Small birds love to eat, and they love a snack. Feeding birds, especially the smallest species of birds, is not an easy task. But with the right bird feeder, the job will be far easier than you are thinking.
There are many factors that have to be considered before making a decision on which bird feeder you should buy for your small birds. So it’s no wonder that many birders are overwhelmed by this task, especially if they are new to attracting birds.
Don’t worry! We have compiled the top 7 best bird feeders for small birds. All of these feeders are affordable and easy to use. They also offer many benefits, such as durability and reliability. We hope that with our help, your search will be much easier than it would be otherwise.
Editor’s Choice
Why feed only small birds?
There are many reasons to feed only small birds. Here are a few:
- The number one reason you should feed small birds is that they are cute. Who doesn’t like watching tiny little birdies flutter about?
Small birds tend to be more social and playful than larger ones, providing hours of entertainment for bird watchers! They are a lot more fun to watch, and you will be able to enjoy them on a much smaller budget.
- Smaller birds can be less likely to damage your garden, especially if you have delicate plants and flowers.
- They are much less likely to bully other birds away from the feeder. Many larger species will lay claim over a certain area and not allow others in, but smaller ones like finches and sparrows don’t usually do this.
- Small birds also don’t eat as much, so you won’t have to refill the feeder quite as often. This is a huge benefit that many people do not realize at first glance.
- They do not leave behind a huge mess like larger birds tend to do. So this makes it easy to keep their feeder clean. They also make for more pleasant neighbors than larger birds like pigeons or geese(although they are also great to have around).
With all of this in mind, there is no doubt that small birds should be given priority when it comes to bird feeders. Now that we have gone over why you should feed small birds, let’s go ahead and check out the best small bird feeders for them!
7 Best bird feeders for small birds
Audubon Squirrel Proof Caged Bird Feeder For Small Birds
If you like to feed small birds in your yard, the main concern should be about squirrels or large bully birds. They keep the orioles, chickadees, goldfinches, or many more adorable small birds away from food access.
So, the Audubon squirrel-proof caged bird feeder will be a perfect addition to your yard to provide a comfortable feeding environment for small birds as well as keep squirrels away. Also, The forest green finish will make it an attractive addition to your yard.
The powder-coated steel cage is chew-proof and sturdy enough. Also, the cage holes are small for squirrels. So, they could not fit between the wires. But, The baby squirrels might get access to wild bird foods.
You can enjoy several birds at a time due to its four seed ports. The forest green finish tube bird feeder seed capacity is up to 1.25 lbs. You don’t need to refill the feeder frequently. But, At this price point, the seed capacity should be more. Also, The cleaning process is far easier because you can separate the whole system easily.
The hanging mount allows the feeder to hang in any pool. The product price isn’t terribly high compared to everything.
Pros
- The caged bird feeder is lightweight compared to the metal as well as durable
- Effective to keep off squirrels and large birds like grackles, starlings
- The cleaning and refilling process is so easy
- Comes with a warranty
Cons
- Low bird seed capacity compared to the price
- Little squirrels will get access to the plastic feeder
More Birds Suet Feeder
The more birds suet feeder is an effective and budget-friendly option to attract suet lover birds such as woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, wrens, and many more in your yard. Not only that, You can offer oranges in hot summer and also add nesting materials for your favorite small birds in spring.
The main aim of this simple feeder is to attract clinging birds. So, bully birds can’t perch here to take share from small birds’ food.
The suet bucket can be capable of holding small to medium-sized suet cakes. The feeder comes with three different suet cake capacity options that help you select the perfect one according to bird traffic in your area. In addition, you can offer a roof with the two or three cake option, which protects birds from extreme weather conditions.
The durable steel construction makes this product reliable. Also, It won’t rust easily due to its anti-rust coating. Unfortunately, the cleaning and refilling process is too easy for a simple design.
However, Some users don’t like its locking system, which opens up after a few months. But, At this price point, the issue is totally expected.
Pros
- Holds up to 4 suet cakes
- Budget-friendly
- Easy to clean and refill
- Durable and rust-proof
- Metal roof to protect the suet from melting
Cons
- In windy areas, the single-option feeder will easily blow off
- You need to use a baffle as it isn’t squirrel-proof
Droll Yankees Seed Saver Platform Feeder
What would first come to your mind while you think about platform feeders? Let me answer, large birds are around it and dominate the small birds. Right! But, Droll Yankees Seed Saver Platform Feeder is completely different. You can decide which birds can visit the feeder and which won’t.
The feeder comes with a dedicated adjustable 10″ dome. You just need to slide up and down the metal rod to create a tiny space. For this, Only small birds can fit inside of this small space. So, You don’t need to worry about large birds and squirrels. Also, The top cover protects the seeds from rain and snow.
The feeder is also known as a “UFO” because of its unique make, which adds extra attraction to watching small birds. Its UV-Stabilized polycarbonate ensures its durability and won’t fade up for sun exposure.
The 13-inch-diameter platform tray is capable of holding up to 1 pound of bird feed. You can offer different food options like birdseed, suet, mealworms, or fruit, depending on which types of small birds you want to attract to your yard.
Pros
- Attractive and unique design (UFO)
- An adjustable dome keeps the bully birds away and provides a better environment for little birds
- Easy to clean and refill
- The seed will stay dry due to the drainage hole
- Clear view and last long
Cons
- Haven’t any perch
- You need to refill frequently if large flocks of birds visit your area
Gray Bunny Classic Tube feeder for small birds
If you are looking for a simple feeder which does its job perfectly in an affordable price range, then Gray Bunny Classic Tube Feeder will be an ideal option for you. This feeder is a great option for attracting small birds like finch, Junco, Wren, Robin, Chickadee, Nuthatch, and many more.
The affordable price means that you will not be sorry about trying it out, and its durable construction is weather resistant. Due to the high-quality material, the feeder will last long and withstand any harsh conditions, even from squirrels’ attacks.
The feeder comes with 6 feeding ports and holds up to 4 cups of bird seeds. So, You can enjoy the beauty of cute little birds simultaneously without thinking about frequent refilling. Also, refilling is super easy. Just you need to lift the top lid.
You can choose different food options for feeding small birds. By this, You can target any specific species in your yard to provide their favorite seed. In addition, Seeds will stay fresh and dry due to the enclosed seed housing.
However, the feeder also attracts large birds, but the good part is that the short perch demotivates them to stay long.
Pros
- Durable and sturdy
- Chew-proof material
- Easy to clean and refill
- Large birds like mourning doves and blue jays find it hard to perch
- The seed feeder is ideal for large yard or heavy bird traffic areas due to its large seed capacity and several ports
- Budget value
Cons
- Metal gets too hot under sunlight. ( Just wrap a little medical tape on the perches to solve the issue.)
Perky-Pet YSSF00346-2 Thistle feeder
The feeder is perfect for small birds because of the food option you can offer rather than the feeder design. You can offer thistle seeds, aka nyjer seeds, in the Perky-Pet YSSF00346-2 feeder. The good part of offering the stuff is that fewer bird species like to eat it, and small birds are the majority among them.
The main target of this nyjer seeds feeder is attracting finches. But, The other thistle lover, small birds like chickadees, house sparrows, love to get their meal from the feeder. The Mourning Doves are the only large bird you’ll find in this feeder but don’t worry. They are peaceful birds. For this, They don’t make any obstacles for small birds to feed.
Perky-Pet ensures that the finch feeder will last long due to its durable metal. Also, The small ports allow only small birds to access the seeds by their tinies bills. Also, The internal baffles divided the feeding levels into three tiers so that all seeds wouldn’t fall out at the bottom tray at a time.
The seed feeder can hold up to 1.5 pounds of thistle seed which is enough to satisfy the small birds all day long or even two or three days. The good part is: seeds won’t be damaged due to the good ventilation system and built-in drainage holes.
Pros
- A well-made product that feels solid and should last a long time
- Feeding birds have more room with the three-compartment design
- Seeds will stay dry and fresh for a long time due to good airflow and are less likely to get moldy
- Easy to hang, refill, and clean
- Clinging birds love to eat from here for the mesh surface
- Affordable price
Cons
- Make lots of mess due to the small base
Aspects ASP155 Window Cafe Window Mount Bird Feeder
Do you want to enjoy the beauty of cute little birds while you are sitting in your room or from your kitchen? I hope your answer is yes. Then, the Aspects ASP155 Window Feeder is a good option for you.
The roof of this feeder is fitted with suction cups that attach to the window. You can easily slide in and out the seed hopper from its attached structure. The small tray ensures only little birds will be able to land comfortably. In addition, birds can make less mess due to the sloped roof where birds can’t perch.
You can offer any food option to attract the small birds. You can use delicious black oil sunflower seed, which easily attracts American goldfinches, house finches, black-capped chickadees’ attention to your window. Also, You don’t need to refill it frequently due to the large seed capacity. The suction cups will stay in a place by squirrels’ attack.
Also, They provide a great after-sale service. If the feeder plastic hopper breaks and snaps, you need to just contact Aspects to get a replacement.
Pros
- Sturdy, small, lightweight, and easy to use
- Keeps large birds and squirrels away from the feeder
- Sturdy suction cup
- The feeder is easy to mound
- Easy to refill due to slide-out hopper feeder style
- Perfect for small apartment windows
Cons
- Very small for large windows
More Birds 41 Big Gulp Hummingbird Feeder
The More Birds 41 Big Gulp Hummingbird Feeder is a good option for you if large flocks of hummingbirds are present in your yard. The hummingbird feeder can hold up to 40 ounces of nectar or sugar water which is enough to satisfy the large flocks. Also, You don’t need to worry about frequent refilling.
It has 5 flower-shaped feeding ports. So, Several hummers can easily sip on the feeder at a time. Also, You don’t need to worry about the ant attack because it has a built-in ant moat that prevents them from reaching out to the nectar.
The red-colored top and base of the nectar feeder easily attract hummingbirds as they like red too much. Also, The good quality material ensures its durability.
Pros
- The red color easily attracts the feeder
- Sturdy and durable
- In-built ant moat protects the nectar from ant attack
- Best for a larger yard
- Doesn’t leak
- Easy to clean and refill
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Find it difficult to remove the bottom part
How to choose the best small bird feeder?
You need to consider different factors before purchasing a small bird feeder. Here are a few things you need to consider before buying one.
Bully birds and squirrels proof: This is the most important feature you need to consider before purchasing one. Small birds don’t like to eat with larger birds if you select a backyard bird feeder where the larger and small birds can feed. Then, The large birds will dominate the smaller birds, which demotivates them to revisit your garden or yard.
So, Select a feeder which doesn’t allow large birds and keeps them away from the feeder.
Specific feeder: All bird’s diets aren’t the same. If you want to attract a specific species of wild birds in your backyard, you need to select a feeder that can offer their favorite food.
For example, If you like to invite bluebirds to your yard, you need to bring a mealworm feeder to attract them as they like mealworms most.
Material: Since you will place the small bird feeder outside, you must buy one with high-quality material. This way, it will last longer and won’t get damaged easily by rain or some other harsh weather conditions. For this, You can get a feeder which comes with a metal or good quality plastic.
Easy to clean and refill: You might not refill and clean the bird feeder later if you buy one that needs to follow a complex procedure for laziness. So, choose feeders that are easy to fill and clean.
Budget: You can also purchase a small bird feeder within your budget, but make sure you do not compromise on the quality of the product. Although most small bird feeders are affordable, there are some expensive ones available.
How to feed small birds?
There are multiple approaches to feeding the small birds in your yard. Here are a few simple you how you can feed small wild birds in your yard:
Feeder and food: The first easy method to feed small birds is offering their favorite food in a feeder. The feeder should be perfect for wild birds. If you select a perfect feeder for the backyard bird species, then surely you can see them within a few days.
Bird Bath: If you want to feed them in your yard, then a birdbath will be a great option. Birds always like to have a water source near their feeding station. So, The birdbath will be a better option to attract them to your feeder.
Related: Here is a list of a few top-rated hummingbird bath bath.
Bird-Friendly Plants: You can provide a natural source for feeding small birds. You can plant berry or sunflower seeds-producing plants in the yard.
How to protect small bird feeders from large birds?
You must be curious to know the ways in which you can protect your small bird feeders from large birds visiting frequently.
The main thing is the feeder selection can differ whether large birds visit your small birds’ feeder or not. If you select a feeder where large birds easily perch and take bird food comfortably, then you cannot protect the feeder from bully birds.
So, You need to select a bird feeder where large birds cannot set their beak perfectly in the ports and cannot perch comfortably. Also, You can use a bird feeder cage to protect the feeder from large birds.
Also, You can offer seeds and food which large birds don’t like. For example, You can offer nyjer seeds for small birds, which are only popular among small birds, and the majority of large birds don’t like the seeds.
Here are some common birds you can watch in your backyard.
Frequently Asked Question
Can I use my old seed dish as a bird feeder for small birds?
Yes, you can use it as a bird feeder for small birds. However, you should remember that it is not designed to be an all-day feeder.
Where to place small bird feeders?
The feeder’s purpose is to provide a food source that will attract smaller birds such as finches, chickadees, and titmice. This will also give them a place to stay during harsh weather conditions like winter and make their time spent in your yard more enjoyable.
So, Place your feeder where the small birds feel comfortable and where large birds and other predators cannot interfere with the bird feeding time. The bird feeder post will be a good option to place small bird feeders. Also, Place the feeder far from any building or tree branch and around 15″ high from the ground where squirrels and cats cannot jump into the feeder.
Final Words
Small birds are very cute and have adorable mannerisms. They are a great way to add a little color and fun to your garden. Their singing can be very soothing to listen to. Watching them in our yard provides too much pleasure. The very easy way to attract them to our yard is by offering a feeder.
If you’re looking for the best bird feeders for small birds, I hope this blog post has been a helpful guide to finding the perfect one for your backyard. Now that you know what kind of materials and features are important, it’s time to find one that suits your needs!
