Best bird feeder

A good bird feeder will improve your bird-watching game. Just choose one of the best styles below and grab those binoculars.

bird feeders
(Image credit: GeorgeB2 on Pixabay)

Watching the birds outside my window while I sip my morning coffee is one of my favorite moments of the day. This is made much more interesting by a few well-placed bird feeders. Depending on which birds you're hoping to attract, these are the best bird feeders to attract more feathered friends. 

Best overall

Nature's Hangout Window Bird Feeder with Strong Suction Cups and Seed Tray

(Image credit: Nature's Hangout)

Nature's Hangout window bird feeder

Best clear feeder

Even if you don't have a big yard, you can enjoy watching the birds. This transparent bird feeder from Nature's Hangout uses strong suction cups to attach to glass surfaces. 

Pros:

  • Attaches to any window
  • Easy to watch birds feed
  • Strong suction cups

Cons:

  • Made from plastic

The whole family can watch the birds feed with this convenient acrylic bird feeder. The extra-strong suction cups keep it firmly attached over time even when multiple birds perch on it regularly. Fill the compartmentalized tray with two different kinds of bird food to attract different types of feathered friends. 

Best value

Twinkle Star wild bird feeder

(Image credit: Amazon)

Twinkle Star wild bird feeder

Cute and affordable

You don't have to spend a lot to keep your birds happy. This simple hanging bird feeder will keep birdie bellies full for a reasonable low price. 

Pros:

  • Low price tag
  • Cute look
  • Arrives fully assembled

Cons:

  • May be easily robbed by squirrels

Feed your neighborhood birds easily and affordably with this hanging bird feeder from Twinkle Star. It's a traditional design that holds over 2 pounds of seed. Choose from five different colorways to match the style of your home. Since this feeder comes fully assembled, you can just fill it, hang it, and go.

Best for hummingbirds

More Birds Red Jewel Hummingbird Feeder

(Image credit: More Birds/Classic Brands)

More Birds red jewel hummingbird feeder

Vintage-style for those fast-winged birds

Hummingbirds can be almost impossible to see, much less watch. You can keep them still and enjoy their beauty by feeding them nectar in a More Birds feeder. 

Pros:

  • Five nectar feeding ports
  • Attracts multiple hummingbirds
  • Holds 20-ounces of hummingbird nectar

Cons:

  • Color may fade with time

If you love to watch tiny jewel-colored hummingbirds zoom around your patio, this is the bird feeder for you. The old-fashioned design is made to hold up to 20 ounces of the sweet nectar the tiny birds love. It has five ports so multiple birds can feed at once. The durable metal and glass design will hold up to years of solid use. 

Squirrel-proof

Droll Yankees YF-M Yankee Flipper Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder

(Image credit: Droll Yankees/Classic Brands)

Droll Yankees Yankee Flipper squirrel-proof bird feeder

Only for the birds

Stop thieving squirrels in their tracks with this motorized squirrel-tossing bird feeder. 

Pros:

  • Motorized design removes squirrels
  • Automatically kicks into action when a squirrel jumps on
  • Holds 5 pounds of birdseed

Cons:

  • It's expensive

Squirrels stealing all the birdseed? Here's the perfect feeder that knocks off squirrels and provides endless entertainment for watching bystanders. As soon as a squirrel hops onto the perch, it starts spinning, sending it flying and keeping birdseed safe. Now your bird feeder will feed only its intended recipients—the birds. 

Basic design

Perky-Pet seed ball wild bird feeder

(Image credit: Amazon)

Perky-Pet seed ball wild bird feeder

Simple design

For those who love minimalist design, this is the perfect simple bird feeder that can feed several birds at once. 

Pros:

  • Simple, round shape
  • Comes in two colors
  • Natural shape feeds several birds at once

Cons:

  • Small capacity

This ball-shaped bird feeder has a natural design that will fit right into your landscape. The wire mesh keeps birdseed safely inside and works as a perching mechanism for multiple birds at once. It's easy to fill and hang. If you have a lot of birds, though, it may be emptied quickly since this bird feeder only holds about 1.2 pounds of birdseed

Best wooden feeder

Woodlink deluxe cedar bird feeder

(Image credit: Amazon)

Woodlink deluxe cedar bird feeder

Best traditional design

Here's a classic wooden bird feeder that holds plenty of birdseed along with two suet cakes. 

Pros:

  • Beautiful wooden build
  • Attracts different types of birds
  • Holds a lot of birdseed

Cons:

  • May not be as durable as a metal feeder

A Woodlink bird feeder looks a lot like the traditional hand-crafted bird feeders of our grandparents' generation. The old-fashioned design is made in the USA, as well, so you can feel good about shopping local. It holds up to 5 pounds of birdseed along with two suet cakes. Not only will the bird food last, but it will also attract different species for you to watch and enjoy. 

Seeds and shelter

Droll Yankees seed saver platform feeder

(Image credit: Amazon)

Droll Yankees seed saver platform feeder

Best dome feeder

Dome feeders in a platform style are popular because they prevent birdseed from falling to the ground, and they discourage squirrels from robbing the birdseed.

Pros:

  • Prevents birdseed loss
  • Dome frustrates squirrel thieves
  • Comes in three sizes

Cons:

  • Made from plastic materials

Enjoy watching your feathered friends eat in this totally transparent bird feeder from Droll Yankee. The platform style allows birds to perch and feed without dropping much birdseed to the ground below. Squirrels will be thwarted by the dome-shaped guard, so birds can eat in peace. The adjustable design accommodates small or large birds at your discretion.

Feed all the feathers

With one of the best bird feeders, no bird will go hungry on your watch! My favorite is the Nature's Hangout window bird feeder because I live in a condo. This feeder sticks to the exterior of my window so I can watch the birds eat, even though I don't have a big yard for a feeder.

If squirrels are the problem, you'll enjoy the motorized Droll Yankees Yankee Flipper squirrel-proof bird feeder. Watch the squirrels spin away whenever the motorized perch kicks on. There are a variety of solutions here, so you can decide which feeder will work for your feathered friends. 

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Jaclyn is a content writer at Future. She has a flair for creating (written works, design, photos; you name it!) on her devices. When she’s not churning out new things, Jaclyn loves exploring the world, playing with her kids, and good old-fashioned baking.