If you’ve never had the pleasure of seeing a northern cardinal, an eastern bluebird, a painted bunting or any other geographically-significant bird species, you’re missing out. Bird watching can be a fun, relaxing and educational activity. Best of all, it can be done in the comfort of your own home with nothing more than the addition of one of the best bird feeders. Trust us, you won’t regret adding one to your garden.
The first time you manage to attract a feathered visitor to your yard will be an exciting occasion, especially if you’ve set up feeders to provide you with a great view as they feed. Common species that you may be able to attract to your feeder in the USA include finches, woodpeckers, jays, sparrows and even hummingbirds (with the right feeders and seed mixes).
How to Choose the Best Bird Feeder for Your Yard
When it comes to choosing the best bird feeder for your backyard, there are a number of considerations to take into account. Like the birds themselves, feeders come in all different shapes and sizes. The right one for you may depend on the type of bird you’d like to see, where you want to place it and how much you’re looking to spend.
Here is a selection of the most common bird feeder types and what they’re useful for:
Hopper/Tube – These classically styled feeders are probably what you imagine when someone mentions bird feeders. They are usually designed for purpose with a sturdy build quality, some form of built-in perch and a smart food distribution mechanism which means the feeding holes are replenished automatically until the whole feeder is empty.
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Tray/Platform – Tray bird feeders are a truly versatile feeder choice. Their flat design makes it easy to layout a range of food options, making them a great choice for anyone looking to attract multiple species. They can also be mounted in a range of places, including closer to the ground should you wish, although this is best avoided in households with a resident cat. Another drawback to this fully open feeder is the lack of protection from squirrels.
Window – As the name suggests, these feeders are totally transparent, making them an ideal choice for anyone who wants to see everything going on. In addition, these clear boxes usually include suction cups that allow you to attach them to any suckable surfaces, which are most likely your home windows, providing hours of entertainment for you and the whole family.
Suet – Suet is a high-calorie mix of several ingredients, including nuts and rendered fat. This often sticky substance is loved by a number of bird species and can most likely be found in either balls or blocks. Most suet feeders are made from a wire mesh which is capable of securely housing the suet inside and allowing it to be accessible to birds at the same time.
Anti-Squirrel – If you’re looking to feed birds without feeding your local squirrels at the same time, you may need to consider a bird feeder with some built-in, anti-squirrel tech. From flippers and whippers to tippers and automatic closers, if you want to win the battle against your seed and nut-thieving squirrels, these are the right bird feeders for you.
Below you’ll find 13 of the best bird feeders available online. We’ve included all the different types of bird feeders to ensure there’s an option for every yard.
1. Brome Squirrel Buster Plus Squirrel-proof Bird Feeder
BEST OVERALL
The Squirrel Buster Plus Squirrel-proof Bird Feeder is the all-in-one bird feeder you’ve been looking for. This advanced bird feeder includes a built-in mechanism that prevents large unwanted visitors, like squirrels and larger birds, from being able to access the delicious goods. On their arrival, the weight-depending mechanism closes shut. Every part of the feeder is made from a chew-proof material for further protection, while the unique seed ventilation system works to keep your seeds fresher for longer to attract more birds to your garden party.
2. Twinkle Star Wild Bird Feeder
BEST BUDGET
At under $15, the Twinkle Star Wild Bird Feeder is a steal. Not only is it budget-friendly and functional, but it’s also one of the most attractive options on the list, making it a great option for first-time feeders and experienced bird fans alike. The plastic feeder arrives fully assembled and ready for use. The design also includes an inclined roof that works to shade birds from the sun and rain when they’re stopping by for a snack. Plus, it’s capable of holding up to 2.15 pounds of seeds including sunflower seeds or safflower seeds, depending on the bird species you wish to attract.
3. Perky-Pet Seed Ball Wild Bird Feeder
BEST BALL
The Perky-Pet Seed Ball Wild Bird Feeder is an easy-to-fill, easy-to-hang and attractive feeder for yards. The all-metal, spherical design includes a wire mesh that allows birds to grasp and hold on while pecking through the gaps for the food inside. The built-in hook can hang from branches and overhangs with ease, while the circular lid makes filling your feeder simple, too. Additionally, you can pick between red and green colors.
4. MEKKAPRO Suet Wild Bird Feeder
BEST SUET
If you want to give your yard visitors a suet-filled surprise every time they stop by, the MEKKAPRO Suet Wild Bird Feeder is the choice for you. This inoffensive, hanging feeder includes either one or two cage-like structures that can be used to house square suet cakes. Those are sold separately. Suet is great for attracting a number of bird species, including woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees. The feeder also includes an angled roof to make the suet cakes last longer by protecting them from the elements.
5. Perky-Pet Panorama Bird Feeder
BEST PANORAMA
The Perky-Pet Panorama Bird Feeder is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice of a bird feeder. The panorama-style piece includes a complete 360-degree metal perch which maximizes the space available for visiting birds and lets each bird feed at the same time, too. To protect it from extreme elements, the feeder is built from a powder-coated metal which is rust-resistant, while the angled roof prevents rain from ever reaching the seeds inside. Furthermore, the Sure-Lock lid has been specially designed to keep pesky squirrels from getting to the seeds.
6. Sherwoodbase Ridge Wild Bird House Feeder
BEST NOVELTY
For a bird feeder with a little more visual appeal than average, check out the Sherwoodbase Ridge Wild Bird House Feeder. Sporting a house-like appearance, this larger-than-normal feeder has plenty of room to store a whole mix of seeds. To refill, simply pop the roof off and pour new seeds inside. Additionally, this attractive yard decor piece includes a built-in hanging hook as well as four separate perches, meaning multiple individuals can visit at one time.
7. Perky-Pet Mason Jar Wild Bird Waterer
BEST WATERER
If you’re going to help your feathered friends with a course of food, it only seems that a good host would provide a drink of water to wash it down with, too. The Perky-Pet Mason Jar Wild Bird Waterer sports a 32-ounce capacity for storing plenty of water as well as a metal base which acts as a handy perch for visiting birds to rest on. Plus, the waterer’s embossed Mason jar design makes this garden addition aesthetically pleasing as well as functional.
8. Woodlink Audubon Hopper Deluxe Gazebo Bird Feeder
BEST DECORATIVE
The Woodlink Audubon Hopper Deluxe Gazebo Bird Feeder is one of the most attractive options on our list. This gazebo-style feeder can either be hung or pole mounted and sports a hopper-style design with several feeding points, meaning it can accommodate many feeding birds at a single time. Additionally, this USA-made, plastic bird feeder can hold up to 10 pounds of seed, reducing the regularity with which you have to refill it when compared to many other options on the list.
9. Audubon Going Green Platform Feeder
BEST TRAY
This Audubon Going Green Platform Feeder is a great choice for a range of users. First, it’s constructed from up to 90% of post-consumer recycled plastic, making it a popular option for the environmentally conscious out there. Secondly, the flat tray design makes it better for keen photographers and anyone prioritizing watching the birds, as there’s less obstruction in the way. On top of this, this USA-made feeder’s coated metal screen quickly drains when wet, while the open-style shelf can hold plenty of seeds and other goodies.
10. Nature Anywhere Window Bird House Feeder
BEST WINDOW MOUNT
The Nature Anywhere Window Bird House Feeder is an ideal choice for people who want to see what birds get up to. If you love to sit and watch the birds come in and feed, this transparent feeder allows you to watch the birds from any angle you like. The feeder includes four suction cups for a secure hold against your windows as well as two separate compartments in the feeding tray for storing more than one type of bird food.
11. yosager Premium Bird Feeding Station Kit
BEST FEEDING STATION
If you don’t have any fences, trees or handy places to hang your feeders from, it may be worth investing in this yosager Premium Bird Feeding Station Kit. This 91-inch high station features several hanging points, including hooks, a water tray, a food tray and a suet cage. For easy mounting, the design comes with a built-in, three-piece forked base for poking into your garden to create a solid base. Furthermore, should you wish to mix things up a little, the hooks can also be used to hang plants for a combination of function and aesthetics.
12. Muse Garden Hummingbird Feeder
BEST HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER
Some birds require different food, and this is certainly the case with teeny tiny hummingbirds. Luckily, the Muse Garden Hummingbird Feeder makes them easy to accommodate in your garden with its four built-in feeders, leak-proof gasket and handy perches. This hummingbird feeder also available in three colorful and vibrant designs which are non-toxic and non-peeling. These will act to attract the birds to your garden. Inside each set, you’ll find an ant rope, S-hook, hemp rope and brush.
MORE: Best Hummingbird Feeders To Buy in 2021
13. Droll Yankees Flipper Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder
BEST ANTI-SQUIRREL
If you live in an area with some particularly pesky squirrels who enjoy nothing better than stealing the food you leave out for the birds, it’s time to invest in an anti-squirrel bird feeder. The Droll Yankees Flipper Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder is one of four possible feeders available which are made specifically to prevent those fluffy-tailed thieves from succeeding. This specific model uses a motorized flipper to prevent the squirrel from being able to grasp the platform, leading to some rather amusing outcomes which you may have witnessed in viral videos.
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