Will One Type of Birdfeeder Attract the Most Birds?

Select a bird feeder best suited for the bird species you want to attract.

Just because a bird will eat at a feeder, doesn't mean it can. Smaller birds, like finches and chickadees, can be bullied away from platform and hopper feeders by larger birds. They do better at tube feeders designed to keep away larger birds. For the most birds, you will be better off having several different bird feeders at different spots in your yard. By understanding the different types of feeders and the birds they attract, you can select ones that are most likely to attract the birds you'd like to see in your yard.

Platform Feeders

Platform feeders may be covered, but still expose the seed to the elements.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, platform feeders attract the widest variety of seed-eating birds. A platform feeder is basically a flat surface with a pile of seeds on top. Platform feeders attract more ground-feeding birds such as cardinals, doves, jays, sparrows and juncos, especially when they are located closer to the ground. These feeders also pose a number of problems, however. Food is exposed to the elements, which can cause fungal and bacterial growth. Bird droppings often soil the tray and require frequent cleanings. These feeders offer no protection from squirrels and chipmunks or predators that may prey on birds feeding from it.

Suet Feeders

This hopper feeder is designed with suet feeders at each end.

Although suet feeders may not attract the most variety of birds, they will attract bird species that aren't attracted to other types of feeders. These birds include warblers, woodpeckers and wrens. Cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches and titmice are also attracted to suet feeders. A suet feeder offers suet or other types of animal fat inside a wire basket. They can be attached to tree trunks or on the side of a hopper feeder. Specially designed suet feeders can be purchased that will exclude larger birds like jays, starlings, crows and magpies, if desired.

Hopper Feeders

Hopper feeders come in all sizes and shapes.

Hopper feeders are also highly attractive to most feeder birds as well as squirrels, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. While these feeders come in a variety of shapes and designs, the most common design has V-shaped sides that funnel the seed toward the main platform. A hopper feeder will attract the same species as a tube feeder along with a number of species attracted by platform feeders. These feeders are harder to clean than platform feeders but hold more seed than other feeders. They also protect seed better from the elements than platform feeders. However, if the feed inside the hopper should get wet, bacteria and fungus could thrive and provide a health danger for birds.

Tube Feeders

Tube feeders are not necessarily round.

A tube feeder is a hollow cylinder with perches and feeding ports. Depending on the size of the feeding ports, they may offer small seed like thistle (niger) or larger seeds. Tube feeders with small perches are the best for attracting smaller birds such as chickadees, titmice, grosbeaks, sparrows, wrens and finches. The shorter perches exclude larger birds such as grackles and jays. Tube feeders do a good job at keeping the seed clean and dry and excluding squirrels. Some tube feeders are designed with perches above the ports to attract birds that can feed hanging down, such as goldfinches and chickadees.

Specialty Feeders

Hummingbird feeders are a type of nectar feeder.

Like suet feeders, specialty feeders are better at attracting specific species than a wide variety of birds. Specialty feeders include thistle feeders, fruit feeders and nectar feeders. Thistle feeders are specially designed tube feeders or mesh bags that allow birds to cling to them. These feeders are especially attractive to American goldfinches, purple finches and pine siskins. Fruit feeders are designed to hold large pieces of fruit and come in a variety of styles. They are very good at attracting Eastern bluebirds, orioles, house finches and woodpeckers. Hummingbird feeders are the most common type of nectar feeder. But orioles and woodpeckers can also be attracted to them if the feeder has larger ports.

References

• The Cornell Lab or Ornithology: Choosing a Bird Feeder
• Pennsylvania State University; Penn State Expert Offers Tips to...; Jeff Mulhollem; December 2001
• University of Florida; Attracting Backyard Birds; Emma Willcox et al.
• University of Nebraska; Backyard Wildlife Feeding Birds; Ron J. Johnson et al.
• Oregon State University; Feed Wild Birds; E. Henning et al.
• University of Maine: Bird Feeding Basics; Catherine A. Elliott

Resources

• University of Tennessee: Improving Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Birds Attracted by Various Feeders and Foods