strategic spot, and keeping it filled with the right kind of birdseed is an easy way to observe the comings and goings of your local bird population. Whether you're an avid birdwatcher or are new to the birding game, our guide to the best bird feeders will help you to catch some views of the feathered friends in your neighborhood.
The Best Bird Feeders
What to Consider
As tempting as it is to buy a bird feeder because you like the look of it, there are actually some important considerations that you need to keep in mind:
Know your local birds
If you're looking to buy a bird feeder, it helps to have some basic familiarity with the types of backyard birds that frequent your region. That way, you can get a few different models in different sizes to hold the type of birdseed that's best for them. Most birdseed brands comprise a blend of different nuts, seeds, and fruit, and they denote which bird varieties they attract.
The easiest place to start is with a standard backyard birdseed blend to attract the greatest number of birds. But if you want to accommodate more types of birds (or deter certain types, like aggressive blue jays), you can buy suet cakes or bags of safflower or nyjer, which appeal to smaller swaths of the bird population.
Feeder design
The best types of bird feeders hold an ample amount of seed, offer multiple perches for birds to land on, and ideally have some sort of anti-squirrel mechanism. Although squirrels and chipmunks will usually find a way to swipe some seed, there are some ways to help keep their intrusions at a minimum, like getting a squirrel-proof bird feeder, attaching a baffle to your feeder pole, or placing the feeder away from a stable platform or ledge.
In terms of other design requirements, you should look for bird feeder models that have slanted roofs and adequate drainage, as moisture accumulating in the bird feeder can lead to mold. If your bird feeder has been sitting out for a long time through inclement weather, it's a good idea to empty and clean it out and start fresh to keep your local birds from getting sick.
Proper placement
It's important to be responsible in where you place your feeder so that you're helping your feathered friends, not leading them toward harm. Ideally, bird feeders should also be placed away from windows to prevent collisions. And while hanging a feeder from your porch may be the easiest location for you, it also makes it easy for squirrels to access. The experts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology suggest placing a feeder about 10 feet away from trees or shrubs to help small birds watch the feeder and seek coverage from predators.
The bird feeders in this guide provide a place for different types of common backyard birds to perch and peck to their hearts' content. Read on to learn more about these products.
Squirrel Buster Plus Green Tube Bird Feeder
Squirrel Buster Plus Green Tube Bird Feeder
Pros
- Squirrel-proof design
- Weighted bottom keeps out larger birds
Cons
- Small feeder size
• Seed Capacity: 5.1 pounds
If you have a serious squirrel situation on your hands, show them you mean business by investing in this max-security bird feeder.
The Squirrel Buster Plus Green Tube Bird Feeder is equipped with multiple metal perches for small birds like cardinals, nuthatches, and chickadees. And if a squirrel tries to land on it, its weight will close up the feeder and the seed inside. Says one reviewer, “This is the best bird feeder I’ve ever had. A perfect design to frustrate squirrels. Most any size bird can feed on it, except for the larger ones like blue jays.”
Although this unit is relatively small, it's chew-proof and also allows plenty of ventilation so that the seed stays fresh. Even better, the brand backs this feeder with a lifetime warranty, should any defects occur.
Heritage Farms Woodlink Absolute Squirrel Resistant Bird Feeder
Heritage Farms Woodlink Absolute Squirrel Resistant Bird Feeder
Pros
- Weighted feeder keeps out squirrels and large birds
- Large seed capacity
Cons
- Heavy feeder needs to be securely bolted in place
• Seed Capacity: 15 pounds
Instead of small individual perches, the Woodlink Absolute Squirrel Resistant Bird Feeder has two large perches that allow multiple backyard birds to peck from the same seed trough at once. It's a heavy piece made of powder-coated steel that you'll want to make sure is securely installed to prevent it from tipping over and breaking.
If you're determined to foil the squirrels in your yard, this is another bird feeder design that's built to deter them from top to bottom. The removable roof locks into place to prevent a break-in, and the perches close up the bottom of the feeder if they happen to land on it.
The weight limit of this trough feeder is also adjustable, so you can choose whether to keep out or accommodate the bigger and more aggressive birds. As one reviewer says, “I was more concerned with the bigger birds like grackles & red wing blackbirds eating me out of house & home. This feeder does the job perfectly. I set the weight to 2 and bam! Birds up to cardinal size come & eat. When those bigger kids come, bye-bye buffet table.”
Perky-Pet Panorama Bird Feeder
Perky-Pet Panorama Bird Feeder
Pros
- Easy to hang and refill
- Affordable
Cons
- Not a squirrel-proof design
• Seed Capacity: 2 pounds
No matter how or where you hang it, the Perky-Pet Panorama Bird Feeder offers a 360-degree view of the feeding frenzy. Any number of birds can perch here, and it's compatible with many bird types, too.
The seed is stored in a plastic cylinder under a sloped, powder-coated metal roof to help moisture slide right off. It doesn't have any weight-limit mechanisms, though, so it's not completely squirrel-proof.
If you’re new to bird feeder life, reviewers love that this is an affordable and easy-to-use option that’ll help familiarize you with the birds in your neighborhood. As one reviewer says about this feeder, “My 12-year-old granddaughter loves to take care of the birds, and it’s easy for her to take down and fill by herself.”
HomeGrown Wood Cedar Suet Bird Feeder
HomeGrown Wood Cedar Suet Bird Feeder
Pros
- Large capacity for holding seed cakes of all sizes
- Covered top prevents soggy seed
Cons
- Seed can fall through larger mesh
- Holds one large (or two small) suet cakes
This HomeGrown Wood Cedar Suet Bird Feeder holds suet blocks or mealworm cakes, making it best for backyard birdwatchers who'd prefer not to refill their seed supply multiple times per week. Prepare to be visited by many woodpeckers, titmice, and chickadees when you set this out!
While, yes, you can buy cheap suet feeders for less than $5, we like that this one is made of rot-resistant cedar and designed to hold up to the elements. As one reviewer puts it, “This is an excellent suet feeder. It is much sturdier than the wire mesh ones and has a cover to keep some of the sun and rain off of the feed.”
Woodlink Going Green Large Premier Bird Feeder With Suet Cages
Woodlink Going Green Large Premier Bird Feeder With Suet Cages
Pros
- Allows multiple types of birds to feed at once
- Slanted roof helps keep moisture out
Cons
- Heavy unit needs secure installation
• Seed Capacity: 5.5 pounds
Feed your suet and seed eaters in one convenient place with the Woodlink Going Green Large Premier Bird Feeder.
The roof hinges open to fill up with birdseed (and it also helps keep the whole feeder dry), while the sides store two suet cakes. The feeder also has a mesh bottom, which allows any moisture to drain through without sogging out your seeds.
This bird feeder is also a hefty piece, so you’ll want to make sure it’s rigged up securely. One reviewer sums it up, saying, “Yes, it’s heavy, but that’s one of the great things about it. LOVE the wire mesh bottom! Built to last!”
Perky-Pet Dual Mesh Wild Bird Seed Feeder
Pros
- Birds can perch at the base or cling to the sides to feed
- Holds two types of seed to accommodate more bird types
Cons
- Not squirrel-proof
• Seed Capacity: 2 pounds
We say the more bird feeders, the better, but if you only have room (or the desire) for just one in your yard, the Perky-Pet Dual Mesh Wild Bird Seed Feeder is the best one to get.
This two-sided feeder has wider openings on one side for filling with sunflower seed and smaller mesh on the other for nyjer seed, so you can keep all types of birds happy. As one reviewer attests, “The cardinals love the sunflower seeds that are on one side, and the sparrows and chickadees enjoy the seeds on the other.”
It's made entirely of powder-coated metal for both durability and easy-to-clean convenience. The panorama style can fit any number of birds, and the mesh makes it easy for certain species to cling to the exterior instead of just sitting on the base perch.
Melanie Yates is the senior service editor of Best Products, where she writes and reports pieces pertaining to the etiquette, dilemmas, and how-tos of gift-giving for different occasions. Previously, she was the site's senior home editor, covering all things decor- and bedding-related since 2015. Her digital byline can also be found on Bustle, House Beautiful, and Elle Decor. A longtime classical-music enthusiast, Melanie spends her off-hours enjoying performances big and small across New York City.
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