By Paul Oliver, Founder of Urban Nature Store
One of the most common questions we hear at Urban Nature Store is, "What's the best bird feeder for my backyard?"
My answer? It depends on which birds you'd like to attract, what kind of birdseed you plan to offer, and how much time you want to spend maintaining your feeding station.
After more than 20 years in the wild birding and garden retail business, I've learned that choosing the right feeder can make a tremendous difference to your backyard birding experience.
The right feeder can attract a wonderful variety of birds, reduce seed waste, simplify cleaning, and help you spend more time enjoying nature. Choose the wrong one, however, and you may find yourself dealing with wasted seed, frustrated birds, and squirrels enjoying an expensive buffet!
At Urban Nature Store, we carry a variety of feeders to suit different birds, budgets, and outdoor spaces.
Let's explore the most popular feeder types and how to choose the right one for your backyard.
1. Tube Feeders: Excellent for Small Backyard Songbirds
Tube feeders are among the most popular choices for backyard bird feeding. Brome’s Tube Solution Feeders, and Aspects Quick Clean Big Tube Feeders are good choices as the perches are designed to attract forward feeding birds like Cardinals too.
Typically made from clear plastic or another durable material, they have multiple feeding ports that allow several birds to feed at once.
They're particularly well suited to small seed-eating birds, including:
- Black-capped chickadees
- American goldfinches
- House finches
- Nuthatches
Other small songbirds, depending on the seed and feeder design
Tube feeders work especially well with sunflower hearts and other compatible seeds.
Because birds feed through individual ports, these feeders can help manage access to the seed and make it easier to observe visiting birds.
What should you look for?
Consider a feeder with durable construction, appropriately sized feeding ports, and components that can be disassembled for cleaning.
If squirrels are a problem in your backyard, a purpose-designed squirrel-resistant tube feeder may be worth the investment. Bird’s Choice Hanging Classic Feeder with Baffle would welcome a variety of birds, while the Audubon Squirrel Resistant Caged Feeder would allow smaller birds like finches and chickadees to dine in peace.
Best for: Homeowners who want to attract small songbirds and enjoy watching several birds feed throughout the day.
Explore the bird feeder collection at Urban Nature Store to find a tube feeder suited to your backyard.
2. Hopper Feeders: A Versatile Backyard Favourite
Hopper feeders are another excellent option for everyday bird feeding. Bird’s Choice offers feeders in various sizes, as well as Greens Solutions Tall, Medium and 5 Quart Feeders.
They typically feature a covered seed reservoir with feeding space along the bottom. As birds consume the seed, more moves down into the feeding area.
Depending on their design and the food offered, hopper feeders can attract Northern cardinals, chickadees, finches, nuthatches, and other seed-eating birds.
Many models provide a more substantial landing area than a conventional tube feeder, making them suitable for birds that prefer a larger perch.
Hopper feeders can accommodate compatible foods such as black oil sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts, and certain seed blends including our Red Carpet or Fiesta Mix
What should you consider?
Hopper feeders can hold more seed than some smaller feeders, reducing the frequency of refilling. However, larger capacities aren't always better.
If you have only a few regular visitors, a smaller feeder may be more practical. Whatever the capacity, keep seed dry and clean the feeder regularly.
Best for: Birders looking for a versatile everyday feeder with a covered seed reservoir.
Browse our bird feeders to explore options for different feeding needs.
3. Squirrel-Resistant Feeders: Protect Your Birdseed Investment
Let's talk about squirrels.
They're entertaining, energetic, and remarkably persistent. Unfortunately, they're also very good at finding birdseed!
If squirrels regularly empty your feeder, a purpose-designed squirrel-resistant model can make a real difference.
One of our recommended options is the Brome Squirrel Buster Standard.
This feeder uses a weight-activated mechanism designed to close access to the seed ports when a squirrel's weight activates the closing mechanism. Lighter birds can continue feeding when the feeder is correctly configured.
For homeowners looking for a practical, everyday squirrel-resistant feeder, it's an excellent option to consider.
Want something larger?
The Brome Squirrel Buster Plus is another popular choice.
It uses a similar weight-activated approach and offers a larger feeding setup. It can also accommodate an optional cardinal ring, which provides Northern cardinals with a more substantial circular perching area for their preferred forward-facing feeding posture.
If cardinals are among your favourite backyard visitors, this is a feature worth considering.
Remember that even a well-designed squirrel-resistant feeder needs to be positioned correctly. Nearby branches, fences, and railings can give squirrels easy access, so installation matters.
Best for: Homeowners who want to reduce squirrel access and reserve more birdseed for birds.
Explore the Urban Nature Store bird feeder collection for squirrel-resistant feeding options.
Check individual product listings for current availability, specifications, and included accessories.
4. Suet Feeders: A Favourite for Woodpeckers and Chickadees
If you'd like to attract woodpeckers, a suet feeder is an excellent addition to your backyard. Choices would include, Brome’s Squirrel Buster Suet Feeder, Songbird Essential’s Double Suet Feeder Green with tail prop, or their Dual Suet Feeder, Red, or perhaps an upside-down suet feeder such as the Pinebush Upside-down Suet Cake Feeder.
Suet feeders typically use a metal cage to hold a cake or block of suet. Depending on the formulation and local bird population, they can attract:
- Downy woodpeckers
- Hairy woodpeckers
- Red-bellied woodpeckers
- Black-capped chickadees
- White-breasted nuthatches
Suet provides an energy-rich food source, making it a useful addition to many feeding stations, particularly during colder weather. Canadian made Mill Creek Suet offers a good variety including Premium Peanut Suet, Fruit and Nut Suet, Black Oil Suet, and the very popular Insect and Nut Suet to mention just a few. You can visit our website to see even more at urbannaturestore.ca.
Some suet feeders are designed with an extended tail prop, such as Songbird Essentials Recycled Composite Plastic Suet Feeder with Tail Prop, providing woodpeckers with additional support while feeding.
What should you look for?
Choose a feeder designed for the size and style of suet you plan to offer.
Look for durable construction, easy access for refilling, and a design that can be cleaned thoroughly.
In warmer weather, select suitable products and follow the manufacturer's storage and usage instructions. Please know that pure suet can melt in warm weather.
Best for: Birders who want to attract woodpeckers and expand the variety of species visiting their backyard.
Explore our wild birding collection for suet and other bird-feeding products.
5. Nyjer Feeders: Attracting Goldfinches
If American goldfinches are among your favourite birds, consider adding a dedicated nyjer feeder. Choices include the durable Wilderness Freds 16 inch Metal Finch Feeder, Brome Squirrel Buster Finch Feeder, Bird’s Choice 1 quart Yellow Nyjer Forever Feeder, as well as BirdQuest Spiral Thistle Feeder, 17 inch.
Nyjer is a small, oil-rich seed that appeals to finches and is commonly offered in specially designed feeders.
Because the seed is so small, a suitable feeder needs appropriately sized feeding ports or fine mesh to help birds access the food while limiting spillage.
Traditional tube feeders designed for larger seeds may not be suitable.
Best for: Birders who particularly enjoy watching goldfinches and other finches that eat nyjer.
Consider adding a dedicated nyjer feeder once you've established your main feeding station.
6. Window Feeders: Bird Watching in Smaller Spaces
Not everyone has a large backyard, and that's perfectly fine.
Window feeders can bring birds closer to your home, making them especially appealing to people with balconies, patios, or limited outdoor space. Choices include Perky Pet Window Feeder, Droll Yankees Window Observer Feeder, Aspects Transparent Window Cafe Feeder, as well as The Gem Window Feeder for hummingbirds, and the Urban Nature Store Window Jelly Feeder for Orioles.
Some attach directly to windows using suction cups, while others use different mounting systems.
They can provide excellent close-up views of visiting birds and make bird watching accessible to people who may have difficulty observing feeders farther away.
However, placement is important. Follow appropriate window-feeder safety guidance, including recommendations for reducing collision risks, such as Window Alerts or Window Gems. Keep the feeder clean and monitor how well its attachment system holds.
Choose a model that suits the seed you intend to offer and the birds you hope to attract.
Best for: Apartment residents, smaller outdoor spaces, and anyone who wants a closer view of backyard birds.
Explore the bird feeder collection at Urban Nature Store for available feeder options.
7. Which Bird Feeder Is Easiest to Clean?
Cleaning is an important consideration, particularly if you plan to feed birds throughout the year.
Seed fragments, moisture, and droppings can accumulate in any feeder, so choose a design that makes regular maintenance manageable.
When shopping, look for:
- Components that come apart easily.
- Wide openings for accessing the seed reservoir.
- Feeding ports and trays that can be cleaned thoroughly.
- Durable materials that tolerate regular cleaning.
- A design that allows seed to drain and dry appropriately.
Tube feeders can be easy to maintain when they have removable bases such as Aspects Clever Clean Feeders and Brome Tube Solution Feeders.
Hopper feeders may require more attention to their larger reservoirs and corners. Suet cages are generally straightforward to clean when the construction is simple.
No feeder is maintenance-free, but a design that's easy to clean makes it more likely you'll keep up with regular care.
8. How to Choose the Right Feeder for Your Backyard
Still not sure which feeder to buy? Here's a simple guide.
| Your goal | Feeder to consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Attract small songbirds | Tube feeder, Tube Solution 200 Bird Feeder | Suitable for many small seed-eating birds |
| Feed a variety of familiar backyard birds | Hopper feeder, Bird’s Choice Medium Hopper Bird Feeder in Green Recycled Plasatic, 3 quart | Versatile design for compatible seeds |
| Reduce squirrel access | Brome Squirrel Buster Standard or Plus | Weight-activated seed-port closure |
| Attract woodpeckers | Suet feeder, Squirrel Buster Suet Feeder | Holds suitable suet cakes or blocks |
| Attract goldfinches | Dedicated nyjer feeder, Wilderness Freds 16 inch Metal Finch Feeder | Designed for small nyjer seeds |
| Enjoy birds close to your window | Window feeder, Audubon Mixed Treat Window Feeder | Provides close-up viewing |
| Reduce mess in a small space | Suitable feeder with quality sunflower hearts | Hulled seed reduces discarded shell waste |
The best feeder is the one that suits your birds, your space, and the food you intend to offer.
My Final Advice: Start Simple and Build from There
If you're just beginning your backyard birding journey, don't feel you need to purchase every feeder available.
Start with a suitable feeder, quality sunflower hearts, and a location where birds can feed comfortably and safely.
If squirrels are a persistent problem, consider a Brome Squirrel Buster feeder. If woodpeckers become regular visitors, add a suet feeder. If goldfinches are your favourites, a dedicated nyjer feeder might be your next purchase.
Over time, you can develop a feeding station that attracts a greater variety of birds while matching your space and budget.
At Urban Nature Store, we're here to help you make informed choices and find the right products for your backyard.
Explore our bird feeders and wild birding products to get started.
Because the best bird feeder isn't necessarily the biggest or most expensive. It's the one that helps you enjoy more birds, less frustration, and more time connecting with nature.
Happy birding!
Paul Oliver
Founder, Urban Nature Store
Your Local Birding and Nature Experts
Visit UrbanNatureStore.ca for quality bird feeders, birdseed, and nature-inspired products for bird lovers of all generations.
