Project FeederWatch says different species prefer different feeder designs, so the right feeder depends on which birds you want to see. Sparrows and doves often skip raised feeders, while short perches on a tube keep grackles and jays off. This page compares the common types using the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Project FeederWatch, Audubon, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state sources. For what to put in them, see the seed-by-species chart.
Feeder types at a glance
| Feeder | Typical visitors | Usual food | Strengths | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform or tray | Grosbeaks, sparrows, juncos, towhees, jays, blackbirds, doves, quail; also pigeons, starlings, House Sparrows, grackles | Millet, sunflower, cracked corn, peanut kernels | Widest variety of seed-eaters; birds stay in view | No shelter from rain or snow; droppings soil seed; squirrels, chipmunks, deer and raccoons get in |
| Hopper ("house") | Finches, jays, cardinals, buntings, grosbeaks, sparrows, chickadees, titmice | Sunflower and other larger seeds | Holds several days of seed; roof keeps it dry | Easy for squirrels on most designs; wet seed spoils; harder to clean than a tray |
| Tube | Set by tube size and perches; finches, titmice and chickadees are typical | From tiny nyjer to unshelled peanuts, matched to port size | Seed stays dry and free of droppings; easy to hang | Shared perches can spread disease; squirrels gnaw plastic tubes |
| Nyjer ("thistle") | Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, Common Redpolls, Indigo Buntings | Nyjer | Gives small birds their own feeder; squirrels often ignore it | Fewer visitors overall; mesh socks get soaked in rain |
| Suet | Woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, titmice, starlings, jays; sometimes Carolina Wrens and Pine Warblers | Suet cakes and suet mixes | High-energy food for clinging birds | Raw suet turns rancid above freezing; softens in heat |
| Window | Finches, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, sparrows | Seed, in small amounts | Close-up views; easy to refill | Birds stand in the seed; may take days to visit |
| Nectar | Hummingbirds; occasionally orioles and Cape May Warblers | 1:4 sugar water | Fits small spaces | Spoils fast; draws ants and wasps |
| Ground | Sparrows, doves; Song and Fox Sparrows and towhees rarely land on feeders | Seed spread on the ground or a picnic table | Reaches birds that skip feeders | — |
Visitors, strengths and drawbacks: Cornell Lab. Ground row: FeederWatch. Platform foods and nectar ratio: Maryland DNR.
- Platform or tray, set low: juncos, doves and sparrows; a drainage screen keeps seed drier.
- Hopper on a pole about 5 ft up, with a cone baffle below: cardinals, jays, finches.
- Tube with ports and perches: finches, titmice, chickadees.
- Nyjer tube with very small ports: goldfinches, Pine Siskins, redpolls.
- Suet cage at least 5 ft up: woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees.
- Window feeder on the glass: small birds, close-up views.
Feeder by feeder
- Platform or tray. Cornell suggests a screened bottom for drainage, only a few days' seed at a time, and a baffle on the support. FeederWatch says a roof helps, and that a low platform draws juncos, doves and sparrows.
- Hopper. House-shaped, with four walls and a roof (Maryland DNR). FeederWatch notes that a large hopper lets in doves and grackles, while a small one keeps grackles out. Wet seed can grow fungus and bacteria that harm birds (Mississippi State).
- Tube. Tube size and perch design decide whether small, large or agile birds feed (Cornell). Empty old seed before refilling, and block the section below the lowest port, where seed goes unused and rainwater can collect and cause mold (Cornell; Mississippi State).
- Nyjer. A tube with very small ports or a fine mesh sock (Cornell). Despite the old name "thistle," nyjer is an imported seed from an African daisy (Maryland DNR). Offer only what birds eat in a few days (Mississippi State).
- Suet. A wire cage, or wood smeared with suet or peanut butter (Cornell). FeederWatch says to secure the lid so animals can't get trapped. Rendered suet stays firm up to about 90°F; above that it can soften and mat feathers, so Cornell advises stopping suet and peanut butter in hot months. In black bear country, Maryland DNR says to offer suet only while bears hibernate.
- Window. Birds see the feeder before they reach the glass, which reduces collisions (Cornell). Mississippi State says to empty and clean window feeders daily and to use smaller windows rather than large picture windows.
- Nectar. Choose one that is easy to take apart and clean (FeederWatch). See the hummingbird feeder guide for recipe and cleaning.
Design details that change who visits
| Design detail | Effect | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Short perches on a tube | Favor small birds such as finches; keep out grackles and jays | FeederWatch |
| Tube with no perches | Limits visitors to small clinging birds: finches, chickadees, titmice, woodpeckers | USFWS |
| Perch above or below the port | Changes which birds can feed | Mississippi State Extension |
| Small hopper instead of large | Keeps out grackles and other large birds | FeederWatch |
| Suet cage open only at the bottom | Discourages starlings (and jays, per Cornell); woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees feed upside down | FeederWatch; Cornell; USFWS |
| Port size matched to seed | Nyjer needs very small ports to prevent spills | FeederWatch |
| Metal tube or ports | Holds up where squirrels gnaw | Cornell; Maryland DNR |
Where to put them
- Match the height to the bird. Audubon's Steve Kress suggests table-like feeders for ground-feeding birds, hopper or tube feeders for shrub and treetop feeders, and suet feeders at least five feet off the ground.
- Beat squirrels with distance. Audubon puts pole feeders about five feet up and at least 10 feet from the nearest shrub, tree or tall structure, with a cone baffle at least 17 inches across. The USFWS also gives 10 feet from any tree limb or trunk.
- Mind the windows. Audubon says within three feet of windows if possible. Utah State University Extension gives two safe zones: 3 feet or closer, or more than 30 feet away.
- Use cover carefully. Maryland DNR suggests placing feeders near shrubs or other cover so birds can escape raptors, except ground-level feeders. The USFWS warns against brush piles where cats can hide, and against open spots far from cover.
- Spread out. Separate feeders for sunflower, nyjer and peanuts cut waste (Audubon), and more feeders reduce fighting (Maryland DNR). The USFWS advises keeping nest boxes away from feeders.
Starter checklist
Cornell's suggested first step is black-oil sunflower in a tube feeder hung from a branch or shepherd's crook, with a baffle if squirrels are a problem. From there:
- Feeder is sturdy, keeps seed dry, and is easy to assemble and clean (Cornell)
- Nyjer feeder added for goldfinches and siskins, filled lightly at first
- Bottom-opening suet cage at 5 ft or higher, in cool months only
- Pole feeders at least 10 ft from shrubs, trees and tall structures, with a baffle
- Feeders within 3 ft of windows, or more than 30 ft away
- Cleaning date on the calendar: see the schedule by feeder type
Feeders and a Bird-a-Day streak
Each feeder type adds a group: a low tray for towhees and juncos, nyjer for siskins and redpolls, suet for woodpeckers. Those regulars are the reserve birds that keep a Bird-a-Day streak alive on slow days; meet them in our common backyard birds profiles.
Sources
- How to Choose the Right Kind of Bird Feeder — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology (updated 2024)
- Feeder Types — Project FeederWatch
- 11 Tips for Feeding Backyard Birds — Audubon
- How to choose a bird feeder — Mississippi State University Extension
- Supplemental Feeding Wild Birds — Maryland Department of Natural Resources (PDF)
- For the Birds — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (revised 2001, PDF)
- Ask an Expert: Seven Tips to Keep Birds from Hitting Your Windows — Utah State University Extension (2017)