Are you looking for the right bird feeder to buy online? Choosing what bird feeder to purchase can leave you at your wits end. With all the choices you have, you're bound to have a tough time choosing the right one for you. Here is an overview of the general types of bird feeders and some tips on how to choose and buy them online.
Type |
Description |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Species |
Tray or Platform Bird Feeder |
Flat structures where seeds are spread out. |
Can hold an extensive variety of bird feed. Offers an unobstructed view of feeding birds. |
Lacks ample protection from the elements. Requires frequent refilling |
Sparrows, finches, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, blackbirds, wrens, cardinals, jays, woodpeckers, tanagers, orioles, cardinals |
Hopper Feeder |
Seed container, much like a box, that can dispense bird seeds gradually. |
Can hold a wide variety of seeds. The gradual dispensing of seeds can help preserve the seeds still inside the feeder and prevents easy spoiling. Also keeps the seeds dry. |
|
Sparrows, finches, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, blackbirds, cardinals, jays, grosbeaks, buntings, cardinals |
Window Feeder |
Feeder attached to a window or window sill. |
Can hold varying types of seeds. Allows for close up views of feeding birds. |
Birds will have to get used to having humans watching them at a close proximity. |
finches, sparrows, chickadees and titmice |
Tube Feeder |
Cylindrical feeder, with several feeding ports. Usually designed for sunflower or nyjer seeds. |
Some designs offer protection from squirrels. Can allow multiple birds to feed at one time. Can keep seeds dry. Does not need to be refilled frequently. |
Ground feeding birds cannot feed from this type of feeder. |
Finches, titmice, chickadees, woodpeckers and pine siskins |
Suet Feeder |
Made of wire or mesh, holds suet or suet cakes. |
Will attract birds that don’t normally eat seeds. |
Not ideal to put out in open areas, in full sun. Suet might melt immediately. |
Woodpeckers, chickadees, creepers, jays, nuthatches, wrens, bluebirds, mockingbirds |
Hummingbird Feeder |
Usually decorated with red, holds liquids (nectar or sugar solution) and is specially designed for hummingbirds. |
Will also attract orioles. |
Needs to be cleaned and refilled constantly in hot weather. |
Hummingbirds; orioles every once in a while. |
Ground Feeder |
A type of platform bird feeder, placed near the ground. |
Can hold varying amounts and types of bird feed. |
Needs regular cleaning and maintenance and has no protection from the rain. |
Sparrows, doves, quail, towhees, flickers, thrashers, juncos, cardinals |
Specialized Feeder |
Feeders that are designed to accommodate special kinds of seeds or bird feed for a specific type of bird. Some examples are mealworm and peanut feeders. |
Attracts bird species that have special feeding preferences. |
Only caters to specific bird species. |
The bird species you attract are dependent on the type of feed you use. |
