The Best Bird Feeders: A Buyer's Guide

GOOD NEWS: The squirrel-proof feeders of the 21st century really work -- with no ugly baffles!

Now there is good technology -- special perches; cages that surround the feeder. Some of them require calibration (to shut doors to food ports for any creature too heavy), but my favorite ones have collapsing perches that foil squirrels every time. All you have to do is hang them in the right location.

If I could only make one feeder recommendation, this is it. Lifetime guarantee on this stellar product!

Spend under $70 and be happy for many years!

Scroll down and order from Amazon through my link.

Droll Yankees makes fantastic tube feeders that are truly squirrel-proof. How does this one work? The perches bend (they are springy) when anything too heavy lands on them, and the tube is too long for a squirrel to hang down from the top and munch. This saves you seed -- and money! Because of their brilliant design, you can hang them nearly anywhere. You can also get replacement parts, and with the lifetime warranty, you can bequeath it to your grandchildren!

My favorite is the Yankee Whipper because it accomodates small and medium-sized birds.

This line also includes:
* The Yankee Tipper (Amazon - Order from link below), -- this has a tray that tips. Small birds like chickadees have trouble reaching the seed ports. But it's great for bigger birds.

* The Yankee Dipper (Amazon - Order from link below), -- has short perches, ideal for small birds like chickadees. But WILL NOT accomodate for cardinals, grossbeaks, jays and the like.

* The Yankee Flipper (Amazon - Order from link below), like the Whipper, can accommodate all sized birds. It flings the squirrel off with a (rechargeable) battery-powered motor.

A female cardinal enjoyed some safflower and sunflower seeds at my new Brome Squirrel Buster II. The outer cylinder falls down to cover the seed ports if something heavy (big bird or squirrel) lands on this feeder.

You can buy the cardinal ring as an add-on to this feeder.

I purchased a Brome Squirrel Buster II in order to do a head-to-head test against the Droll Yankees Yankee Whipper. Stay tuned for more comparisons.

Comparison Test #1 -- Seed leakage from ports. Check out the photo showing each feeder after 24 hours hanging in the same spot with the same weather. The Brome seems to have ports that leak more seed. I had this suspicion just eyeing the feeder after filling it up the first time with seed.

The photo shows the 24-hour test results. I measured the seed loss in cups as well, and the Brome lost an additional cup over the 24 hour period.

I have done some taste-testing studies to see which suet flavor birds love best. The winner is Kaytee brand "Woodpecker Suet." I get it at Fleet Farm. It's not cheap, but the woodpeckers really love it.

So look for BROWN suet cakes, not yellow -- these are heavier on peanuts and lighter on corn.

This is a photo of two pileated woodpeckers dining on this suet!

I needed a peanut feeder that woodpeckers could cling to easily -- even big species like the hairy and the red-bellied. These feeders have rough wood sides and waterproof bins for the nuts. You can find them at Amazon for $30-35 (see below).

It took the woodpeckers a while to learn how to get the seeds (at first they pecked at the plexiglass "window"), but now they love it. Here's a picture of a red-bellied at this feeder. So far, the blue jays are unable to steal from it!

I looked everywhere and couldn't find a feeder with ports made for sunflower hearts (or "chips"). But I love to feed this because it's like caviar to birds and makes no mess.

So I bought the four-port thistle feeder (under $12 - see Amazon link below) and made the holes slightly bigger with a drill. Now the birds can peck out the chips, but they don't fall out. This is perfect because this seed ain't cheap!

This feeder has big perches, so even medium sized woodpeckers can use it.

Here's a picture of some goldfinches on my sack of niger seed.

Let the Curious Wren be your guide to birding.

She has a whole series of lenses about birding, bird feeders, field guides, bird books, gifts and equipment.

Some lenses are "How To" lenses.

One part of her series is state-by-state birding guides -- Florida, California and more!

Go to the Curious Wren hub for links to all her lenses.

Great Gifts for Birders -- Gadgets, gear, clothing, CDs, DVDs -- everything a birder would love.

Great Birdbaths and Fountains -- a nice selection of practical baths, drippers, fountains and accessories.

Hummingbirds! -- Facts, feeders, books and fun merchandise for hummer lovers.

Bird Shirts and Hats -- Shirts and hats featuring wild birds!

Best Field Guides (and Other Books) -- Your best selection of field guides.

Orioles love grape jelly -- any brand, even the cheap generic stuff. I put it out every summer and after the babies are born, I get 4-5 orioles at a time visiting my feeder.

You can also use a nectar feeder. I have a jelly feeder and a nectar feeder.

As with most products, the more you pay, the better (and longer-lasting) the feeder you will get.

Stick with the brands that specialize in manufacturing feeders, like Droll Yankees, Duncraft, Woodlink and Rubicon - many of them have guarantees.

There are four basic types of seed feeders:
-- tubes (or silos)
-- mesh bags (thistle / nyger only)
-- hoppers (shaped like a barn or covered bridge)
-- platforms

Tube feeders come in large-capacity models, and they offer the best squirrel-proofing technology. Tube feeders for thistle are different because they have smaller seed ports.

For thistle only, mesh bags are now commonplace. Some types of bag material hold up better than others (synthetic is better than cotton), although they don't get too much abuse because squirrels aren't too interested.

Hopper feeders are a time-honored style, but few are squirrel-proof.

The last type, platforms, have been problematic. But nowadays, some come with coverings (to keep snow out) and chicken-wire fencing (to deter squirrels and large birds). The benefit of a platform is that it allows more species to feed. Ground-feeders, like cardinals and doves, prefer platforms. These feeders can either be placed on the ground or suspended from a wire.

CAUTIONS
Feeders that lack squirrel-proofing technology will cost you lots of extra money due to (1) chewed-up feeders that need replacing; and (2) all the seed consumed by the varmints. So -- buy the new technology! When it comes to perching areas, metal parts are better than plastic. It's a myth that birds' feet will stick to metal in the cold - it's not possible, since birds have no sweat glands there.

TIPS
Look for a tube feeder that's easy to clean, or buy a special brush to do so. Look for a feeder with a lifetime guarantee, like the Droll Yankees brand. They cost more, but in the long run will save you money replacing cheap feeders that go bust. If you want to attract cardinals or grossbeaks, make sure the perches are long enough to accommodate them.

SEEDS
Songbirds love seed, so depending on your geographic area, you'll attract chickadees, finches, cardinals, grossbeaks and woodpeckers.

You'll see many types of seed for sale, but the classic favorite among all is the sunflower seed, and birds prefer the black-oil variety. Lots of species enjoy this highly nutritious seed, so it's a great one to start with.

Avoid the cheap "wild bird seed" (mostly yellow) sold at grocery stores. It contains very few sunflowers and mainly attracts sparrows. Not that there's anything wrong with sparrows, but a whole flock can dominate a feeder and prevent songbirds from coming.

The next most popular seed is thistle (also called niger or nyger). All types of wild finches enjoy it, so be prepared for a whole flock to appear.

Safflower are white seeds, much loved by cardinals and grosbeaks.

PEANUTS
If you're willing to spend a little more, you can feed cracked peanuts - but again, they require a specially-designed feeder. Peanuts for birds should always be roasted, with no salt or sugar. Peanuts can get moldy, so make sure they stay fresh in the feeder.

SUET
Suet is a high-energy fatty treat that can really help keep birds warm (from the inside) in the winter. Woodpeckers especially love it. You can buy raw suet from the butcher or grocery store and hang it in a netted bag (an onion bag) for the cheapest possible option. But rendered suet (that has been boiled to kill bacteria) is best. You can buy rendered suet bricks that fit nicely into hanging feeders. These are often "no-melt" and work great even in very hot weather. Some bricks have seed or different flavorings added. Commercial cakes come in many varieties, and can attract birds who like seeds, nuts, fruits or insects.