The Best Winter Bird Feeders

Globes, Tubes, Hopper and Suet Feeders

T.K. Moyer
Who doesn't love to see beautiful birds hanging around their yards. If you are an avid bird watcher then you know the joy and pleasure that these beautiful animals can bring to your yard. To attract birds in the winter time you need the right type of winter bird feeders, and you need a bird feeder that keeps the birds who wander onto your property safe. Look for these bird feeders for your yard and you won't be sorry.

Globe type Winter Bird Feeders
Globe feeders are also known as satellite style feeders and feature a glass or plastic dome that houses the birdseed in an upside down position. Globe style winter bird feeders are best for smaller birds and protect the smaller birds from the overly aggressive flocks of larger birds. The style of this feeder prevents the larger birds from being able to hang onto the bird feeder. Globe type bird feeders are perfect for wrens, chickadees, and other small feathered birds.

Hopper Fed Winter Bird Feeders
The Hopper is the most common type of bird feeder and has been in use for many years by all types of bird watchers. Hopper style bird feeders are often shaped like a barn or a house and feature trays that hold the food while birds perch on the outside of the feeder. Hopper style bird feeders are good for larger birds like cardinals, blue jays, and morning doves. The one thing to watch for when putting out a hopper fed winter bird feeder is to protect your birdseed from hungry squirrels who are eager to take advantage of the free food.

Tube type Winter Bird Feeders
Tube type winter bird feeders do just what they sound like they do. They use long tubes to store bird seed and allow the bird to perch on the outside of the tube to take advantage of the food. These bird feeders tend to cater to smaller birds such as chickadees and finches. The downside of this type of bird feeder is that it can often wast a lot of birdseed. This can be overcome by placing a tray below the bird feeder. The tray underneath the bird feeder should be placed in such a position as to catch the bird seed but also allows larger birds to feed.

Suet type Winter Bird Feeders
If you are adventurous and would like to make some of your own winter bird feeders I would suggest using a suet type feeder. These feeders are often the easiest to make on your own and allow you the maximum flexibility in attracting birds. You can add several different mixtures of birdseed to attract several different species of birds. I have found that mashing the birdseed in peanut butter and then wrapping it ever so loosely that you can hang the birdseed from low lying branches to attract low flight birds. Suet type winter bird feeders allow you to attract large birds, small birds, and everything in between.

Good luck attracting those beautiful birds to your yard. Get your binoculars ready, the birds are coming .

Published by T.K. Moyer

Avid researcher who loves to read as much as possible. Freelance writer and a horribly curious know it all when it comes to all things sports.  View profile

10 Comments

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  • Pattie Byrd12/11/2009

    I sure the birds would appreciate all the food they can get in winter.

  • Catherine Spencer12/11/2009

    I love feeding the birds...especially in winter! Thanks for the great info :)

  • Shaheen Darr12/10/2009

    Some great ideas here, am quite tempted to get one now!

  • Danielle Olivia Tefft12/10/2009

    Great bird feeder advice! I love the idea of putting a tray under my tube feeder. It will be easier for the Mourning Doves to eat that way-thank you! Also, I love the homemade peanut butter suet idea. The birda around here love the peanut butter suet I purchase from the store-I'm going to try your recipe and save some money!

  • Jenny Heart12/10/2009

    Very good ideas!

  • Janet Hunt12/10/2009

    Great ideas and a lovely photo also!

  • Pat Burroughs12/10/2009

    Great ideas. We have a metal bird feeder that we bought at Atwood's that closes access to the seeds when a squirrel gets on it. We used to feed 50 pounds of sunflower seed a month to birds and squirrels, but the gray squirrels moved in, ran off most of the fox squirrels, and started trying to chew their way into the house. When we bought the squirrel-free feeder and took down the others, most of the gray squirrels left and some of the fox squirrels came back. They stay around without being fed.

  • Dina Quirion12/10/2009

    What great ideas, like lisa, I never heard of the peanut butter either, interesting.. :o)

  • Michele Starkey12/10/2009

    I love bird feeders! This was a great read, thanks. Cheers.

  • Alice Clair Gunkee12/10/2009

    We use the tube feeders with a spring action so when the squirrels get on it the feed door closes. They get discouraged and leave.

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