Types of Bird Feeders

Food Sources

Birds Attracted to These Feeders

Tubular Bird Feeders - can be caged feeders also to protect seed from squirrels and larger unwanted birds
Tubular Bird Feeders / Thistle (Nyjer) Bird Feeders / Sunflower/Mexed seed Bird Feeders / Peanut Bird Feeders

Black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, peanut pieces, cracked corn, thistle (niger or nyjer) seeds, millet, wild bird seed mixes

Tubular bird feeders attract finches (house, purple), American goldfinches, pine siskins, lesser goldfinches, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice and others

Platform Bird Feeders - also called tray feeders. Popular as ground feeders or hanging feeders to attract different birds. Seed catcher platform feeders can also be added to catch seed below pole or post mounted bird feeders preventing the seed from reaching the ground
Platform Bird Feeders / Seed Catcher Platform Bird Feeders / Ground Bird Feeders

Black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, peanuts, cracked corn, wild bird seed mixes, fruit, mealworms, millet, bakery goods, cheese

Platform, tray and ground style bird feeders attract bluebirds, buntings, cardinals, chickadees, doves, finches, goldfinches, grosbeaks, jays, pyrrhuloxias, orioles, quail, redpolls, robins, siskins, sparrows, tanagers, titmice, towhees, wrens and others

Hopper Bird Feeders - also called bin style feeders. Usually made of cedar, plastic or metal. Popular functional backyard bird feeders to attract a diversity of wild birds.
Hopper Bird Feeders / Gazebo Bird Feeders / Assorted Bird Feeders / Decorative Bird Feeders

Black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, peanuts, cracked corn, wild bird seed mixes, fruit, mealworms, millet, bakery goods, cheese

Hopper style bird feeders attract bluebirds, buntings, cardinals, chickadees, doves, finches, goldfinches, grosbeaks, jays, pyrrhuloxias, orioles, redpolls, robins, siskins, sparrows, tanagers, titmice, towhees, wrens and others

Peanut Bird Feeders - Attracts peanut loving backyard birds. Whole or shelled peanut bird feeders. Also called caged bird feeders, woodpecker feeders.
Peanut Bird Feeders

Whole in-shell peanuts or shelled peanuts depending on feeders, black oil sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, cracked corn, wild bird seed mixes

Peanut bird feeders attract cardinals, chickadees, finches, flickers, jays, nuthatches, titmice, towhees, woodpeckers, wrens and other peanut loving backyard birds

Woodpecker Feeders - Attracts Woodpeckers and other clinging birds. Can also be called clinging bird feeders, peanut bird feeders, suet bird feeders, tail-prop bird feeders, upside-down hanging bird feeders.

Woodpecker Feeders / Suet Feeders / Peanut Feeders

Peanuts, suet cakes, seed cakes, suet dough depending on feeders, black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, thistle (niger or nyjer) seeds, cracked corn, and wild bird seed mixes

Woodpecker feeders attract Cardinals, chickadees, finches, flickers, goldfinches, jays, pyrrhuloxas, nuthatches, siskins, sparrows, titmice, towhees, woodpeckers, wrens and others

Clinging Bird Feeders for smaller songbirds that like to cling to the sides of the feeder while feeding such as Globe Feeders or Sock Feeders, Caged squirrel-proof feeders also appeal to clinging birds
Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders / Thistle Seed (Nyjer) Bird Feeders / Peanut Bird Feeders / Finch Sock Feeders, Wire Mesh Bird Feeders

Black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, thistle (niger or nyjer) seeds, peanuts, cracked corn, millet, wild bird seed mixes

Clinging bird feeders attract smaller songbirds such as chickadees, finches, goldfinches, jays, nuthatches, pyrrhuloxias, siskins, sparrows, titmice, woodpeckers, wrens and others

Window Bird Feeders –  can be mounted to windowsill or attached to window by suction-cup.

In-House Bird Feeders, Windowsill Bird Feeders, Suction-Cup Window Bird Feeders, Window Hummingbird Feeders

Black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, thistle seed (niger or nyjer) peanuts, cracked corn, millet, wild bird seed mixes, suet cakes, seed cakes, suet dough, fruit, mealworms, bakery goods, cheese 

Window mounted bird feeders attract bluebirds, buntings, cardinals, chickadees, doves, finches, goldfinches, grosbeaks, hummingbirds, jays, mockingbirds, nutchatches, pyrrhuloxias, orioles, redpolls, robins, siskins, sparrows, tanagers, titmice, towhees, warblers, woodpeckers, wrens and others

Wire Mesh Bird Feeders – also called mesh sunflower feeders or screened bird feeders. All metal construction. Resistant to squirrel damage. Appealing to both clinging and perching birds.

Wire Mesh Bird Feeders / No/No Collapsible Wire Mesh Bird Feeders

Black oil sunflower seed, safflower, peanut hearts, cracked corn, nyjer/thistle seed

Wire mesh bird feeders attract bluebirds, buntings, cardinals, chickadees, doves, finches (house, purple), goldfinches, grosbeaks, jays, nuthatches, pyrrhuloxias, orioles, redpolls, robins, siskins, sparrows, tanagers, titmice, towhees, wrens, nuthatches and others

Fruit Bird Feeders - feeders for orioles, mockingbirds and other fruit loving birds.
Fruit & Jelly Bird Feeders / Oriole Feeders

Halved oranges, apples can be spiked on feeders. Jelly bowls for grape jelly.

Fruit bird feeders attract cardinals, mockingbirds, orioles, robins and other fruit loving backyard birds

Suet Bird Feeders - can be caged feeders also to protect suet from squirrels and larger unwanted birds
Suet Bird Feeders

Suet cakes, seed cakes, suet dough works best in these feeders

Suet bird feeders attract bluebirds, chickadees, flickers, gray catbirds (with raisins), jays, kinglets, mockingbirds, nuthatches, titmice, woodpeckers, wrens and other suet loving backyard birds

Edible Bird Feeders - handcrafted all natural edible seed wreaths, swags, sunflower medallions, edible seeded birdhouses, bird seed ornaments

Edible Bird Feeders / Edible Seed Wreaths / Edible Birdhouses, Edible Bird Seed Ornaments

Black oil sunflower seeds, flax, sorghum, safflower, millet, corn, durum, wheat, rye, nyjer, cookie seed and other natural seed ingredients

Edible bird feeders attract a diversity of backyard birds such as bluebirds, buntings, cardinals, chickadees, doves, finches, goldfinches, grosbeaks, jays, pyrrhuloxias, orioles, redpolls, robins, siskins, sparrows, tanagers, titmice, towhees, wrens and others

Hummingbird Feeders and Oriole Feeders – choose from various styles.
Hummingbird Feeders / Blown Glass Hummingbird Feeders / Bottle Hummingbird Feeders / Dish or Saucer Hummingbird Feeders / Ceramic Hummingbird Feeders / Window Hummingbird Feeders / Oriole Feeders

Sugar water at a 4 to 1 ratio. Four parts water to one part sugar. Bring to a boil to dissolve sugar, then let cool. You can also use convenient packaged nectar mixes.

Hummingbird Feeders and Oriole Feeders attract hummingbirds, orioles, mockingbirds and other nectar loving backyard birds

Mealworm Feeders (also called bluebird feeders)
Bluebird Feeders / Mealworm Feeders / Stained Glass Dish Bird Feeders

Live mealworms, live waxworms,

dry mealworms, roasted mealworms, canned mealworms, roasted waxworms

Mealworm feeders attract bluebirds, chickadees, finches, goldfinches, titmice, warblers, woodpeckers and other insect loving backyard birds

Dish Bird Feeders (for live mealworms, bread, jelly and scraps)
Assorted Wild Bird Feeders / Stained Glass Dish Bird Feeders

Black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, peanuts, cracked corn, wild bird seed mixes, fruit, mealworms, millet, bakery goods, cheese

Dish style bird feeders attract bluebirds, cardinals, chickadees, finches, flickers, goldfinches, jays, oriole (jelly), mockingbirds (bread & fruit), robins (bread & fruit), woodpeckers, wrens, titmice and others