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10 Best Window Bird Feeders in 2024 — Reviews & Top Picks
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Window bird feeders offer a great way to watch birds as they gather and eat seeds. Even if you don’t have a garden, a window is all you need to watch birds soaring through the air. Because window feeders are typically attached using suction cups, they’re easy to put up and can be quickly removed or relocated. Still, you will want one that is easy to clean, will stay on the window longer than a few weeks, and won’t break if it does fall to the ground.
We have looked at dozens of product reviews to find the best window bird feeders for your money, and you can find our picks for the 10 best options available below.
A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024
Image
Product
Details
Best Overall
Sweet Feeders Geo Bird Feeder
Beautiful design
Ideal for hummingbirds
Can be angled to prevent bees from feeding on nectar
The Sweet Feeder Geo Bird Feeder is a beautifully crafted hummingbird feeder with two feeding stations and two suction cups to attach to the window. Unlike most garden birds, hummingbirds feed while flying, consuming nectar rather than seeds and nuts. This means that they need a completely different style of feeder than woodpeckers, cardinals, and other birds.
The Sweet Feeders Geo Bird Feeder includes glass bottles used as feeding stations. Remove the lid, add the nectar or sugar water, and replace the lids. You can also tilt the bottles to help prevent bees from getting in and taking the hummingbird’s food. The two suction cups are made in the USA and ensure that the feeder stays on the window. It uses a copper frame that looks good on any window. The feeder is well priced considering its use of copper and glass materials, whereas most other feeders use acrylic or other cheaper materials.
This is a very small feeder but is used to feed very small garden visitors. However, it is easily bent out of shape if you’re not gentle with it. As long as you live in a hummingbird area, its design and quality materials make this the best overall window bird feeder.
Pros
Beautiful design
Ideal for hummingbirds
Can be angled to prevent bees from feeding on nectar
Cons
Small
Frame bends easily
2. PetFusion Tranquility Window Bird Feeder – Best Value
The PetFusion Tranquility Window Bird Feeder is an acrylic window feeder with three suction cups. Because the whole feeder is made from clear acrylic, it allows an almost unobstructed view from your window. The tray will hold 1 pound of seeds and nuts and is a decent size for all birds except the largest garden visitors. The acrylic material has been UV-coated which will prevent it from getting discolored in the sun. The frameless, open design means that the feeder is easy to clean and maintain.
This design, combined with its low price, makes the PetFusion Tranquility Window Bird Feeder the best window bird feeder for the money. However, the suction cups aren’t the best quality, so you will need to ensure that you put it up when the window is dry and clean.
Pros
Cheap
UV-coated to prevent discoloration
Easy to clean
Cons
Suction cups aren’t the strongest
3. Sweet Feeders Modern Window 4 Station Bird Feeder – Premium Choice
The Sweet Feeders Modern Window 4 Station Bird Feeder is a hummingbird feeder that attaches to the window using two suction cups and has four glass bottle feeders. The bottles can be easily removed, filled with nectar for hummingbird visitors, and then replaced. The tips have holes that offer easy access to the nectar, and the bottles can be angled at a 45-degree angle to prevent bees from getting in. The bottles can also be put in the dishwasher for easy and safe cleaning.
This is similar to the two-station feeder but has double the number of feeders and a perch at the bottom where birds can rest. The feeder is only suitable for hummingbirds and is a little expensive. While this is double the size and still only has two suction cups, the cups are better quality and stronger than most others, and the feeder does look attractive with its steampunk-style copper frame.
Pros
Attractive copper and glass design
Four feeding stations
Good-quality suction cups
Dishwasher-safe bottles
Cons
Expensive
Can be tricky to put together
4. North States Large Clear Choice Window Bird Feeder
The North States Large Clear Choice Window Bird Feeder is an acrylic, frameless feeder with a 1-pound seed tray and an additional compartment for water. The feeder is cheap, and the suction cups are good quality, so the feeder should stay on your window in most conditions.
The North States Window Feeder also has some beneficial features that aren’t found on many other products. There’s a level so you can ensure the feeder is level and the tray slides out easily for refilling food. There are also drainage holes that allow any rain or other water to escape so that the seeds won’t get damp or moldy.
While it is a good value feeder for the money, the proximity of the water tray to the seed tray means that seeds get into the water and make it mucky.
The Droll Yankees Observer Window Bird Feeder is a plastic feeder that attaches to the window using three suction cups. It is a low-cost feeder with a capacity for ½ pound of seeds. The seed tray has drainage holes to prevent it from filling with rainwater, and there is a sloped roof to help divert rain away from the food.
The low capacity isn’t ideal because it requires more frequent filling. You will need to ensure that you put the feeder up when the window is dry and clean. Otherwise, the suction cups are prone to falling off. Also, although a determined bird will find a way to feed at most stations, the roof of this feeder is quite close to the tray, which can prevent medium and large birds from getting their fill.
The Red Carpet Studios Window Hummingbird Feeder is a fun-looking, small feeder that is reasonably priced and has a capacity for 2.3 ounces of nectar. It is designed specifically for hummingbirds and has a flower dripper where the birds can drink the nectar.
The feeder is quite small and has a single feeder, which means that it can only be used by one bird at a time and requires frequent refills. It can be inconvenient to refill your feeders this frequently, but it does help ensure that nectar isn’t left in the feeder too long. The dripper also tends to leak, so some of your nectar goes to waste.
The Droll Yankees The Winner Window Bird Feeder is a plastic bird feeder that attaches to the window using three suction hooks. It has a canopy-style top, as well as a seed tray that will hold up ½ pound of seeds or other food.
The tray has drainage holes to help prevent rain from getting into and spoiling the seed. What’s unusual about this feeder is that it is designed so that you can alter the distance between the tray and the canopy, thereby making it suitable for a greater range of bird sizes and species.
The feeder is a little on the expensive side, and it is designed so that the heavier base section only has one suction cup to hold it up.
The Window Acrylic Bird Feeder is a two-story bird feeder made from acrylic with bamboo supports. Two stories mean that you can put different seeds in each tray and potentially attract a wider range of birds to your window. The feeder also comes with a hanging hole so that you can attach it to a hook on the window or brickwork for extra stability and security. Both trays have drainage holes to let rain out.
However, the seed trays themselves cannot be removed, which does make cleaning more challenging. While the suction cups are sturdy, they are all located at the top of the feeder, which leaves an unobstructed view of the feeding trays. Still, it does create extra stability in the corners. For the size and design, the feeder is well priced.
The Window Bird House Feeder by Nature Anywhere is marketed as a large feeder that can accommodate most garden birds. It has four suction hooks to secure it firmly to the window. The covered design helps ensure that seeds don’t spoil by getting wet. The feeder has two separate seed trays that can be filled with different foods to attract many species of birds.
However, the trays are shallow, which means that the seed will be scattered around, and the trays tend to tilt forward if birds stand on the edge, which they like to do when eating. The house is also smaller than it appears in photos..
Pros
Four suctions
Covered design
Two separate seed trays
Cons
Seed trays tilt forward
Smaller
10. Kettle Moraine Window Mount Single Suet Cake Woodpecker Bird Feeder
The Kettle Moraine Window Mount is made from recycled milk cartons and is designed to be filled with suet cakes to primarily attract woodpeckers to your window. It uses two suction cups to attach to the window and it is a reasonable price.
The suction cups aren’t the best. However, the side can be opened to replace the suet, but it can be a little tricky to do so. It is easier to remove the feeder and replace the food that way. Repeated opening of the door also means that the door won’t close properly.
Pros
Decent price
Made from recycled milk cartons
Cons
Suction cups aren’t great
Door doesn’t close firmly
Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best Window Bird Feeders
Window feeders are a great way to feed the birds while making it easier for you to watch your garden visitors as they eat. They are also ideal for people with limited outdoor space because you only need a window to be able to hang one up and a little room to access or remove the seed trays.
Once you have a bird feeder, you will need to maintain it and ensure that it is safe and clean, or the birds will either choose to ignore it or could even get ill from eating bad seeds. When looking for a window feeder, you should consider the following factors:
Weatherproof
While some of your winged visitors won’t mind a bit of rain as they eat, it can cause seeds to get moldy and make birds ill. Some, but not all, seed trays include drainage holes at the bottom to allow water to drain, but it is best if the water doesn’t get in there in the first place.
Covered canopies or roofs act as a physical barrier to prevent water from getting in. Still, a combination of drainage holes and ceilings is the best option. The material itself, and the material used for the suction hooks, should also be waterproof and weatherproof.
Some plastics can also get discolored and yellow when exposed to the sun’s rays. UV-treated materials can help prevent this.
Image Credit: TaniaVdB, Pixabay
Durability
Bird feeders will be out in all types of weather. Not only will they get wet, but there’s a chance they will be knocked against the window. If the suction hooks fail, the feeder will fall to the ground. Try to ensure that a feeder is durable and built to last to ensure that you get good use of it.
Fixing Method
The majority of window feeders use suction hooks as a fixing method. Unfortunately, these hooks are notorious for failing. Ensure your window is clean and dry and that the hooks are warm when you attach them. Cold hooks are too rigid to be able to fix firmly and create the vacuum that keeps them in place. Even in the best conditions, some low-quality suction hooks will still fail.
Some feeders do offer hanging hooks so that you can put a hook in the brick above your window and use this as an additional or primary hanging method. As well as the quality of the hooks, consider the number and placement of those hooks. They usually work best when there are multiple hooks with one in each corner.
Visibility
One of the biggest benefits of window feeders is that you can watch the birds as they eat without your view being blocked by trees, bushes, and other items in the garden. To benefit from this viewing feature, however, the feeder itself needs to offer a clear line of sight. For this reason, most of these window feeders are made from clear plastic or acrylic.
Easy To Clean and Refill
It can be difficult to attract birds to a feeder, and one of the reasons that birds might ignore a feeder is because the seed is moldy or tainted. Even if the seed is kept dry, it will eventually go bad, so you need to be able to clean out trays and empty old seeds regularly. Removable trays are the easiest to clean. Otherwise, ensure that you have easy access to the feeder and that you can clean all corners of the feeding trays.
Room for the Birds
Consider the types of birds you want to attract and ensure that there is enough room for them to feed. Some small, covered feeders only have a small gap between the seed tray and the roof. Because window feeders use suction cups and can’t take up too much room, you won’t usually find extra-large feeders because they won’t stay on the window.
Types Of Feeders
The main types of bird feeders available are:
Seed Feeder – A seed feeder is popular with most avian visitors. They have a tray or bowl where the seed goes, or a net or cage with access holes. They may have perches to allow the bird to rest while they eat, and some have an additional compartment to hold clean drinking water.
Suet Cage – Suet is the fat that is found around the organs of cows and sheep. It is eaten by a lot of birds for its fat content, which is especially beneficial in winter and very popular with woodpeckers. Commercial suet comes in blocks, or cakes, and these are usually fed by placing them in a net or cage. A suet cage should have a door to allow you to remove the old suet and replace it with new.
Hummingbird Feeder – Hummingbirds drink nectar, which can be bought commercially or made at home. Because they feed while they fly, hummingbird feeders are very different compared to other bird feeder. They need a reservoir to hold the water—typically a bottle—and some kind of access to this wate Hummingbird feeders tend to be smaller and lighter than seed trays and suet cages.
Conclusion
Window bird feeders are great for houses that lack outdoor space and are especially beneficial if you enjoy watching the birds in your garden as they feed. The Sweet Feeders Geo Bird Feeder is great for those looking to attract hummingbirds because it has an attractive design, attaches well to the window, and is easy to maintain. The PetFusion Tranquility Bird Feeder is a good all-around feeder that is suitable for most garden visitors and has a low-price point. Take a look at our reviews of the top window bird feeders to help decide which one is right for you.
Robert’s obsession with all things optical started early in life, when his optician father would bring home prototypes for Robert to play with. Nowadays, Robert is dedicated to helping others find the right optics for their needs. His hobbies include astronomy, astrophysics, and model building. Originally from Newark, NJ, he resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the nighttime skies are filled with glittering stars.
