Types of Bird Feeders: A Guide to Choosing the Best One for Your Feathered Friends
Bird feeders are an essential part of creating a bird-friendly garden, and choosing the right one can make a significant difference in attracting specific species. Different types of bird feeders are designed to hold various kinds of food, and each type appeals to different bird species. Whether you're looking to attract robins, finches, or woodpeckers, the right feeder can help ensure your feathered visitors get the nutrition they need.
At Homefeeds, we offer a variety of bird feeders, seeds, and suets to suit every need. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most popular types of bird feeders, the seeds that work best with them, and the types of birds they will attract.
Hanging Tube Feeders
Best for: Finches, tits, sparrows, and other small songbirds.
Tube feeders are one of the most common and versatile types of bird feeders. They consist of a long, cylindrical tube with holes for the birds to access food. These feeders are great for feeding smaller birds and can hold a variety of seeds, including sunflower seeds, peanuts, and thistle seed.
Best Seeds for Tube Feeders:
- Sunflower Seeds: These are perfect for tube feeders as they are small and easy for birds to handle.
- Niger (Thistle) Seed: Niger seed is great for finches, especially Goldfinches, and can be offered in tube feeders with smaller holes.
- Peanuts: Shelled peanuts or peanut hearts can be used to attract species like tits and woodpeckers.
Birds it Will Attract:
- Finches (e.g., Goldfinches, Greenfinches)
- Tits (e.g., Blue Tits, Great Tits)
- Sparrows (e.g., House Sparrows)
- Nuthatches
Our Tube Feeders are a perfect choice for attracting finches and smaller songbirds. Combine it with our Niger Seed or Blue Tit Feast Deluxe Seed Mix for an irresistible combination.
Hanging Platform Feeders
Best for: Larger songbirds, doves, pigeons, and ground-feeding birds.
Platform feeders are open, flat trays that can hold a variety of foods. These feeders are great for offering a mix of seeds, nuts, and fruits. Since they are open, platform feeders can attract a wide range of bird species, including those that prefer feeding on the ground.
Best Seeds for Platform Feeders:
- Sunflower Hearts: These are a hit with a variety of birds, including larger songbirds and ground-feeders.
- Millet: Ground-feeding birds, such as sparrows, enjoy millet.
- Peanuts and Mixed Nuts: Attracts birds like jays, tits, and woodpeckers.
Birds it Will Attract:
- Doves and Pigeons
- Sparrows (e.g., House Sparrows, Tree Sparrows)
- Crows and Jays
- Robins
- Starlings
- Woodpeckers
Try our Robin & Blackbird Feast or our Fruity Wild Bird Seed to attract a range of birds!
Suet Feeders
Best for: Woodpeckers, nuthatches, tits, and starlings.
Suet feeders are designed specifically to hold suet rolls, blocks & balls which are a high-energy food that is ideal for colder months or for birds that need extra fat in their diet. Suet is particularly popular with insect-eating birds like nuthatches.
Best Seeds for Suet Feeders:
- Suet Blocks with Seeds and Nuts: A combination of seeds, nuts, and suet provides essential energy for birds.
- Mealworms: Insect-eating birds will love suet cakes that contain dried mealworms or larvae.
Birds it Will Attract:
- Woodpeckers (e.g., Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker)
- Tits (e.g., Blue Tits, Great Tits)
- Nuthatches
- Starlings
For the best results, try our range of Suet and Suet with seed mixes, like our Robin & Blackbird Feast provide a protein-packed treat.
Niger Seed Feeders
Best for: Finches (especially Goldfinches), siskins, and redpolls.
Niger seed feeders are specially designed for the tiny, oil-rich seeds known as thistle (Niger seed). These seeds are favorites of finches! The small holes in these feeders allow only small birds to feed, keeping larger birds away.
Best Seeds for Niger Feeders:
- Niger Seed: This seed is the best choice for attracting finches and other small birds.
Birds it Will Attract:
- Goldfinches
- Greenfinches
- Siskins
- Lesser Redpolls
For finch enthusiasts, try our Niger Seed for maximum attraction.
Ground Feeders
Best for: Ground-feeding birds, robins, dunnocks, and blackbirds.
Ground feeders are ideal for birds that prefer feeding from the ground, such as blackbirds, robins, and other thrushes. These feeders are typically shallow trays or dishes placed directly on the ground or at ground level in your garden. They work well for offering a variety of foods like seeds, fruits, and even suet pellets.
Best Feeds for Ground Feeders:
- Mealworms: A high-protein treat enjoyed by robins, blackbirds, and wrens.
- Millet: Ground-feeding birds like sparrows and robins enjoy millet.
- Black Sunflower Seeds: Blackbirds and other songbirds enjoy sunflower hearts, which are easier to eat than whole seeds.
Birds it Will Attract:
- Blackbirds
- Robins
- Sparrows
- Woodpigeons
- Dunnocks
A ground feeding tray is perfect for serving up a variety of seeds and fruits to ground-feeding birds. Combine it with our Black Sunflower and Mealworms for a spread your garden birds will love.
Tube Feeders with Perches
Best for: Small to medium-sized birds, such as tits, finches, and sparrows.
Tube feeders with perches allow birds to rest while they feed, which makes them particularly popular with birds like tits and finches. These feeders come in different sizes, holding different types of seeds, and allow multiple birds to feed at once.
Best Seeds for Tube Feeders with Perches:
- Sunflower Seeds: These seeds are perfect for both tube feeders and feeders with perches.
- Peanuts: Shelled peanuts are another option for tube feeders with perches.
Birds it Will Attract:
- Finches
- Tits
- Sparrows
- Nuthatches
Try our our Sunflower Hearts for a nutritious feast.
Choosing the right bird feeder can greatly increase your chances of attracting specific bird species to your garden. Whether you’re aiming to bring in finches, woodpeckers, or blackbirds, each type of feeder offers its own unique advantages. At Homefeeds, we offer a range of bird feeders, seeds, and suets designed to suit the needs of different species.
Browse our collection and find the perfect combination of feeder and seed to make your garden a haven for beautiful birds.
Happy birdwatching and feeding!
Author - Jordan
