The 6 Best Bird Feeders to Put in Your Backyard

By Corrie Pelc

If you enjoy watching birds in your backyard, then having a bird feeder is a must. Not only is it fun to see what types of birds are in your neighborhood — and maybe get some cool pictures for your social media feed — but birds are excellent natural insect and weed control for your garden and yard. They also help pollinate flowers and are a great educational opportunity for kids. And when you put out a bird feeder, you're helping the birds in your community, especially during nesting season.

If you’re not quite sure what type of bird feeder you want for your backyard, we’ve got you covered. Let’s talk about how to buy a bird feeder and take a look at the best ones you can buy right now.

Types of Bird Feeders

While, in essence, a bird feeder is a pretty easy concept, there are a variety of bird feeder options on the market today. What it really comes down to is what types of birds you are looking to attract. The most common types of bird feeders include:

• Tray or Platform: These are dish-like feeders that are completely open, which means they are exposed to rain, wind, and snow. However, because they are so open and easy to access, you'll attract a wide range of seed-eating birds, including sparrows, doves, jays, blackbirds, starlings, and pigeons. Tray feeders can be placed near the ground or can be mounted higher up on stumps, posts, or even on a deck railing.
• House or Hopper: This type of bird feeder is what most people picture in their mind as a bird house. While the seed is protected from wind and rain in this type of feeder, it can be harder to clean off bird droppings and other nasties. However, they will hold a lot more seed than a tray feeder, making them a great option if you do not want to have to constantly refill the bird seed. Hopper feeders will attract finches, sparrows, jays, cardinals, and chickadees.
• Tube: Tube feeders are exactly what you would imagine — a plastic tube with a top that holds bird seed with holes on the sides for the birds to get the seeds through. Tube feeders are a great option for keeping seeds clean and dry. They mainly attract smaller seed-eating birds like chickadees, finches, and sparrows.
• Suet: A suet bird feeder is a very basic wire or mesh box or even a bag filled with seed or a seed cake and is suspended or attached to the side of a wall, fence, or post. This type of feeder normally attracts jays, starlings, woodpeckers, and chickadees.

Test Factors We Considered When Picking the Best Bird Feeder

Here’s a look at the test factors we used to determine our list of great bird feeders.

• Type: What type of bird feeder is this — tray, hopper, tube, or suet?
• Installation: How is this bird feed installed — does it need to be suspended or attached to something?
• Size: What are the dimensions of the bird feeder?
• Weight: How much does this bird feeder weigh?
• Material: What is the bird feeder made of?
• Seed Capacity: How much bird seed does this feeder hold? Birds can eat half their weight in bird seed each day, a bird feeder that can hold at least two pounds of seed at a time is ideal.

Let’s take a look at our list of the top-rated bird feeders you can purchase right now.

Bird Feeder Tips

Now that you’ve (hopefully!) found the perfect bird feeder for your home, here are some tips on how to make the most of it.

• Variety is Important: Not all birds eat the same type of bird seed and not all birds like to eat at the same height. If possible, try to have a few bird feeders scattered around your property offering different types of seeds and at different heights so you can attract lots of different birds.
• Keep Out the Squirrels: Squirrels can be quite a nuisance around bird feeders. If squirrels just won't leave your feeder alone, try mounting it on a squirrel-proof bird feeder pole or attach a gizmo called a squirrel baffle to your feeder to stop critters from climbing up or jumping down onto feeders. And if the squirrels seem super hungry in your area, consider giving them their own feeder!
• Add Water: In addition to food, birds also need water. Adding a birdbath to your yard can add an extra enticement to your property for birds, and will keep them lingering for longer as they wash up after eating.
• Feed All Year Long: Birds need access to food all year long, including in the winter. In fact, bird feeders become even more crucial during the winter months when food is harder to find. So whenever possible, keep bird feeders fully stocked throughout all the seasons.

Do you have a bird feeder that brings all the birds to your yard? Tell us about it in the comments below!