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Bird feeder types
The right feeder is set by the bird's body and feeding style. Here is every common type.
- Tube feederThe workhorse for small clinging birds. Metal ports resist squirrel chewing.
- Hopper feederA house-shaped reservoir with a wide ledge. The best all-round feeder for cardinals.
- Platform or tray feederDraws the widest range of species, including ground feeders. Needs a mesh floor for drainage and daily cleanup.
- Ground trayA low mesh tray a few inches off the ground keeps seed out of wet soil.
- Weight-activated squirrel-proof feederA spring-loaded shroud drops over the ports under a squirrel's weight. The most reliable squirrel-proof design at a hanging feeder.
- Caged tube feederA wire cage keeps squirrels and large birds (grackles, starlings, pigeons) out.
- Nyjer (finch) tubeTiny slit ports release one seed at a time.
- Nyjer sockCheap and effective for a season; finches cling all over it.
- Suet cageThe simplest feeder there is. Hang on a trunk or pole.
- Tail-prop suet feederAn extended board below the cage lets big woodpeckers brace on their tails the way they do on a trunk.
- Peanut mesh feederBirds peck pieces through the mesh, which is safer for nestlings than whole kernels.
- Peanut wreathA wire ring that makes jays work for each peanut.
- Window feederSuction-cup feeders on the glass are the safest possible placement for collisions: birds leaving cannot build up speed.
- Hummingbird feederSaucer feeders with no yellow parts attract fewer bees. An ant moat above the feeder stops ants.
- Oriole feederOrange-coloured with jelly cups and orange spikes.
- Mealworm feederDish or enclosed box with bluebird-sized entry holes that keep larger birds out.
- Smart camera feederA hopper feeder with a built-in camera that records visitors and identifies species in an app. The fastest growing category in backyard birding.
Popular picks
Prices move constantly; the button shows the current figure.
Researched guidance, not professional advice. Prices and availability change often; the buttons show the current listing. Figures come from published tables and manufacturer specifications, not hands-on trials.