10 Best Bird Feeders in 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks

Last Updated on Jan 13 2022

Bringing wild birds to your backyard and watching them eat is undeniably a rewarding and beautiful experience. But there are so many feeders to choose from! It starts with what kind of birds you hope to bring to your backyard, as different feeders will attract different types of birds, and the choices are endless.

We created reviews for 10 of the best bird feeders. There are many different styles of feeders, and you also need to keep those pesky squirrels in mind. We hope that this makes your life a bit easier, and you’ll find the right feeder for your backyard.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (2022 Update)

	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Squirrel Buster Bird Feeder	Protects against rainy weather Seeds stay fresh longer Weight allowance can be adjusted for different sized birds	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Twinkle Star Wild Bird Feeder	Great price Easy to clean Hexagonal shape gives birds six sides to eat from	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		Brome Squirrel Buster Plus Bird Feeder	Weight of squirrel closes a barrier around the feed Comes with a Cardinal ring Tension for the weight can be adjusted	CHECK PRICE
		Droll Yankees Hanging Tube Bird Feeder	Best for sunflower seeds Six perches and feeding ports Can be hung or pole mounted	CHECK PRICE
		Woodlink Going Green Large Bird Feeder	Great feeder for hoppers Made with sturdy recycled plastic Made with rust-resistant screws	CHECK PRICE

The 10 Best Bird Feeders

1. Squirrel Buster Bird Feeder — Best Overall

The best overall bird feeder is the Squirrel Buster Bird Feeder. It’s also the best bird feeder for rainy weather and is one of the top feeders for ensuring that squirrels won’t get at the birdseed. It has a kind of shroud that is triggered when the weight of an adult squirrel is on it (it needs 18 inches of clearance for this feature to work, though). It essentially closes a barrier around the bird’s feed so squirrels can’t access it, and you can adjust the weight that it allows if you want to attract large (or small) birds. It also has a seed ventilation system, which keeps the feed fresh for longer.

However, the perches that enable the birds to sit and eat are on the small side and might not work well for large birds like Cardinals or Blue Jays. You might be able to jury-rig something to the existing perches, though. Also, while it is effective at deterring most squirrels, some squirrels are smart and might find a way around it.

2. Twinkle Star Wild Bird Feeder — Best Value

The best bird feeder for the money is the Twinkle Star Wild Bird Feeder. It’s a cute feeder at a great price and comes fully assembled with a roof to help protect against the sun and the rain. The roof has a twist-lock feature that helps keep it closed and the feed fresh. It also makes it easy to open and refill. It is an attractive hexagonal shape, which gives the birds six sides to perch on and feed from, and it’s easy to clean.

The disadvantages include that the perch for the birds isn’t designed well enough to allow birds to perch comfortably. Since it is made entirely from plastic, it might break after a while.

3. Brome Squirrel Buster Plus Bird Feeder — Premium Choice

The best premium choice bird feeder is the Brome Squirrel Buster Plus Bird Feeder. This is a feeder that does an excellent job at deterring squirrels (it needs 18 inches all around to do this, though). It prevents squirrels from getting to the feed by closing a barrier via the squirrel’s weight, and you can adjust the tension on the weight to allow different-sized birds. It also comes with a ring designed for Cardinals. This Cardinal ring enables birds to perch facing their food, making it more comfortable for them.

However, the feeding ports are quite small and deep, and some birds might not be comfortable taking food from them. It’s also expensive.

4. Droll Yankees Hanging Tube Bird Feeder

The Droll Yankee Hanging Tube Bird Feeder is one of the best bird feeders for sunflower seeds. It has a strong plastic tube with metal attachments so squirrels can’t chew through it, and it has six perches and feeding ports. It comes ready to hang, but you also have the option of mounting it to a pole. It has a pull-ring feature that makes it easy to disassemble and clean, and it has a detachable cap for quick refilling.

This feeder, though, is fairly small, with just a 2-inch diameter, and it is 16 inches in height. Additionally, the perches are quite close to the ports, so it’s fine for small birds, but large birds might have a hard time eating comfortably.

5. Woodlink Going Green Large Bird Feeder

The Woodlink Going Green Large Bird Feeder is one of the best hopper bird feeders. It has a nice wide trough that works well for hoppers, and there’s plenty of room because the trough sits on both sides of the feeder. It’s a sturdy and durable plastic made from recycled material and has a mesh screen bottom that is a powder-coated metal for drainage. It’s put together with rust-resistant screws and has a hinged roof, making it easy to clean and refill.

It is relatively expensive, though, and it isn’t squirrel-proof, so you might need to find another way to stop squirrels from eating your seed.

6. Kettle Moraine Suet Bird Feeder

The Kettle Moraine Suet Bird Feeder is made with natural cedar and has a vinyl-coated wire mesh and a stainless-steel cable for hanging. It is designed to hold two standard suet cakes — you just lift the roof of the feeder and drop in the cakes. It weathers well because it’s made with cedar and is quite sturdy. Birds will hold onto the mesh to eat the suet.

On the other hand, it is not critter-proof, so squirrels and other animals will have easy access to the suet. It’s also quite heavy, so you might need to reinforce the cable.

7. More Birds Hummingbird Feeder

The More Birds Hummingbird Feeder is made with a glass bottle for the nectar and non-toxic plastic in a bright red that will attract hummingbirds. It is also available in five different styles and sizes (and prices) and has four soft feeding ports in flower shapes. It’s easy to take apart and clean and refill and has a moat to prevent ants from getting to the nectar.

Some of these feeders don’t flow correctly because the nectar doesn’t always fill up on the bottom enough for the hummingbirds. Also, the parts for the flowers tend to get mold, so you’ll need to be diligent and clean them frequently.

8. Perky-Pet Squirrel-Be-Gone Bird Feeder

Perky-Pet’s Squirrel-Be-Gone Bird Feeder has a similar squirrel deterrent as most other tube feeders. It uses the squirrel’s weight to close off the feeding ports, which is accomplished with decorative leaves made with rust-proof metal. It’s covered in a metal cage, which can help stop squirrels from chewing the plastic tube, and it has six perches and feeding ports.

Unfortunately, the square design can make cleaning more of a challenge, and of course, those wily squirrels are good at figuring out a way to get at the seeds.

9. Woodlink Going Green Platform Bird Feeder

Woodlink’s Going Green Platform Bird Feeder is a simple but effective bird feeder. It is made with recycled plastic that is quite durable, and it has a metal screen bottom that is powder-coated for drainage. It’s been screwed together for stability and should last a long time. It can support the weight of multiple birds of all sizes. It also has the advantage of holding all different kinds of bird feed and is easy to fill.

However, you’ll need to purchase some kind of dome or other weatherproof feature for bad weather days because this feeder is wide open. Also, the cables that come with the platform for hanging are made with plastic, so they might not prove that durable. It’s also easy for squirrels to get at the feed.

10. Nature Anywhere Bird Feeder

The Nature Anywhere Bird Feeder is a great way to get a close-up view of birds feeding because it sits directly on your window. It attaches to the window with four strong suction cups, and you just need to remove the seed tray (which slides out) for refilling and cleaning. If there isn’t anything else close by for a squirrel to jump off of, they won’t be able to access this feeder. It also has a lifetime guarantee for a full refund or replacement if there’s a problem.

The perch isn’t designed for small birds, though, as it’s a little too far away from the feed. These birds will usually sit in with the feed so they can reach it. Also, there are rather large drainage holes at the bottom of the seed tray, which can lead to seeds falling through. Lastly, many birds seem to be either unable to find the feeder or just not interested in it.

Related Read: 5 Proven Ways To Attract Bluebirds To Your Yard & Feeders

Buyer’s Guide – Finding the Best Bird Feeder

Before you decide on a feeder, have a quick look at this buyer’s guide. We go over a few points that might help you make your final decision.

Size

Too many times, people focus on the photos of the product and not the actual measurements. Photos are commonly photoshopped, so they’re not always the best way to determine if a feeder is the right size for your needs. Double-check the measurements, and ask other customers or the company if you need clarification.

Durability

This is an important point considering that bird feeders are outside in all kinds of weather. Look for materials that are durable and won’t fall apart after just a few seasons. Read reviews and ask questions. Natural materials tend to weather well and do certain recycled plastic products. Also, think about those squirrels. The less durable the feeder, the easier it is for a squirrel to gnaw through it.

Kinds of Birds

The kind of birds that you want to attract will depend on the sort of bird feeder and bird food that you decide on. The different types of feeders are platform, hopper, hummingbird, tube, and suet feeders. When you know what kinds of birds you’re the most interested in, this will help you pick the right feeder.

Maintenance

Always keep in mind that bird feeders need frequent cleaning. You also need to check them regularly to ensure that there are enough seeds for the birds and that they haven’t become stuck or moldy. You’ll want to invest in a bird feeder that is easy to clean and fill.

Deterrents

If you opt for a bird feeder that doesn’t have a built-in squirrel deterrent, you’ll probably need to invest in a separate one, like a dome or baffle. You can also hang your bird feeder from a tall, smooth metal pole so the squirrel can’t climb to it. This should be about 12 feet away from anything that the squirrel can jump from.

Conclusion

The Squirrel Buster Bird Feeder is our choice for the best overall bird feeder because it does great in rainy weather and is one of the best feeders for baffling those determined squirrels. The Twinkle Star Wild Bird Feeder is cute and has a great price. Finally, there’s the Brome Squirrel Buster Plus Bird Feeder. It does a great job at deterring squirrels and comes with a special ring designed for Cardinals.

We hope that these reviews have helped you to figure out which bird feeder is your favorite and that you have many years ahead of watching these beautiful creatures.

Featured Image Credit: PilotBrent, Pixabay