Buy The Best Bird Feeders For Your Money

The idea of a hopper is that it will hold lots of bird seed that will fall into the feeding area as the birds eat. It means less time spent filling empty feeders.

Some of the hopper styles can be adjusted so larger birds, like blue jays, can't eat. The opening will close when they land on it. I've had mine for about 5 years and it has held up to a bear attack. I also love the fact that it will hold lots of seed (I spend less time filling it) and will even hold peanuts in the shell which the birds can pull out through the large openings.

It's suppose to work for squirrels too, but I've got squirrels that can find a way around it and hang from the top or sides and chow down!

A tray feeder can sit on a ledge or hang or be attached to a window. They usually have a mesh screen in the bottom to keep seed from becoming moldy and letting the rain go through.

The advantage of having a tray feeder is that some birds like to eat in the open. They like to land and grab and fly off. Some don't want little perches and bars, but wide open areas to sit and eat. Cardinals tend to prefer eating like that - at least mine do - and even though you could just throw seed on the ground, doing so can get very messy and sunflower seed hulls will kill the grass.

In nice weather, chunks of old muffins and stale bread can be put in there. Most likely the bluejays will gobble it up pretty fast.

A tray feeder is easy to fill and clean and it has other advantages. I use mine in summer to hold the grubs I dig up in the garden. Just plop the grubs, tomato worms or any other pests into the feeder and watch the birds swoop in and gobble them up.

Birds who love suet and need it especially in winter are woodpeckers. They feed on bugs throughout the summer, but bugs are hard to find in winter.
I love to feed suet to my birds because it is a source of protein that they need in cold weather. Blue jays can be a pest because they love suet too. Sometimes the upside-down suet feeder will deter them, and sometimes not.

I get Chickadees, nuthatches and many types of woodpeckers at my tail prop feeder.
The cheapest feeder listed below does not hold up well. I had one and needed to use a twist tie to keep it closed and the hanging chain broke. So I suggest to only buy that one as a spare or trial feeder.
The others are more sturdy and easy to fill and hang.

Buy suet blocks to fit inside or make your own. I have a lens that will show you how.
Make Your Own Suet

Thistle seeds, also called Nyjer, are small, oblong, black seeds and require special types of feeders that have small openings so the seed won't fall out. It is relatively expensive seed so you won't want it wasted.
Goldfinches, Purple Finches, Redpolls and other thistle eaters will clamor to get a spot on a Thistle feeder.
Choose one with metal around the openings to keep the squirrels from chewing through the holes to get at the seed.
It can be scattered on top of the frozen snow in winter if the feeders are over crowded.

See some different types of feeders below.