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Black-capped Chickadee

There are so many different types of birdfeeders out there, so which one(s) should you get? There are a few things to think about before getting a certain type of feeder. First, is the feeder easy to clean? Does it need to be taken apart to be cleaned, and if so, is it easy to put back together? Is it bird safe? Will birds use it? Tube feeders are some of the most common, and they are a favorite for finches. You can attract Goldfinches with thistle feeders, which are either very small tube feeders, or sock feeders. Tube feeders come in different sizes and will attract all kinds of finches as long as they are filled with their favorite food (which is usually black oil sunflower seed or sunflower hearts). Chickadees, sparrows, grosbeaks and small woodpeckers will use tube feeders, and even Cardinals, Blue Jays, woodpeckers, and Grackles can use the larger tube feeders. Tube feeders are made out of plastic or metal, and can be filled with just about any kind of bird food. They do need to be taken apart for cleaning (will be covered in another Backyard Birding Tip upload). When choosing a tube feeder, choose one with U shaped perches, as these are much easier for the birds to perch on while taking food out of the feeder. Tray or platform feeders are great if you want to attract larger birds such as Cardinals, Blue Jays, doves, grosbeaks, crossbills, and some ground feeding birds like sparrows and Juncos. Tray/platform feeders may also attract Grackles, Crows, Ravens, Red-winged Blackbirds, Cowbirds, and Starlings. These feeders can be filled with anything, and are very easy to clean, but the food inside is left exposed to rain and snow. They come in different sizes and shapes. Hopper feeders are almost house or barn shaped, just large enough for a Cardinal to feed from. They are made to keep out larger birds, but can still attract small birds like Chickadees. Many people use hopper feeders to attract Cardinals, but I've been able to attract them with tube and tray feeders. Hopper feeders can be tricky to clean. Suet feeders are usually a cage that you put the suet block in, close the door and hang it for clinging birds like woodpeckers, Chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches to eat from. You can also put suet in a small tray feeder to offer to other birds like Blue Jays, Starlings, House Sparrows, and Grackles, all whom love suet. Peanut feeders are donut or U shaped wire cage that can be filled with whole roasted non salted peanuts for any peanut loving bird. There are many different types of Oriole feeders; some are just large orange hummingbird feeders with large perches, some are just an orange half holder with a cup to hold jelly, and some do all three. Of course, there are so many more types of feeders out there to choose from. Some birds are picky about feeders, so depending on what birds you wish to attract, or what birds are already in the area will depend on which feeders would be best.

Description
you do not have permission to use this photo

Black-capped Chickadee

There are so many different types of birdfeeders out there, so which one(s) should you get? There are a few things to think about before getting a certain type of feeder. First, is the feeder easy to clean? Does it need to be taken apart to be cleaned, and if so, is it easy to put back together? Is it bird safe? Will birds use it? Tube feeders are some of the most common, and they are a favorite for finches. You can attract Goldfinches with thistle feeders, which are either very small tube feeders, or sock feeders. Tube feeders come in different sizes and will attract all kinds of finches as long as they are filled with their favorite food (which is usually black oil sunflower seed or sunflower hearts). Chickadees, sparrows, grosbeaks and small woodpeckers will use tube feeders, and even Cardinals, Blue Jays, woodpeckers, and Grackles can use the larger tube feeders. Tube feeders are made out of plastic or metal, and can be filled with just about any kind of bird food. They do need to be taken apart for cleaning (will be covered in another Backyard Birding Tip upload). When choosing a tube feeder, choose one with U shaped perches, as these are much easier for the birds to perch on while taking food out of the feeder. Tray or platform feeders are great if you want to attract larger birds such as Cardinals, Blue Jays, doves, grosbeaks, crossbills, and some ground feeding birds like sparrows and Juncos. Tray/platform feeders may also attract Grackles, Crows, Ravens, Red-winged Blackbirds, Cowbirds, and Starlings. These feeders can be filled with anything, and are very easy to clean, but the food inside is left exposed to rain and snow. They come in different sizes and shapes. Hopper feeders are almost house or barn shaped, just large enough for a Cardinal to feed from. They are made to keep out larger birds, but can still attract small birds like Chickadees. Many people use hopper feeders to attract Cardinals, but I've been able to attract them with tube and tray feeders. Hopper feeders can be tricky to clean. Suet feeders are usually a cage that you put the suet block in, close the door and hang it for clinging birds like woodpeckers, Chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches to eat from. You can also put suet in a small tray feeder to offer to other birds like Blue Jays, Starlings, House Sparrows, and Grackles, all whom love suet. Peanut feeders are donut or U shaped wire cage that can be filled with whole roasted non salted peanuts for any peanut loving bird. There are many different types of Oriole feeders; some are just large orange hummingbird feeders with large perches, some are just an orange half holder with a cup to hold jelly, and some do all three. Of course, there are so many more types of feeders out there to choose from. Some birds are picky about feeders, so depending on what birds you wish to attract, or what birds are already in the area will depend on which feeders would be best.