Shopping for bird feeders can be a very confusing task. There are many styles and designs to choose from, but starting to feed wild birds doesn't have to be complicated. Begin by considering what type of birds you want to attract. Most people want to begin by feeding a wide variety of birds. Black oil sunflower seeds are a favorite for many birds including house finches, woodpeckers, chickadees, and jays. Another way to attract a variety of birds is to feed a mix of different seeds including sunflower seeds and millet. However, this tends to create a bigger mess below your feeder as some birds will pick through the seeds looking for their favorite. There are many styles of bird feeders to choose from when feeding sunflower seeds or mixes.

If you want to get close to the birds, then a window bird feeder may be for you. Window bird feeders use suction cups to attach to a window. They are used for small songbirds and hummingbirds. Keep in mind that larger birds like jays and cardinals will avoid window bird feeders. Many people worry about using window bird feeders because they believe that they will increase the risk of a window collision. Surprisingly, this is not the case. Because birds tend to decelerate as they reach a feeder, the risk of injury from a window collision when using a window bird feeder is much lower than when using a bird feeder placed a few feet away from a window.

Platform or tray bird feeders feature a flat screen that you can place the seed on. These feeders are versatile as they can be filled with peanuts, raisins, sunflower seeds, mealworms, and seed mixes. Larger birds prefer flat raised feeders, so platform bird feeders may be a good choice for them. Tray feeders are typically not a good choice if squirrels are raiding your seed. However, you can buy squirrel baffles to hang above a tray feeder which may eliminate the problem. Often, platform feeders include a hopper which allows you to put more seed in the bird feeder and helps to keep seed dry during inclement weather.

By far, the most popular bird feeders are tube feeders. These feeders feature a polycarbonate tube which dispenses seed from seed ports. Many tube feeders have perches right below the ports that make feeding easy. Others have a metal screen around the feeder, making it easy for clinging birds to access the ports. Tube feeders have many advantages which explain their popularity. They can hold a lot of seed, and because the seed is in the tube, for the most part it stays dry during the rain. Of course, some water can still slip in through the seed ports, but the seed stays much drier than with platform feeders. Tube feeders are also easy to maintain. Long brushes can be purchased that make it easy to clean out the tube. Because the tubes can hold a lot of seed, they need to be refilled less often than comparable bird feeders.

Feeding the birds can be a lot of fun! Many people buy decorative bird feeders that are vibrantly colored. These add a bit of flair to your yard decor. Whatever type of bird feeder you decide to buy, just take the plunge and get one. If your first experiments with bird feeding go awry, you can always try again. Backyard bird watching is a very pleasant and relaxing activity that you are sure to enjoy.