Different birds have different feeding styles and preferences. Knowing the specific types of birds you wish to attract will assist in getting the right kinds of feeders to attract the desired types. To attract the greatest variety, it’s best to provide several different feeder types.
• Tray or Platform Feeder: Trays attract the widest variety of seed-eating feeder birds, such as starlings, house sparrows and native sparrows. Some have a roof to protect the seed from inclement weather. Screened or perforated bottoms prevent water from accumulating in the feeder and aids in keeping feed dry.
• Window Feeders: Small plastic feeders attach to window glass with suction cups and attract finches, chickadees, titmice and some sparrows. These feeders allow a close-up view of the birds.
• Hopper Feeder: This type is attractive to most feeder birds, such as finches, jays, cardinals, buntings, grosbeaks, sparrows, chickadees and titmice. The seed is protected fairly well against the weather; however, if the seed within the hopper gets wet, bacteria and fungus can thrive. This type of feeder tends to attract squirrels as well.
• Tube Feeder: A popular choice that offers varied feeding holes that allow several birds to feed at once. Tube feeders attract smaller birds such as sparrows, grosbeaks, chickadees, titmice and finches.
• Nyjer Feeder: These feeders come in two forms: fine mesh bags that birds cling to in order to extract the seed and tube feeders with small feeding ports.
• Suet Feeder: Used to attract a variety of nuthatches, chickadees, titmice, jays, starlings and woodpeckers.
Offering a wide variety of strategically placed feeders in your yard will attract many species of wild birds for your enjoyment.