How to choose a bird feeder (and keep squirrels out of it)

A feeder brings birds close enough to watch, but the type of feeder, where you put it and how often you clean it all make a difference to which birds come and how healthy they stay.

Match the feeder to the birds

Feeder	Seed	Typical visitors
Tube feeder	Sunflower, mixed seed	Chickadees, finches, titmice
Nyjer (thistle) tube with small ports	Nyjer seed	Goldfinches and other finches
Hopper feeder	Sunflower, mixed seed	Cardinals, jays, many songbirds
Platform (tray) feeder	Seeds, fruit, mealworms	Ground feeders like doves and juncos, plus many others
Suet cage	Suet cakes	Woodpeckers, nuthatches
Nectar feeder	Sugar water	Hummingbirds

Black oil sunflower seed attracts the widest variety of birds. Cheap mixes with lots of filler seed often end up kicked to the ground.

Placement and windows

Window collisions kill many birds. A common recommendation is to place feeders either very close to a window (within about 3 feet) or far from it (more than about 30 feet). Close feeders don't give birds room to build up speed; far feeders keep birds away from the glass. Decals or screens on the window help too.

Also consider:

• Nearby shrubs or trees give birds a place to retreat, but not so close that cats can hide and pounce.
• A spot you can see from inside and reach easily to refill.

Squirrels

• Weight-activated feeders close the ports when a heavy animal lands on them.
• Baffles on poles or above hanging feeders stop squirrels from climbing or dropping down.
• Placement: many people place feeders about 5 feet or more off the ground and about 8 to 10 feet from anything squirrels can jump from.
• Safflower seed is less appealing to many squirrels but still eaten by cardinals and other birds.

Cleaning

Dirty feeders and moldy seed can spread disease among birds. Many bird organizations recommend cleaning feeders about every two weeks, more often in wet weather or if birds in your area are sick. Look for feeders that:

• Come apart easily without tools.
• Have removable bases or ports.
• Keep seed dry, with drainage holes in trays.

Rake up old seed and hulls under the feeder too.

Questions people ask

Why aren't birds coming to my new feeder?

It can take days or weeks for birds to find a new feeder. Use black oil sunflower seed and place it near cover.

Should I feed birds in summer?

Many people do. Clean feeders more often in warm weather, and follow local advice if there are disease outbreaks.

How do I stop bigger birds from taking over?

Feeders with small perches or cages around them let small birds in while keeping larger birds out.