How to Choose the Best Bird Feeders
Choosing the right bird feeder is an important part of attracting an assortment of birds to your yard. The size and style of bird feeder you provide determines which birds are likely to visit. Follow these simple guidelines to entice colorful birds to your feeders.
Trying to decide which food is best? Check out this description of birdseed types and the chart of songbird food preferences.
Trying to decide which food is best? Check out this description of birdseed types and the chart of songbird food preferences.
Platform Feeders
Platform and tray feeders are exactly what the name implies. These flat, open feeders offer birdseed on a tray or platform. These feeders can be hung or installed on a pole to allow a variety of birds to feed from the same feeder.
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Hopper Feeders
Hopper feeders, sometimes referred to as house feeders, hold the birdseed in a bin called a hopper. Birdseed falls from the bottom of the hopper filling a tray. As birds eat, new seeds fall into the tray to replace the seed that has been eaten.
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Tube Feeders
Tube feeders are ideal for small birds, such as finches , chick-a-dees and nuthatches, as they discourage larger birds such as jays and crackles. Seed is kept reasonably dry inside the tube, but they do require some cleaning as snow and rain can get into the bottom ports and moisten the food.
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Finch Feeders
These simple feeders are sometimes called finch feeders, as they are filled with thistle or nyjer seed and attract a host of finches, pine siskins and redpolls. Because the seed in fine, squirrels are not a problem. However, squirrels will chew the perches and ports on plastic finch feeders. A finch sock pictured above is a type of finch feeder.
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Window Feeders
Window feeders attach to the window (typically with suction cups) to give you a close up view of birds as they feed. These little feeders are ideal for allowing children to observe nature up close. Window feeders are also a great option for those who are bed ridden or who limited mobility and want to watch birds from the bed or a chair near the window.
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Suet Feeders
Suet gives birds the energy they need during the cold winter months and attract woodpeckers and nuthatches. These feeders range from a simple wire cage to more elaborate constructions designed with hungry birds in mind.
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