A well chosen and well placed bird feeder can transform your garden into a thriving space for wild birds.
There are so many different bird feeders to choose from, seed feeders, bird tables, fat ball feeders, suet feeders, peanut feeders, niger seed feeders, ground feeders, window feeders and camera feeders. There are variations of feeders such as squirrel proof.
Below is a guide to choosing the right bird feeders for you depending on what birds you’re hoping to attract.
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Seed Feeders
Seed feeders are one of the most common bird feeders used in UK gardens. They attract small birds like blue tits, great tits, coal tits, green finches, chaffinches, gold finches, the occasional robins and nuthatches. They are designed to hold mixed seeds or sunflower hearts. We always use sunflower hearts as they attract more birds and they provide more nutrients. You also avoid the shells and husks being discarded and making the garden messy. Below I have linked a cheap, easy to clean, easy to fill seed feeder.
Niger Seed Feeders
If you are hoping to attract small birds like goldfinch, siskin and chaffinch then Niger seed will work. These feeders are different to seed feeders, due to the small size of the seed, the feeding ports are smaller preventing the seed from spilling out.
You would preferably place them in a sheltered spot near shrubs or trees so the small birds feel safe. Dismantle and clean them every few weeks, allowing them to dry fully before refilling. This is crucial to prevent fatal diseases.
A may take a few weeks for these gorgeous birds to find the feeders but they will love it when they do and they are a joy to see. We usually place ours in a different part of the garden to the seed feeders so there isn’t so much competition but its fine to place them together at a feeding station.
Fat Ball Feeders
Fat balls are great for providing calories for small birds, helping with their weight loss in the winter and providing protein for the spring breeding season.
Birds such as long tail tits, blue tits, great tits, coal tits, dunnocks, starlings, house sparrows and robins will visit for these.
Its important to get good quality fat balls. Cheap low quality fat balls contain harmful fillers and low quality fat that can actually contaminate feathers and affect waterproofing and insulation.
Choose a good quality, high suet option and avoid using plastic nets as they can cause injury.
Below is a link to a basic fat ball feeder.
Ground Feeders
Ground feeders are one of our personal favourites, they attract so many birds! We sometimes place ours on top of a fence post as seen in this photo, if a cat comes along they can easily hop into the nearby tree. We have another one on the ground for birds that prefer it. Ground feeders are definitely better than scattering food directly on the ground which can become damp and unhygienic. They are also super easy to clean.
We put sunflower hearts in ours or live mealworms and the birds love it. The ground feeder attracts birds that wont usually visit hanging feeders such as robins, wrens, blackbirds, collar doves and dunnocks. Its closer to their natural ground level foraging habits.
Suet Feeders
Suet feeders, very similar to fat ball feeders. They hold suet blocks instead of balls. They attract the same kind of birds. Suet blocks are generally better quality than fat balls, easier to handle and longer lasting.
They provide protein and fat needed in the winter months, crucial nutrients in spring breeding season and help the baby birds grow strong in the summer.
Window Feeders
Window feeders are a great option if you want to watch birds up close from inside your home. They usually attach to the window with strong suction cups. They will attract small birds like robins, blue tits and sparrows. These are ideal if you have a small garden or no outside space.
We usually put sunflower hearts in ours or treat them to some live mealworms to encourage them to start using it as we have other feeders around that they probably feel safer using. We try to place it on a part of the window we can see but near a shrub so they can safely visit. As with all feeders, its important to keep them clean.
Below is a basic window feeder from Amazon UK
Camera Feeders
Camera bird feeders are a brilliant way to get an even closer look at the birds visiting your garden. With a small built-in camera, these feeders can capture photos or videos whenever a bird lands, letting you watch everything from your phone or tablet.
We’ve actually just got one for our garden and can’t wait to see what turns up on the recordings – it’s exciting not knowing which species might appear next!
You need to position them somewhere close enough for your wifi but fairly close to bushes or shrubs to help the birds feel safe using it. Also consider keeping out of harsh sunlight so it doesn’t affect the footage.
If you’re thinking of getting one, this one is a good choice.
Peanut Feeders
Peanut feeders are common in UK gardens and are great for attracting birds like blue tits, great tits, woodpeckers, and nuthatches. The feeders are usually made from metal mesh, which allows birds to peck small pieces of peanut safely without taking large chunks. Watching birds cling to the feeder while they feed can be really entertaining, and peanuts are a high-energy food that birds especially appreciate during colder months. Just make sure to use peanuts specifically sold for birds and keep the feeder clean to keep your garden visitors healthy.
Look below for a peanut feeder from garden bird.
Bird Tables
A bird table is a great addition to a garden. They are elevated so protected from pests and reducing the risk of disease spread. There is usually a roof to protect the food from rain and open sided so the birds can look out for predators. Its also nice to be able to monitor the food and view the birds that visit.
The good thing about a bird table is that you can put anything on it, you could put any type of bird food as well as things like chopped apples and pears. Birds like song thrushes love chopped fruit.