The 15 Best Bird Feeders in All Shapes and Sizes

As summer gives way to fall once more, the cooler months are not far away.

The best bird feeders give you the chance to supplement the diet of birds in your garden at a time when food and nutrients are in short supply.

Simply providing some water and high-fat foods can attract more birds to your yard than you might imagine. Once the birds establish there is a reliable source of food, they will make your garden their own.

All you’ll need is a feeder and then you can get creative. Use specialist seed cakes, a variety of seeds, and you could also introduce some mealworms and other tasty treats,.

While it’s invaluable to provide birds with extra food during the colder months, it’s not only in winter that feeding birds in your yard is beneficial.

When the warmer months arrive, birds have new chicks and need a constant supply of food to raise them well.

When you’re comparing the best bird feeders, your decision will hinge entirely on the type of feeder in question. Getting this right is crucial. Some feeders offer protection against squirrels, essential if you live somewhere menaced by these pests. Others are designed to prevent larger birds from taking all the seed.

Spend plenty of time thinking about the type of birds you want to attract, as well as any potential nuisances to consider – squirrels or bears, for instance. Once you are clear on what you need, think about the following options:

• Seed feeders: A standard seed feeder can attract many bird species, including finches, tits, sparrows, and siskins. These are perhaps the most common type of bird feeder, coming in many shapes and sized. These feeders are typically made of metal with plastic fittings. Seed feeders accommodate free-flowing feeder mix, sunflower seeds, and sunflower hearts
• Tray platform feeders: If you’re looking to attract the widest variety of birds, use a tray or platform feeder. Bear in mind that this type of feeder provides no protection at all against rain or snow. The best among these feeders features screened bases to promote drainage. At minimum, look for a tray feeder with multiple drainage holes and a removable base. Only add enough seed for a day or two, and always empty the old seed when you top it up with some more. This style of bird feeder offers no protection against squirrels. These models will also attract ground-feeding birds
• House or hopper feeders: While these feeders provide plenty of protection against the elements, the seed in the hopper can still get wet, harboring fungus and bacteria. This style of feeder will attract most feeder birds. House style feeders can be awkward to clean
• Window feeders: This type of feeder attaches to any window using suction cups, drawing in finches, sparrows, and chickadees. You’ll enjoy a wonderful close-up view of the birds feeding, and you won’t even need a yard to achieve this. Birds will stand on these feeders as they feed, causing the seed to quickly spoil. Change the seed in window feeders daily. Fortunately, these feeders are easy to clean and fill
• Suet feeders: These feeders are usually constructed of mesh coated with wire or plastic. You tie or nail them to a tree trunk, or fix them to the side of your hopper feeder. With suet feeders, you’ll attract jays, starlings, titmice, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and chickadees. Birds will be forced to hang upside down as they feed, so you’ll find some starlings find this hard to manage.

OK, if you keep these pointers uppermost in mind, you should have no trouble finding your favorite bird feeder from the dozen best examples on the market.

Dive in!

---

I. The 15 Best Bird Feeders

1. Our #1 Pick: Brome Squirrel Solution200 Bird Feeder

Features

• Seed capacity: 3.4 pounds
• Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Dimensions: 20 x 4 x 20 inches

Brome is a specialist in the bird feeder vertical, and this squirrel-proof seed feeder is our favorite overall.

All the parts of this feeder that are exposed are chew-proof, so you won’t find squirrels plundering all the bird seed.

This is a free-feed funnel, so all you need to do is fill it up with your preferred seed and you’ll help keep the birdlife in your garden healthy year-round.

Make sure you leave plenty of clearance around this hanging feeder. This forces the squirrel to hop up onto the seed feeder to gain access, and in doing so will trigger the closing mechanism.

Build quality is robust in a market segment glutted with cheap and poor quality bird feeders that won’t even last a season. Made from rust-proof and waterproof material that’s also UV stabilized, you can expect plenty of faithful service from this feeder.

You can set this feeder up with no tools required, and you won’t need any DIY skills either. Hang it up, fill it, and give the birds in your garden a treat.

If you’re in any doubt about this feeder, Brome offers free servicing for the lifetime of the product, so you’re in safe hands all the way. While this might not be the cheapest bird feeder you’ll find, it’s among the very best.

---

2. Perky-Pet Panorama Feeder

Features

• Seed capacity: 2 pounds
• Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Dimensions: 8.25 x 8.25 x 17.4 inches

Next up comes a circular perch from Perky-Pet that’s great for attracting a variety of birds.

The neat design of this unit allows birds to easily feed from all angles, while you can relax in your chair with a cuppa watching them eat their fill.

The simple but effective locking lid should keep squirrels out if you are prone to these pests in your garden.

Made from transparent and shatter-proof plastic, you can monitor seed levels at a glance. Topping the feeder up couldn’t be easier thanks to the extra-large opening. This is then covered with the antique copper lid that not only looks great and blends in with your garden, but also keeps those pesky squirrels at bay.

You’ll be able to load this feeder up with a wide variety of seed to suit the birds you want to attract.

While this feeder is neatly designed, the overall build quality could be improved. We found a number of complaints from users commenting on lifespan issues.

You can place this bird feeder just about anywhere and then enjoy a great view as they feed from all angles, snatching whatever seed you put inside.

---

3. Squirrel Buster Standard Bird Feeder

Features

• Seed capacity: 1.3 pounds
• Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 13.25 inches

The squirrel buster makes a great bird feeder if you have squirrels in your yard prone to stealing the birds’ food.

The shroud of this unit comes equipped with holes that line up with the feeding ports. This allows all the birds to feed while keeping unwanted intruders out. The spring mechanism will detect any extra weight – squirrels, for instance – and the holes will not open.

While you might initially recoil at the price tag of this simple feeder, when you consider the savings you’ll make on wasted and stolen seed, the investment will soon pay for itself.

The multiple seed ports are designed to enable both clinging and perching birds to feed in a comfortable and safe fashion, without their food being stolen by squirrels.

Although the construction of this bird feeder feels quite solid, we encountered a handful of complaints from users concerning rust and corrosion developing over time. In mitigation, you’ll benefit from ongoing customer care for the lifetime of this feeder.

---

4.  More Birds Stoke Select Double Feeder

Features

• Seed capacity: 2 seed cakes
• Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Dimensions: 5 x 6.5 x 7.2 inches

More Birds serves up this double feeder designed to attract a variety of clinging birds, including nuthatches and woodpeckers.

The traditional house design will slot into any garden, and you can hang this feeder almost anywhere.

Made from a powder-coated and rustproof metal throughout, you shouldn’t have any build quality or lifespan issues.

The cage feeder has the capacity for two seed cakes or suet cakes, or for one of each. The grid-style layout is designed with clinging birds in mind, while the robust metal roof keeps your seed cakes dry, even if it rains or snows.

There is a double-locking closure, so you shouldn’t experience any problems with wildlife accessing your bird feeder and plundering the food inside.

Most user reviews of this bird feeder are positive, but we found a handful of complaints about the difficulty of cleaning this model. Do your due diligence here, but steer clear if you want a seamless experience feeding the birds in your garden.

While this is good as an all-purpose feeder, it’s especially valuable if you’re looking to entice some local woodpeckers into your garden. The weatherproof nature of the steel and the quality of the overall finish means you shouldn’t need to go shopping for a bird feeder for years to come.

---

5. Nature’s Way Bird Feeder

Features

• Seed capacity: 3 quarts
• Weight: 1.35 pounds
• Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 2.5 inches

If you dislike the idea of metal bird feeders and want something more natural, this premium cedar platform feeder is a must.

The cedar used for this tray is stained to protect against moisture penetrating, and it’s also highly resistant to rot and to the ravages of insects.

Inside the tray, you get a rust-resistant insert. This is removable to streamline cleaning. If you neglect bird feeders, bacteria and mold can easily develop so stay on top of this simple task.

The wide open design allows you to fill this feeder with ease, using whatever seed or suet you fancy.

Large birds, including cardinals, will be attracted by the spacing of the feeder, so you can enjoy a real ornithological treat in the garden, while allowing all the local birds to eat their fill.

You get the hanging cable along with all the hardware you need for installation bundled. Get going right out the box and suspend this feeder somewhere that allows you a great view of the birds sure to descend upon it.

A strong contender for the best bird feeder out there, this cedar gem looks great and gives you a large capacity so a variety of bigger birds can eat year-round. Almost all user testimony of this platform tray feeder is positive, but we found a handful of gripes about smaller seed falling through.

---

6. Squirrel Buster Plus Bird Feeder

Features

• Seed capacity: 5.1 pounds
• Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 23 inches

As we push on through our showcase of the best bird feeders, we have another entry from the inimitable Brome. This brand has a heavy presence in this market segment, producing great feeders that might not be the cheapest option at your disposal, but deliver everything you need and more.

Marketed as a squirrel-busting feeder, you should find the adjustable closing mechanism keeps garden pests out of the feeder, preserving all the seed for the birds. All you need to do is rotate the cartridge to manipulate the amount of weight required to trigger the closing mechanism.

Overall, the polycarbonate build is chew-proof, too, so you won’t find your feeder getting damaged, or any of the seed inside stolen.

This feeder is pole mountable, but you’ll need to get a pole adapter. This does not come included, so you’ll need to pick this up separately.

Make sure you leave adequate clearance all around the feeder so squirrels are forced into tripping the closing mechanism, rather than circumventing it as they will when given the slightest chance!

Most users reviews praise this bird feeder, but we found some isolated complaints about build quality issues cropping up over time.

---

7. Window Bird Feeder by Nature’s Hangout Store

Features

• Seed capacity: 4 cups of seed
• Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Dimensions: 12 x 4 x 5 inches

You don’t need a garden in order to attract birds as long as you have a window to which you can attach a feeder. Maybe you have a garden, but you don’t get outside into it much and you prefer watching the birds feed from the comfort of your chair.

Either way, this feeder is designed to attach directly to any window using the suction cups included. This is one area in which we found a few complaints, with consumers reporting the cups lose suction over time.

The soft and padded perch should encourage birds to keep coming back once they start using this window-based feeder.

Made from an easy-care acrylic, the feeder is built to withstand hostile weather conditions without letting you or the birds down. The cover stops any rain or snow making its way down and compromising the seed.

Cleaning this feeder is as easy as wiping it down with a cloth. Mold-free drainage holes are designed to make your life easier while eliminating both mold and bacteria from the equation.

Inside, you get a removable tray to simplify both filling and cleanup. Using and taking care of this feeder couldn’t be easier, and in return for minimal effort, you could attract a variety of fascinating birds right up close against your window.

---

8. Droll Yankees Bird Feeder

Features

• Seed capacity: 5 pounds
• Weight: 5 pounds
• Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 28.5 inches

As we hit the midpoint of our quest for the best bird feeders, we have a simple but highly effective offering from Droll Yankees.

There are 4 different styles at your fingertips:

• Flipper
• Dipper
• Whipper
• Tipper

This iteration is the Flipper, so how does it shape up?

Finished in metal and polycarbonate, this feeder should give you plenty of faithful service. We found no complaints at all about lifespan or build quality among a sea of positive user reviews.

This model is reported to have a few issues when it comes to keeping squirrels away. Several users attach photos to their reviews with squirrels happily feeding away. If you have a serious problem with this niggling creatures, we would suggest exploring some of the other feeders above and below.

The seed tube is made from a UV-stabilized plastic that won’t fade or discolor, even after prolonged exposure to the sun.

The hanging wire is stainless steel, so you’ll get the strength and corrosion-proof build you need.

Like all hanging bird feeders, you can pop this almost anywhere, and it’s a great choice even if you have a smaller garden.

If you want a bird feeder that looks great and gives you the chance to use just about any seed, this model is a must.

---

9. Nature Anywhere Store Window Bird Feeder

Features

• Seed capacity: 2 cups of seed
• Weight: 1.57 pounds
• Dimensions: 10 x 4.25 x 9.75 inches

Nature Anywhere Store is loaded with garden accessories like this bird feeder that combine enviable build quality with keen pricing, even if this comes at the cost of poor customer service. How does the feeder stand and fall, then?

Shaped like a traditional birdhouse, the design is eye-catching without dominating.

Marketed as the only window bird feeder allowing you an unobstructed view of the feeding birds, it delivers as promised in this respect.

Attach the feeder directly to any window using the suction cups provided and then watch as your furry friends come and fill their beaks.

Slide out the removable tray to load in your preferred seed or suet. There are two independent trays, allowing you to draw in a variety of birds using a single feeder.

Not only is filling the feeder straightforward, but it’s just as easy to keep clean thanks to the polycarbonate build and removable components.

The acrylic used throughout is extra-thick and designed to give you a lengthy lifespan from this feeder, while enjoying a close encounter with the feeding birds every day.

Aside from a slew of complaints about the quality of customer service, the overall sentiment of user testimony for this bird feeder is positive.

---

10. Woodlink Platform Bird Feeder

Features

• Seed capacity: 1.1 pounds
• Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Dimensions: 2.13 x 12.63 x 12.75 inches

If you’re looking for a classic platform bird feeder, Woodlink’s model is well worth popping on your shortlist.

While you might be put off by the preponderance of plastic on display, you’ll be doing your part for the environment. 90% of the plastic is recycled. Not only does this reduce your eco-footprint, but the plastic won’t absorb any water either.

The metal screen base has a powder coating for prolonged lifespan, and promotes excellent drainage, ensuring your bird’s food doesn’t become clogged with rainwater.

You’ll get everything you need bundled including the cable you’ll need to hang this feeder from a bird table or tree. Once it’s set up, you can relax in your favorite chair and watch the birds contentedly feeding.

The rigid construction is firmly screwed together, so you shouldn’t run into any issues with build quality. You can expect this bird feeder to give you plenty of faithful service.

Despite the design of the screen, the only meaningful complaints we found came from consumers living in areas with lots of rainfall leading to clogging issues flagged.

Overall, you’ll get a no-nonsense feeder here with no bells or whistles. While it gets the job done efficiently, you might want to explore some of the other feeders we review if you live somewhere with lots of rain.

---

11. Droll Yankees Domed Cage Bird Feeder

Features

• Seed capacity: 1 pound
• Weight: 5 pounds
• Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 15 inches

This classic caged-style bird feeder is made from a robust resin that should give you plenty of faithful service while giving all the birds in your garden a treat. Complementing the resin build is a base and cap constructed from die-cast metal.

You can pour up to a pound of birdseed inside this feeder. It’s equipped with multiple feeding ports, too, ideal if you have lots of birdlife in your yard.

When you need to fill the feeder, you’ll appreciate the fact the cap is super-simple to remove.

For a clog-free experience with no seed accumulating, this is one of the best bird feeders out there.

---

12. Droll Yankees Mixed Seed Bird Feeder

Features

• Seed capacity: 2 pounds
• Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 23 inches

As we near the end of our bird feeder reviews, we have a modernist take on the classic hanging bird feeder.

Made from stainless steel and a UV-resistant and BPA-free plastic, you get a sleek and elegant feeder with clean lines and a choice of mounting options.

You can mount the feeder on a pole, or you could use the bundled stainless steel wire to hang it from a trellis in your garden.

Opening and closing the top is super-simple and you can do this one-handed thanks to the spring-loaded mechanism.

The intricacy of this mechanism, though, are flagged in user reviews along with several other areas of this feeder. Customers report there are many small and fragile moving parts, and this doesn’t bode well for expected lifespan.

Ideal for almost any seed, load in what you want to attract the birds you want in your garden.

Rings allow birds to perch on the feeder and access the seed from all sides.

Thanks to the transparent nature of the seed tube, you can tell at a glance when this feeder needs refilling. Keep it topped up and you’ll be helping the birds in your garden to thrive all year round.

Cleaning this feeder couldn’t be simpler thanks to the removable base, so you have no excuse for allowing mold or bacteria to fester.

Overall, this is one of the best bird feeders out there, assuming you don’t get caught with any issues regarding the spring-loaded mechanism.

---

13. Perky-Pet Seed Ball

Features

• Seed capacity: 1.12 pounds
• Weight: 0.8oz
• Dimensions: 5.4 x 5.4 x 5.4 inches

Another entry from Perky-Pet next with this classic seed ball.

While you may look at these seed balls and imagine they are crude and ineffective, nothing could be further from the truth.

Not only does this simplicity make the feeder a cinch to use, but you’ll also pick this unit up at a very keen price point, so there’s no reason not to give the birds in your garden a treat.

The all-metal build leaves wood and plastic completely out of the equation, giving you a rot-resistant and weather-resistant feeder that won’t let you down, even if you live somewhere with a hostile climate.

Thanks to the design of this feeder, clinging birds will flock to the ball and eat their fill while the feeder securely bears their weight.

All you need to do is hang this feeder to a trellis or garden fixture. You could also hang it in a tree or shrub – just make sure to pick somewhere with easy access so you can watch the birds descend and eat their fill.

With the exception of a few complains about smaller pieces of seed falling through the feeder, most user reviews are positive, and you’re getting great value married to commendable lifespan here: what’s not to love?

---

14. Audubon Combo Seed Bird Feeder

Features

• Seed capacity: 7 pounds
• Weight: 1.95 pounds
• Dimensions: 20 x 11 x 8 inches

Our penultimate bird feeder today comes from Audubon with this combo seed feeder that’s well worth a place on your shortlist.

The first thing that stands out about this feeder is the capacity. If you have lots of hungry birds in the garden and you don’t want to continuously refill your feeder, this model is a must. The primary barn component of the feeder has space inside for 6 pounds of your favorite mixed seed. An additional seed silo holds a further 1 pound of seed.

What else do you get beyond this class-leading capacity, then?

Well, the striking design with the classic barn in primary colors is sure to brighten up your garden, while the contents of the feeder will delight local birds.

You can attract a wide variety of birdlife with this feeder, and there’s no chance squirrels will make their way inside this thing either.

The hanging cord included provides you with your easiest option for placement. Alternatively, you can pole mount this feeder.

Bring songbirds into your life by investing in this spacious and attractive bird feeder, by some distance one of the finest on our shortlist today.

---

15. Woodlink Cedar Bird Feeder

Features

• Seed capacity: 5 pounds of seed and 2 suet cakes
• Weight: 4.02 pounds
• Dimensions: 13.25 x 9.5 x 9.38 inches

Last but not least in today’s collection of the best bird feeders comes from Woodlink Deluxe, so how does it stand and fall?

Made from premium cedar throughout, the manufacturer describes in detail the process by which this wood is kiln-dried. You’ll get a feeder that enhances your garden while providing the birds with a wonderful feeding spot.

You can load this feeder with up to 5 pounds of mixed seed, and there is also space for a couple of suet cakes.

Getting this thing erected is straightforward. There is a hanging cable thrown in for you to hook it up within easy sight of your favorite chair.

Not only is this feeder easy to fill and use, but it’s also a snap to clean. Fill the feeder from the top and then snap the lid securely into place, stopping any roaming squirrels from working their way inside.

---

II. FAQs

1) Does the location of a bird feeder count?

Yes. If you place a bird feeder inside some sheltered foliage like shrubs or trees, they will be more inclined to use the feeder. They will feel safer feeding with predators like hawks and cats hidden from plain sight. When you’re thinking about the placement of a feeder to keep squirrels out, remember that they can jump heights of up to 6 feet. Keep feeders 12 to 15 feet from trees if you are looking to prevent squirrels from stealing the contents of the feeder.

2) What is the best seed to use in a bird feeder?

That depends. Different bird species like different seeds, but black oil sunflower oil seeds make one of the best all-purpose options. Niger seed, also known as thistle seed, needs a specialized feeder as the seed is so small. This seed will attract finches. Mixed seed might seem like a cheaper option when you look at the large bargain-basement pack. In reality, birds will peck the smaller pieces out of the feeder in search of the sunflower seeds. When seed falls onto the ground, this can attract less desirable species like sparrows and starlings. So, the type of seed to use depends on the bird species you want to attract.

3) How should I store bird seed?

You should keep any unused seed in a cool and dry place. Make sure the seed cannot be compromised by rodents. Try storing it in an aluminum trash can to keep mice and rats out and your bird seed fresher for longer.

4) Should I stop feeding the birds in my garden over the summer?

It is normally fine to feed birds year-round. If you live somewhere with a black bear population, remove the feeder from your yard from April 1 through November 1, the times these bears are active. Assuming you live somewhere without the threat of bears on the horizon, consider using half the amount of food over the summer months. Many feeder birds stuff themselves with insects in the hotter months, diminishing their appetite for seed. Don’t use suet in the summer, though. This will quickly go rancid unless it contains preservatives to prevent this.

---

III. Conclusion

If you came here to Wild River Country today with no idea about how to choose the best bird feeder, you should now be clear on the multiple types at your disposal.

We included several styles of feeder, so there’s something for everyone, whether you have a large sprawling garden or you want a bird feeder attached to your window.

Stick with any of the bird feeders we review and you can buy with your eyes wide open. If you come across a feeder that didn’t make our shortlist, you should now feel confident of deciding whether it’s any good.

Before you head off, bookmark our blog and pop back very soon!