Finding the Best Bird Feeders for Your Large, Feathered Friends

Putting up bird feeders in your yard or other outdoor area is a great way to make the view from your window better. A well-kept set of feeders can bring in a lot of regular visitors. During certain times of the year, unusual birds like Pine Siskins, Redpolls, Evening Grosbeaks, and more may also come to visit.

FeederWatch is a great way to enjoy the birds outside your window. From Nov through April, count birds twice a week and help scientists track bird populations in the U. S. and Canada. Learn more and join today.

But there are so many bird feeders out there, how do you know where to begin? It helps to know that most seed feeders are variations on just a few basic designs: hoppers, tubes, window mounts, and suet feeders.

To attract the greatest variety of birds, provide several different feeder types and offer a variety of foods. It’s best to start with black-oil sunflower seed because it’s the most common type and the most species like it. A simple way to start is to hang a tube feeder from a tree branch or shepherd’s crook. Just make sure to use a squirrel baffle to keep squirrels from coming over.

Once you know what kind of feeder you want, choosing a specific model comes down to how well it’s built, how well it keeps squirrels out, and, of course, how it looks. The best bird feeder is strong enough to stand up to winter weather and squirrels, tight enough to keep seeds dry, simple to put together, and most importantly, simple to clean.

Hopper or “House” Feeders

Horder feeders are nice to look at, hold a lot of seed, and have a roof over them to keep the seed dry and fresh. But they can be hard to clean, and they usually offer easy access to squirrels.

Pros:

• Most feeder birds like it, like cardinals, finches, jays, buntings, grosbeaks, sparrows, chickadees, and titmice.
• Holds enough seed to last several days
• Roof helps keep seed dry
• Birds are less likely to soil the food with droppings

Cons:

• Most designs offer easy access to squirrels
• If seeds get wet and stay wet for a long time without being cleaned or changed often, they can go bad.
• Harder to clean than a tray feeder

Tips:

• Mount on a pole or hang from a tree branch
• To keep squirrels away, put a baffle on the pole or rope.

In Brief: These versatile feeders are easy to hang from a line or a shepherd’s crook. Different types allow you to target different species, sizes, and numbers of birds.

Pros:

• Keeps the seeds out of the weather, which keeps them from going bad.
• Birds can’t mess up the seeds with their droppings since there is no platform.
• Sizes can be changed to offer different kinds of seeds, from small nyjer seeds to big peanuts without shells.
• You can target smaller, bigger, or faster birds depending on the tube size and perch configuration.

Cons:

• Many birds visit the same perches over and over, which can spread diseases. It is important to clean tube feeders regularly with a weak bleach solution.
• When squirrels gnaw on plastic tube feeders to make the holes bigger, they can do a lot of damage. Metal tube feeders are more resistant.

Tips:

• Always empty out the old seed first before adding new seed to tube feeders.
• A lot of tube feeders have seed below the level of the lowest feeding ports, where birds can’t get to it. Block off this part of the tube so the seed that hasn’t been used can’t grow mold.
• Squirrels can usually get at most types of tube feeders. To keep them away, use a squirrel baffle or look for a feeder with a cage around the outside that they can’t reach in and grab the seeds.

In short, a busy window feeder lets you see the birds that come to eat up close and personal and keeps birds safe from hitting the window. There are different styles, such as clear plastic hoppers that stick to windows with suction cups and strong platform feeders that hook into window frames.

Pros:

• This is good for small birds like sparrows, finches, chickadees, titmice, and more.
• Wonderful, close-up views
• Birds can see the feeder before they get to the window, which keeps them from hitting the glass.
• Easy access for refilling

Cons:

• Birds can soil the feeding tray with their droppings
• Attaching suction cups can be fiddly

Tips:

• Be patient when you first put up a window feeder. Birds might not be ready to come so close to your house for a few days or more.

Nyjer feeders, which are also called thistle feeders, attract birds like goldfinches, pine siskins, redpolls, and indigo buntings. They give small songbirds a place to nest away from larger birds that may be attracted to sunflower feeders. Usually, they come in two styles: a tube feeder with very small holes in it and a fine mesh bag, also known as a “thistle sock.”

Pros:

• Great for bringing in some cute small species and keeping bigger species from overwhelming them.
• It is easier to control squirrels when they don’t bother with small nyjer seeds.
• A great secondary feeder that will give your “main” feeder(s) something different to eat.

Cons:

• Certain feeder visitors, mostly bigger birds, are not interested in nyjer, so this type of feeder is likely to get fewer visits overall.
• Mesh feeders, also known as “thistle socks,” get wet quickly when it rains, so only use a little seed and change it often.
• Nyjer costs more than some other bird seed, but you only need a small amount of it.

Tips:

• Pick a small duck feeder to begin with and fill it with small amounts of seed until you know how well it works in your yard.
• If you live in an area where Pine Siskins and Common Redpolls live,
• Do not worry if you see a mess under your nyjer feeder; it is not wasted seed. The only thing there is the seed shells. Your birds have already eaten the seeds, which are even smaller.

In short, suet feeders are a great way to give birds high-energy food. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, titmice, starlings, jays, and sometimes Carolina Wrens and Pine Warblers love them. The cooler months of winter are when they are most often used, but there are some types of suet that don’t melt in hot weather. There are two main types: a wire cage that holds blocks of suet and pieces of wood (or fake wood) that you can spread peanut butter or suet on.

Pros:

• brings different kinds of birds to your feeders, and the birds often feed quickly and acrobatically.
• It’s flexible and can be attached to a tree trunk, hung from a branch, or put on a hopper or platform feeder.

Cons:

• Raw suet can quickly become rancid at temperatures above freezing
• Up to about 90°F (32°C), rendered suet stays hard. This includes most suet sold as bird food. When it gets warmer than this, suet can melt and become so soft that it mucks up feathers, which stops them from working properly and, if birds are incubating eggs, could leave a greasy layer on the eggs, which could threaten their survival. To avoid this, don’t give out suet and peanut butter when it’s hot outside.

Tips:

• To cut down on the number of starlings and jays that come to your suet feeder, look for one that turns the suet cake down. These make birds hang upside down while they eat, which helps birds that are faster and more agile, like woodpeckers and nuthatches.
• Mark out holes in small logs and carefully drill them with holes. Then, put peanut butter or rendered suet inside the holes. If it’s cool outside, try putting suet or peanut butter in cracks in the bark.

In short, nectar feeders are a great way to get these beautiful birds to come to your yard. You can hang one almost anywhere, so you don’t even need a yard. You might even attract other species including orioles or Cape May Warblers.

Pros:

• Easy to set up even with limited outdoor space
• A great way to attract these gorgeous aerial acrobats

Cons:

• High-sugar hummingbird food can quickly spoil, necessitating frequent cleaning
• The sweet nectar can attract ants and wasps

Tips:

• Early in the season, put up hummingbird feeders so you can see them when the birds start to migrate.
• It’s easy to make your own hummingbird food
• There’s no need to use red food coloring
• Another great way to get hummingbirds to visit is to plant native plants in your yard or in pots.

Tray or Platform Feeders

In short, platform feeders bring in the most different kinds of seed-eating birds, but they are also the easiest for squirrels and other possibly unwanted guests to get into.

Pros:

• It can bring in grosbeaks, sparrows, juncos, towhees, jays, blackbirds, doves, quail, and other birds.
• Since there is nothing in the way, the birds can be seen while they eat.
• Many birds can visit at once because it spreads out a lot of seed.
• It’s flexible and can be hung from deck railings, posts, or stumps, or it can be mounted on them.

Cons:

• Birds like pigeons, starlings, House Sparrows, and grackles are drawn to it, and they can sometimes outnumber other species.
• Can’t keep out rain or snow; seeds can get wet and sprout, mold, or go bad.
• Bird droppings can quickly soil the seeds
• Can invite squirrels, chipmunks, deer, raccoons, and more

Tips:

• For better drainage, look for a tray with a screened bottom instead of a solid one.
• Give them enough seed for a few days, then clean and add more.
• To clean, shake the old seeds out and run water over the bottom. Wash with a dilute bleach solution every couple of weeks.
• Use an effective squirrel baffle on the feeder support

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FAQ

What are the best bird feeders to keep large birds out?

How to feed larger birds?

Which bird feeder attracts most birds?

What is the biggest bird feeder?

What is a bird feeder?

A durable, hanging bird feeder with a 7 lb. capacity that attracts a variety of birds with different seed options. A durable, crystal-clear plastic bird feeder that attaches securely to windows for easy bird watching. A durable hanging bird feeder with a 3 lb. capacity that attracts a variety of birds.

What are the best bird feeders?

One of our favorite picks of tube bird feeders, this triple tube copper feeder gives you the option of serving three types of seed at once—and up to 10 pounds of it! Twelve feeding ports give birds plenty of room to snack. Try window bird feeders to give you closer views of birds. Feed a multitude of birds at once with this 20-port finch feeder.

What is a giant combo bird feeder?

The More Birds Giant Combo Bird Feeder attracts more birds than anyone can imagine. This unique feeding station offers your feathered friends a selection of feeding areas, giving them ample space to feed while they enjoy a meal. This giant combo feeder features two large feeding compartments, each capable of holding over 8 quarts of seed.

How much food can a bird feeder hold?

This large capacity bird feeder holds up to 8 pounds of food, and offers two ways to feed birds: by sitting on a perch or eating from a tray. Add it to your backyard to attract cardinals, finches, chickadees and more. Smaller, acrobatic birds can cling to the metal mesh while eating, and drainage holes ensure the seed won’t mold or spoil.

What is the best large capacity tube feeder?

Best large capacity tube feeder The Squirrel Buster Plus is part of the Squirrel Buster Lineup. This bird feeder is one of the most well known and popular squirrel-proof bird feeders. They are made really well and when it comes to keeping squirrels out of your seed, they really work.

Do Tractor Supply offer large bird feeders?

At Tractor Supply, we offer a wide selection of large bird feeders that are designed to meet the needs of these majestic creatures. Whether you have a backyard full of cardinals, blue jays, or woodpeckers, our bird feeders are built to withstand the elements and provide ample space for large capacity feed.