Backyard Bird Feeding

Birds chirping outside your window make for a much nicer wake-up call than your average alarm clock, but to get birds flocking to your backyard, you'll need the perfect feeder. The right feeder depends on which species of bird you're looking to attract.

Feeders for the Birds
The basics for your feathered friends

Tube Feeders

Perfect for attracting small species such as chickadees and various finches, tube feeders feature short perches that deter larger seed-hogs such as jays from dominating the feeder. Feeding stations range from 4 to as many as 12, and the tubes are typically plastic. Cleaning the tubes will require a long brush unless the model includes a removable seed tray.

Tube feeders can be hung from a branch or bracket and range from a seed capacity of .5 quarts to 2.5 quarts. Usually fine for a wide variety of seeds including sunflower, some tube feeders are specifically designed for smaller seeds like thistle.

Hopper Feeders

This is your good ol' fashioned feeder, holding lots of feed, allowing even big birds to eat, and accommodating seeds of almost any size. Hopper feeders are usually simple to clean and can attract even the shyest birds… as well as seed hogs like jays and squirrels.

Hopper feeders can be mounted on a post or pole. Most of the novelty feeders you'll find are hoppers, and can be as much about décor as they are about feeding.

Suet Feeders

Suet, a sticky mix that usually includes lard, peanut butter, sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and millet, can attract woodpeckers, orioles, cardinals, kinglets, and a host of others. Suet feeders are the simplest feeders in design: typically a cage made of metal (look for ones with vinyl epoxy coating, which resists rust) to hold the suet, and a roof to keep the rain and snow away. Suet feeders are frequently used during winter because suet can melt during hot summer months, making these feeders a sticky chore.

Hummingbird Feeders

Hummingbird feeders are obviously meant to attract beautiful, delicate hummers. These feeders often feature plastic or glass feeding tubes. Glass is more durable and easier to clean, but plastic is the bargain hunter's choice.

Many feeders offer only one feeding station, while others have as many as six, and may even include a perch (that will frequently go unused). The ubiquitous red flower feeding station is still around. Hummers don't care either way, as long as there's a good hummer mix inside the feeder. One thing to remember with hummingbird feeders is that more decorative does not always mean more functional.

Squirrel Stoppers

Where there's seed, there will be an abundance of sneaky squirrels. Manufacturers have devised many ways of trying to keep them away from precious birdseed, ranging from specially slanted roofs to cages around feeding stations. While these squirrel-proof feeders may be more expensive, you'll save bundles on seed in the long run.