Types of bird feeders

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If you want to attract birds to your yard quickly, then bird feeders are the answer. If you aren’t already, you might even turn into a birdwatcher — birdwatching is second only to gardening as the most popular outdoor activity in the U.S.

A banquet of seeds and suet draws birds out of the protective cover of trees and shrubs, like nothing else. In summer, parents will guide their fledglings to the feeders, where you can watch them being fed. Hang a thistle feeder right outside your window and you’ll soon be watching finches just inches away. In winter, many different species will gather at your feeders. When snow covers the ground, your feeders may make the difference between life and death for some birds.

Bird feeders aren’t all alike. Aside from the impressive and sometimes beautiful designs, you will find on the market, each feeder is meant to dispense a particular category of food and will draw different species.

Do you want to feed finches? Then a thistle feeder is for you. To attract woodpeckers, you’ll do well with a suet feeder. Ground-feeding birds, like mourning doves, sparrows and juncos will appreciate a screened platform feeder, which keeps seed dry and clean. A tubular feeder with large ports will accommodate larger birds. Hang a nectar feeder to see hummingbirds and orioles. (Keep in mind, however, that you won’t attract species that don’t inhabit your area!)

Hopper feeders

 

Hopper bird feeder with Bluejay on it.

Hopper feeder and Bluejay. (Robert Engberg / Flickr; cc by 2.0)



Hopper feeders have a holding chamber for seed which is dispensed at the base through openings. Birds can sit on the base while eating the seeds. Often made of wood, hopper feeders are attractive, but no challenge to squirrels wanting what’s inside. To discourage squirrels, fill them with safflower or thistle, which squirrels don’t usually favor. Safflower seed is attractive to Cardinals, chickadees, some grosbeaks, doves, sparrows, and others.

Hoppers are also available in metal, which will prevent squirrels from gnawing them. Some are designed so the seed ports, normally open, will close when a squirrel steps onto the feeding platform. Black oil sunflower seeds are an excellent choice for metal feeders. They attract more species than any other type of seed because they’re high-fat, high-protein and have a soft shell.

Tube feeders

Several birds using a tube feeder

(Brian Washburn / Flickr; cc by 2.0)



Tube feeders can be mounted on a pole, with a baffle below, or hung from a support. They come in many sizes, have large ports for dispensing seeds, and perches for birds to sit on while they eat. Some come with a tray attached to the bottom to catch falling seeds. The tray also allows Cardinals and other larger birds to sit on it and eat fallen seeds. Use black-oil sunflower seeds to draw many different species. Birdseed mixes will work in these feeders, too, but the birds that appreciate these blends are mostly ground-feeding birds. Consider using a ground feeder, instead, for them. Also, there tends to be more waste of seed as birds scatter it while searching for their favorite seeds within the mix.

Peanut feeders

Mesh peanut feeder

Peanut feeder. (Matt Buck / Flickr; cc by 2.0)



Peanut feeders hold peanuts inside, but the mesh is open enough for birds to pluck pieces out. This method isn’t completely foolproof, but it does help to keep squirrels from taking way more than their share before birds get some. Woodpeckers, bluebirds, and finches are some of the birds that eat peanuts from wire feeders.

Thistle feeders

Male Red-bellied Woodpecker clinging to a thistle feeder.

Thistle feeder. (Mike’s Birds / Flickr; cc by 2.)



Thistle feeders have small openings for dispensing thistle, a very tiny seed. Filling a standard tube feeder with thistle will result in it just pouring out. Thistle (also called Niger seed or Nyjer) isn’t a thistle at all. It’s the seed of a plant native to Ethiopia and is heated to prevent germination, so you won’t find thistle plants growing under the feeder. Goldfinches and Pine Siskins love thistle. House Finches, Purple Finches, juncos, many sparrows and Mourning Doves are some other birds who eat thistle. Squirrels usually do not.

Platform feeders

Male Cardinal standing on wooden, hanging platform feeder.

Platform feeder. (Tony Alter / Flickr; cc by 2.0)



Larger birds, such as Cardinals and jays, appreciate a platform feeder. These feeders are made of plastic or wood, with a simple frame and a center made of screening material to allow rainwater to drip through. (Seed sitting in water quickly becomes mildewy and unhealthy.) Platform feeders are designed to hang, but some adhere to window glass with suction cups.

Ground feeders

Duncraft product photo of Cardinals perched on a ground feeder with seed in it.

Ground feeder. (Duncraft® product photo)



Add legs to a platform feeder and you’ll have a ground feeder. They keep seed off the ground, clean and dry, for species that prefer to feed on the ground. Scatter white millet on it for juncos, sparrows and others. Cracked corn will appeal to doves, ducks, quail, jays, and others.

Suet feeders

Blue Jay standing on top of suet feeder, holding suet in its beak.

Suet feeder. (Likeaduck/ Flickr; cc by 2.0)



Suet feeders are wire cages shaped to hold suet cakes. Designed for hanging, they’re attractive to insect-eating birds, because suet is a high-protein food. Processed suet can be purchased at any store that sells birdseed. Many suet cakes also contain nuts and berries. If you use unprocessed suet, it will become rancid quickly in warm weather, so you’ll want to replace it often. Woodpeckers, flickers, and nuthatches are some of the birds that prize suet. Squirrels do, too, especially if it contains nuts and berries, but the wire cage keeps them out.

Oriole feeders

Oriole feeder holding grape jelly.

Oriole feeder holding grape jelly. (HarmonyonPlanetEarth / Flickr; cc by 2.0)



In nature, orioles take nectar from just about any nectar-bearing flower and they’ll also sip sugar water at nectar feeders, providing the holes are large enough. It so happens, they also like fruit, so you can combine the two by offering them grape jelly in an open container. Slide a juicy slice of orange on the hanging wire and they’ll happily eat at that, too. 

Nectar feeders

Eight hummingbirds feeding at a nectar feeder.

Nectar feeder. (Jeffreyw / Flickr; cc by 2.0)



Hummingbird feeders are available in many attractive styles and sizes, all with one commonality: a receptacle that holds liquid and dispenses it through small ports. (Orioles also appreciate nectar but need feeders with larger ports.) Hummingbirds see colors and red seems to be most attractive to them.

Once you have hummingbirds and orioles visiting your feeders, you’ll want to take good care of them. The “nectar” you’ll prepare is merely sugar water. Mix one part sugar to four parts water (1:4). Boiling the mixture kills bacteria, which may help keep it fresh longer, but hot tap water or even cold water will dissolve the sugar within a short time. An easy way to prepare nectar is to measure sugar and cold water into a soda bottle, screw on the lid, shake it up and leave it for a couple of hours. When the sugar is thoroughly dissolved, the nectar is ready to be used. Store any leftover in the refrigerator for up to a week. Here are some important things to keep in mind when feeding nectar to birds.

  • Don’t add red food coloring to the water. It isn’t necessary and can be harmful to the birds.
  • Be sure to change the nectar in the feeder every three to five days, or sooner, if you see mold forming.
  • Allowed to ferment, nectar can be deadly to hummingbirds.
  • Never use artificial sweeteners, honey (which quickly grows mold) or fruit juices.
  • Don’t apply insecticides or other agents around the feeding ports to deter insects;
    use an ant moat, instead.

Tips for feeding birds

  • Keep birdseed dry. If you store birdseed outdoors, use a metal can to keep rodents out. If you store large quantities, check it regularly to make sure it isn’t moldy. If in doubt, throw it away, as moldy seeds will make birds sick.
  • Inexpensive birdseed mixes, often found at discount stores, contain large quantities of filler seeds, such as milo, that most birds don’t like. Although it costs more, it’s better to buy premium seed mixes or quantities of individual seed types. Black-oil sunflower seeds — shelled or unshelled — are liked by most birds. The next-best all-around seed is white millet. Buy shelled millet, if possible. It costs more, but you’ll dispense half as much and leftovers won’t germinate around the feeder.
  • Put water out for birds, too. Even if just a shallow saucer of fresh water, it’ll be appreciated.
  • Don’t feed any food containing chocolate to birds. It’s toxic to them.

Combating squirrels

No matter what type of feeder(s) you use, if squirrels live in your area, they’ll compete for birdseed. Most people don’t mind feeding squirrels, if only they weren’t so greedy. Some put out squirrel feeders or scatter seed on the ground in a separate part of the yard, but this works only until the squirrels’ food is gone. You know where they’re off to after that!

So, try filling feeders with seed that doesn’t typically appeal to squirrels, such as thistle and safflower. Cardinals, chickadees, some grosbeaks, doves, and sparrows like safflower. Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, Dark-eyed Juncos are among birds who like thistle.

Or, try this: Mount the feeder on a post at least five feet above the ground and 10 feet away from tree branches and any other perch from which squirrels can launch themselves. Also, mount a squirrel baffle on the post to keep them from climbing up.

Or, hang your feeder from the eave of your house using a thin wire cut to about two feet long. If you see squirrels can reach it by jumping from the ground or from a tree, then hang it higher or move it. If they slide down the wire from the roof, use a thinner wire. Even picture-hanger wire may be too thick to discourage the squirrels, but they won’t want to grab .065 diameter or smaller.

Also, there are many “squirrel-proof” feeders on the market. Read online reviews before purchasing, as some have proven to be more effective than others.

*Top photo: Tim Green / Flickr; cc by 2.0

More reading:

No spring in the step of hungry spring birds   
Birds and their favorite birdseeds  

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