How to Choose the Right Kind of Bird Feeder? Perfect for Small Birds

There are many bird feeder types, each of those offer unique features ranging from economical cost to automatic spinning perch. You might even get stuck while choosing amongst the humming bird feeder and Oriole bird feeder.

Bird Feeder Types

You can go through the detailed features of each feeder and select the one matching your expectations.

Platform Bird Feeder

• Suitable Birds: All kind
• Squirrel Visits: Always
• Bigger Birds Visits: Yes
• Cleaning Requirement: Daily
• Refilling Seeds: Daily

Platform feeder will have a flat horizontal tray on the top of a bird feeder pole or like a bird feeder hangers. You can easily refill the seeds on the tray by washing off the older ones(if found).

However, if you live in a snowy or tropical region then the seeds will get damp. In fact, it can lead to developing bacterial fungus on the seeds as well. Hence, washing the seeds, bird droppings from the feeder is advisable. Not to mention, you will need a tray with drainage holes in order to eliminate the clogging water on it.

Platform feeders are suitable if you live in an area without squirrels, cats, and clean weather.

Tube Bird Feeder

• Suitable Birds: Small, Medium Birds
• Squirrel Visits: Frequently
• Bigger Birds Visits: Frequently
• Cleaning Requirement: Never
• Refilling Seeds: 1 to 2 weeks

This type of bird feeder has a tube-like structure in which you can store the seeds inside. Also, there will be feeding ports and perches adjacent to it where the birds could hop on and eat. However, there are possibilities that squirrels will reach to the feeding spot and finish off everything meant for the birds.

Hence, going for a tube feeder which shuts off the ports if a heavy creature i.e. squirrel tries to invade. It will eventually drive the squirrels away.

House Bird Feeder

• Suitable Birds: Small, Medium Birds
• Squirrel Visits: Frequently
• Bigger Birds Visits: Frequently
• Cleaning Requirement: Daily
• Refilling Seeds: Daily

This type of bird feeder has a small home-like structure i.e. a flat tray with a shed over it. It will keep the seeds from getting damp and depending on the entry hole size, you can keep squirrels from entering.

This feeder is suitable if you have a huge backyard and some time to spare for cleaning the feeder. Because you will find the birds’ droppings everywhere inside the house feeder. Additionally, putting a slinky, squirrel baffles, the inverted cone will keep the squirrels away.

Window Bird Feeder

• Suitable Birds: Small Birds
• Squirrel Visits: Rarely
• Bigger Birds Visits: Rarely
• Cleaning Requirement: Rarely
• Refilling Seeds: Weekly

As the name suggests, this feeder sticks on the windowpanes. This is the safest way to keep the squirrels out from the feeder. Because the huge smooth window pane won’t let the squirrel maintain a firm grip to reach to the feeder.

Moreover, people prefer this type of feeders just to watch the birds feed on seeds from a close distance. Not to mention, it is best to have a reflecting screen on the outside of your window. Because the birds won’t notice you getting closer on another side of the window.

Nyger Bird Feeder

• Suitable Birds: Small Birds
• Squirrel Visits: Rarely
• Bigger Birds Visits: Rarely
• Cleaning Requirement: Never
• Refilling Seeds: Weekly or Fortnightly

There are two types of nyger feeder you will see on the market i.e. tube type and meshed type. Both of these feeders will have small feeding ports and tiny spaces for the birds to cling on it. Hence, the medium-sized birds i.e. jays, Orioles, etc. can hardly get to cling on it.

Suet Bird Feeder

• Suitable Birds: Small Birds
• Squirrel Visits: Rarely
• Bigger Birds Visits: Rarely
• Cleaning Requirement: Never
• Refilling Seeds: Twice a Week

Suet feeders will have a feeding port or an opening at the bottom of the feeder. It compels all the birds to cling upside-down to have the food you have stored inside. In fact, the birds will have to poke their beaks inside and break the seeds/nuts to eat.

The EndNote

We hope now you are a step closer to buying a perfect bird feeder for your backyard. Also, emphasize more on cleanliness if you like platform bird feeder or house feeder more.