The best bird feeders
Blue tits at breakfast, goldfinches at lunch. The feeders that bring the birds in and keep the squirrels out.
A bird feeder is one of those presents that gets looked at every single day. It's a favourite for grandparents, and anyone who likes a cup of tea by the window.
What matters most is how easy it is to fill and clean, because a feeder that's a faff doesn't get refilled. We've picked sturdy metal feeders, a squirrel-proof cage and a whole station for a garden with no tree.
What matters
- Easy to fill and to take apart for cleaning.
- Metal lasts; squirrels chew plastic.
- A cage if squirrels are a problem.
- What it takes: seed, nyjer, peanuts or suet.
#1 of 5
Best overall
PROVIDE Heavy-Duty Steel Seed Feeder (6 ports)
£10–£20 Price range
A big twist-off lid makes filling it a one-handed job, even in gloves, and a ring round the base gives birds somewhere steady to perch while a tray catches dropped seed. It arrives in a gift pouch.
What owners say: Owners find it heavy-duty and robust, say birds find it quickly, and like how easy it is to fill and hang.
A closer look: It's made for sunflower hearts, black sunflower seed and mixed seed, not peanuts or mealworms. Hang it near a bush or tree so small birds have cover to dart back to.
- 6 feeding ports with large perches
- Twist-off lid for easy filling
- Seed-catching tray and perching ring
- Stainless steel
- Gift pouch and bird identifier
Best for: Easy filling
- Type
- Seed tube, 6 ports
- Size
- 36 × 14cm
- Takes
- Sunflower hearts, mixed seed
- Squirrel-proof cage
- No
#2 of 5
Gardman Heavy Duty Seed Feeder (large)
£10–£20 Price range
Die-cast aluminium from top to bottom, so it shrugs off British weather and heavy pigeons for years. It comes apart for cleaning, which keeps the birds healthy.
What owners say: Owners find it sturdy and long-lasting in UK weather, easy to fill and clean, and hard for squirrels to damage.
A closer look: Take it apart and wash it in hot soapy water every couple of weeks, then let it dry fully before refilling: damp seed goes mouldy, which is bad for garden birds.
- All-metal, polished die-cast aluminium
- Holds about 600g of seed
- Comes apart to clean
- Hanging hook
Best for: Lasting for years
- Type
- Seed tube
- Size
- 42cm tall
- Takes
- Seed mix (about 600g)
- Squirrel-proof cage
- No
#3 of 5
Best squirrel-proof
Garden Locker Squirrel-Proof Seed Feeder
£20–£30 Price range
A galvanised cage with 3 × 5cm gaps lets tits and finches in but keeps squirrels and big birds out. The one for anyone at war with the local squirrels.
What owners say: Owners find it keeps squirrels off the seed while small birds use it happily, and say it's larger than expected.
Heads up: It's bigger than most feeders at 41cm tall and nearly 1kg empty, so hang it from a sturdy hook or pole.
A closer look: Give the birds a week or two to get used to going through the cage. Squirrels will try, so hang it well away from fences and branches they could leap from.
- Galvanised steel cage, 3 × 5cm gaps
- 41cm tall, 24cm wide
- Twist-off lid
- Rust-resistant
Best for: Squirrel trouble
- Type
- Caged seed feeder
- Size
- 41 × 24cm
- Takes
- Seed, suet balls or peanuts
- Squirrel-proof cage
- Yes
#4 of 5
Best value
Kingsyard Tube Bird Feeders (2-pack, 6 ports)
£10–£20 Price range
Two feeders for the price of one decent one: hang one outside the kitchen window and one down the garden. The clear tube shows when it's time to top up.
What owners say: Owners find them good quality and sturdy, say birds flock to them straight away, and think they're good value.
A closer look: Use one for sunflower hearts and the other for nyjer seed: goldfinches love nyjer, so you'll see a wider mix of birds.
- 2 feeders, 6 ports each
- Clear tube shows the seed level
- Drainage holes keep seed dry
- Takes seed, nyjer, small nuts or mealworms
Best for: Two spots at once
- Type
- Seed tubes, 6 ports each
- Size
- 38.5cm tall (× 2)
- Takes
- Seed, nyjer, small nuts, mealworms
- Squirrel-proof cage
- No
#5 of 5
Best feeding station
MIXXIDEA Bird Feeding Station Kit
£30–£50 Price range
A tall pole with six hooks, feeders, a suet cage and a water bath: a whole bird café for a lawn with no handy tree. It makes a proper centrepiece to watch from the window.
What owners say: Owners find it good quality and sturdy, say the birds love it, and think it's well worth the money.
A closer look: Push the five-prong base deep into soft ground and it stands firm. Keep the water bath topped up in winter: birds need water to drink and bathe even when it's cold.
- About 2.25m tall
- 6 hooks with feeders and a suet cage
- Water bath tray
- 5-prong ground base
- Painted iron
Best for: A lawn with no tree
- Type
- Feeding station with pole
- Size
- About 2.25m tall
- Takes
- Seed, peanuts, suet, water
- Squirrel-proof cage
- No
How they compare
| Feature | #1PROVIDE 6-port | #2Gardman heavy duty | #3Garden Locker cage | #4Kingsyard 2-pack | #5MIXXIDEA station |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best squirrel-proof | Best value | Best feeding station | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Price | £10–£20 Price range | £10–£20 Price range | £20–£30 Price range | £10–£20 Price range | £30–£50 Price range |
| Type | Seed tube, 6 ports | Seed tube | Caged seed feeder | Seed tubes, 6 ports each | Feeding station with pole |
| Size | 36 × 14cm | 42cm tall | 41 × 24cm | 38.5cm tall (× 2) | About 2.25m tall |
| Takes | Sunflower hearts, mixed seed | Seed mix (about 600g) | Seed, suet balls or peanuts | Seed, nyjer, small nuts, mealworms | Seed, peanuts, suet, water |
| Squirrel-proof cage | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Best for | Easy filling | Lasting for years | Squirrel trouble | Two spots at once | A lawn with no tree |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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