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Feeders & Cams — guide

The best feeder for each bird

Which feeder brings which bird, and why. Most "why don't cardinals come to my feeder" problems are a perch-size problem, not a seed problem.

By Scooter M.Published September 2, 2026Content updated September 2, 2026Prices shown live on Amazon

We don't test this gear. Here's what we do instead.

A northern cardinal perched on a bare branch

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Cardinals need somewhere to stand. They are large-bodied birds that feed while perched, so a hopper feeder or an open tray with real perching room brings them in where a narrow tube feeder will not, however good the seed is. Oil sunflower and safflower are their preferred foods, and cover within about ten feet of the feeder makes them far more likely to use it.

"What is the best bird feeder to attract cardinals" is one of the most-asked questions in this niche, and the usual answer — buy better seed — is the wrong one. The bird cannot use the feeder.

Feeder type against species

Which feeder brings which bird
Which feeder brings which bird
Feeder typeBringsWhySeed
HopperCardinals, grosbeaks, jays, sparrowsGenerous perching ledge that supports a large-bodied birdOil sunflower, safflower
Tray or platformCardinals, doves, juncos, sparrowsOpen surface with no perch requirement at all — the most inclusive feeder there isMixed seed, sunflower, safflower
Tube, small perchesChickadees, titmice, finches, nuthatchesSmall perches deliberately exclude larger birdsBlack oil sunflower, sunflower hearts
Tube, large U-shaped perchesCardinals as well as small birdsA wider perch is what lets a cardinal use a tube at allOil sunflower, safflower
Nyjer / thistle tubeGoldfinches, siskins, redpollsTiny ports suit tiny beaks and exclude almost everything elseNyjer only
Suet cageWoodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, wrensHigh-fat food and a vertical surface to cling toSuet cakes; no-melt for warm weather
Nectar feederHummingbirds, sometimes oriolesLiquid feeding with ports sized for a long billFour parts water to one part white sugar
Window trayChickadees, finches, sparrows, titmiceSmall birds tolerate close proximity to a window; larger ones often will notSunflower hearts, mixed

The three things a cardinal needs

  1. A perch it fits on. A hopper, a tray, or a tube with wide U-shaped perches. This is the part people get wrong.
  2. The right seed. Oil sunflower and safflower. Safflower has the useful side effect that squirrels and grackles largely dislike it.
  3. Cover within about ten feet. Cardinals are cautious and want shrubs or trees to retreat into. A feeder stranded in open lawn gets far fewer visits.

Small birds only, on purpose

The reverse problem — grackles and starlings clearing the feeder — is solved by the same logic in reverse. A tube with small perches physically excludes large birds, and nyjer in a thistle feeder is eaten by almost nothing except finches. A weight-activated feeder with the trigger set low does the same job mechanically.

The picks

Ranked picks with what each is best for, our score out of ten, the budget band it falls in, and a link to check its current price on Amazon.
#PickBest forScorePrice
01BromeNo photoBrome Squirrel Buster PlusA weight-activated shroud closes the ports under a squirrel, and the warranty is written for the lifetime of the original owner.Under $100The squirrel problem, solved mechanically8.6out of 10
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02Droll YankeesNo photoDroll Yankees Onyx Clever Clean Tube FeederA plain tube feeder whose base twists off, which is the feature that decides whether a feeder gets cleaned or quietly stops being used.Under $50A feeder that is genuinely easy to keep clean8.0out of 10
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03Nature's WayNo photoNature's Way Cedar Suet FeederSuet brings in the birds seed does not, and a cedar cage lasts where a wire one rusts.Under $25Woodpeckers, and winter generally7.9out of 10
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04Nature AnywhereNo photoNature Anywhere Window Bird Feeder with Strong Suction CupsA clear acrylic tray that sticks to the glass, which turns any window into the closest view of a bird you will ever get for the money.Under $25Apartments, and anyone who cannot get to a garden7.4out of 10
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Scores are ours, from the published rubric on the how-we-pick page. They are editorial judgments about published specifications and cost arithmetic, not test results — we have not handled these products.

Pick 01

BromeNo photo

The squirrel problem, solved mechanically

Brome Squirrel Buster Plus

A weight-activated shroud closes the ports under a squirrel, and the warranty is written for the lifetime of the original owner.

Score
8.6
Effectiveness
9.0
Durability
9.5
Published specs
8.0
Gift appeal
7.0
Budget band
Under $100
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Published specifications

Seed capacity
3 quarts, about 5 lb of seedSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Plus published product specifications, read 2026-09-02
Mechanism
Weight-activated shroud closes the seed ports; the trigger weight is adjustableSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Plus published product specifications, read 2026-09-02
Feeding ports
6, with a cardinal ring includedSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Plus published product specifications, read 2026-09-02
Dimensions
6 in x 6 in x 23 inSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Plus published product specifications, read 2026-09-02
Weight empty
2.2 lbSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Plus published product specifications, read 2026-09-02
Warranty
Lifetime of the original owner, with replacement parts, when used per the instructionsSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Plus published product specifications, read 2026-09-02
Cleaning
Dishwasher safeSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Plus published product specifications, read 2026-09-02

What it gets right

  • The mechanism is physical rather than electronic, so there is nothing to fail in the cold
  • Adjustable trigger weight lets you exclude large birds as well as squirrels
  • The cardinal ring means the feeder still works for the bird most people actually want
  • Lifetime warranty on a product that lives outdoors

What it does not

  • No camera, no app — this is a feeder, not a gadget
  • 23 inches tall, which is a lot of feeder for a small balcony
  • Squirrels will still empty the tray beneath it

Who it is for

Anyone who has complained about squirrels. It is the least glamorous gift on this site and one of the most gratefully received.

Skip this if

The recipient wants to watch birds on a phone. This solves a different problem, and pairing it with a camera feeder rather than substituting for one is the better gift.

Pick 02

Droll YankeesNo photo

A feeder that is genuinely easy to keep clean

Droll Yankees Onyx Clever Clean Tube Feeder

A plain tube feeder whose base twists off, which is the feature that decides whether a feeder gets cleaned or quietly stops being used.

Score
8.0
Cleaning
9.5
Durability
8.5
Bird range
6.5
Gift appeal
7.0
Budget band
Under $50
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Published specifications

Capacity
1 lb to 3 lb depending on tube lengthSource: Droll Yankees Onyx Clever Clean published product specifications, read 2026-09-02
Ports
2 ports on the 12 in model, 4 on the 18 in, 6 on the 24 inSource: Droll Yankees Onyx Clever Clean published product specifications, read 2026-09-02
Construction
Powder-coated metal cap, base and ports; unobstructed interior for brush cleaningSource: Droll Yankees Onyx Clever Clean published product specifications, read 2026-09-02
Cleaning
Twist-and-release removable baseSource: Droll Yankees Onyx Clever Clean published product specifications, read 2026-09-02
Warranty
Lifetime manufacturer warranty against squirrel damageSource: Droll Yankees Onyx Clever Clean published product specifications, read 2026-09-02
Mounting
Hanging by stainless steel wire, or pole mountedSource: Droll Yankees Onyx Clever Clean published product specifications, read 2026-09-02

What it gets right

  • The removable base is the difference between a clean feeder and a moldy one
  • Metal ports rather than plastic, which is where squirrel damage usually starts
  • Three sizes, so you can match the tube to how fast the yard eats
  • Lifetime warranty against squirrel damage

What it does not

  • Small perches mean cardinals and jays largely cannot use it
  • No squirrel exclusion of its own — the warranty covers the damage rather than preventing it
  • Capacity varies by model, and listings are not always clear which one you are buying

Who it is for

A first feeder for a beginner, or a second feeder beside a bigger one to spread the crowd out.

Skip this if

Cardinals are the point. This is a small-bird feeder; a hopper or tray suits cardinals far better.

Pick 03

Nature's WayNo photo

Woodpeckers, and winter generally

Nature's Way Cedar Suet Feeder

Suet brings in the birds seed does not, and a cedar cage lasts where a wire one rusts.

Score
7.9
Bird range
9.0
Seasonality
6.5
Durability
8.0
Value
9.0
Budget band
Under $25
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Published specifications

What suet is for
High-fat food that suits woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees and wrens — species that largely ignore a seed tube
Season
Best in cold weather. Rendered suet softens and can go rancid in summer heat; some makers sell no-melt cakes for warm months.
Placement
Against a trunk or on a pole with a tail prop suits woodpeckers, which brace their tails while feeding
Capacity and dimensions
Not published by the manufacturer in a form we could verify consistently across this class

What it gets right

  • Attracts a completely different set of birds to a seed feeder
  • Cheap enough to add to any other gift on this site
  • Cold-weather timing matches when most bird gifts are given

What it does not

  • Rancid in summer heat unless no-melt cakes are used
  • Cakes are a consumable, so it is a gift with an ongoing cost
  • Starlings will empty an unprotected suet cage quickly

Who it is for

Anyone who already has a seed feeder and has said they only ever see the same three birds. Suet is the answer to that.

Skip this if

The recipient lives somewhere hot year-round. Suet is a cold-weather food and it will make a mess.

Pick 04

Nature AnywhereNo photo

Apartments, and anyone who cannot get to a garden

Nature Anywhere Window Bird Feeder with Strong Suction Cups

A clear acrylic tray that sticks to the glass, which turns any window into the closest view of a bird you will ever get for the money.

Score
7.4
View
9.5
Practicality
6.5
Published specs
4.0
Gift appeal
8.5
Budget band
Under $25
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Published specifications

Mounting
Suction cups to a clean exterior window pane
Material
Clear acrylic, so the birds are visible from inside
Capacity
Not published by the manufacturer in a form we could verify
Drainage
Check the listing: a removable tray with drainage holes is the feature that decides whether seed rots after rain
Warranty
Not published by the manufacturer in a form we could verify

What it gets right

  • The view is unbeatable — inches away, at eye level
  • Works with no garden at all, which no other feeder here does
  • Cheap enough to be a low-risk gift for someone who has never fed birds

What it does not

  • Suction cups fail in cold weather and after the glass gets dirty
  • Small capacity means frequent refills
  • Birds can strike the window; it takes some care to place well

Who it is for

A city-apartment gift, a gift for someone with limited mobility, or a first feeder for a child who wants to see a bird up close.

Skip this if

The recipient's windows do not open, or are above the second floor. Refilling from the outside becomes the whole problem.

Two feeders beat one big one

The single most effective change most gardens can make is running two feeder types at once — a hopper or tray for cardinals and a small-perch tube for finches and chickadees. It spreads the crowd, reduces squabbling at one port, and roughly doubles the species list without doubling the cost.

FAQ

Questions people ask about this

What is the best bird feeder to attract cardinals?

A hopper feeder or an open tray, or a tube feeder with wide U-shaped perches. Cardinals are large-bodied and feed while perched, so a narrow tube excludes them regardless of what seed is in it. Pair it with oil sunflower or safflower and cover within about ten feet.

What is the best bird feeder for small birds?

A tube feeder with small perches, or a nyjer feeder for goldfinches. Small perches deliberately exclude larger birds, which is exactly what you want if grackles are clearing the feeder.

What feeder do woodpeckers use?

A suet cage, ideally with a tail prop — woodpeckers brace their tails against a surface while feeding. Suet is a cold-weather food and goes rancid in summer heat unless you use no-melt cakes.

Why do cardinals not come to my feeder?

Most often because there is nowhere for them to stand. Add a hopper or tray, use oil sunflower or safflower, and make sure there are shrubs or trees within about ten feet for cover.

Should I run more than one feeder?

Yes, if you have room. A hopper or tray plus a small-perch tube covers large and small birds at once and typically increases the species list substantially.

Sources

Where these figures come from

  • Wild Birds Unlimited guidance on attracting Northern CardinalsFeeder styles with generous perching space, oil sunflower and safflower, and cover within about ten feet.
  • Brome Squirrel Buster Plus published product specifications, read 2026-09-02
  • Droll Yankees Onyx Clever Clean published product specifications, read 2026-09-02
  • National Audubon Society guidance on water for birds, read 2026-09-02General backyard guidance on water and placement.