Birding is one of life’s great joys. Birds are so beautiful and fun to watch, but you have to keep your distance to not scare them away. Smart bird feeders—that is, bird feeders with cameras and connected apps—give you a close-up view of your backyard birds through captured images and real-time live views (as long as your Wi-Fi reaches). They’ve become increasingly popular, and tons of options are being released from reputable brands and Amazon clones alike. These are the best bird feeders we’ve tried.
The apps use AI that can, in theory, identify the species of birds. In our testing, none have had perfectly solid identifications. Nevertheless, each has pros that might appeal to you. You can use Google Lens or, if you have an iPhone running iOS 15 or later, download the photos to your camera roll and click the info button. It does a solid job of identifying birds. Even as a work in progress, I don’t want to be without a smart bird feeder now that I’ve experienced it.
Bird watching is pretty accessible as a hobby. You don’t have to join a group or really buy anything, but if you are interested, we have guides on the Best Binoculars and The Best Birding Gear, with recommendations to our favorite apps, books, and accessories.
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How We Test Bird Feeders
I’ve tested some feeders on a balcony in Texas and one in a backyard in Pennsylvania. In Texas, I set them up both on a table as well as secured to the railing with the included mounting straps. In Pennsylvania, I used the bracket mounts to attach it to a pole.
After setup, I fill them with bird seed and patiently wait for the local birds to find them. I check out all the included app features, seeing how often I get notifications and noting whether they are accurately picking up just birds or any type of outdoor movement, and how well they’re able to distinguish bird species. I disassemble and clean them, returning them to their mounts after. I test each one for two weeks at minimum, but usually for over a month, and I leave them up long after official testing ended—at least until a new bird feeder comes.
The Prettiest Feeder (and a Plastic Alternative)
Birdfy, from security company Netvue, has two feeders we recommend. This bamboo one is the best looking, but it comes with a bit of upkeep. It doesn’t have plastic parts like the rest of the feeders on this list, and with its black and natural wood hues, it looks like it belongs in nature. An extendable perch lets multiple birds gather and investigate, and it has two large bins for either different types of seeds or the same. The bins mingle in the tray at the bottom, however. The FeatherSnap feeder below uses separate bins and trays if you prefer that.
Like the other feeders on this list, it can be mounted on a pole or tree or hung from a hook. It also comes with a solar panel that you can mount as well, so you never have to think about charging the camera battery.