Bird Feeders: Reviews

Reviews say the Brome Squirrel Buster Plus is ideal for attracting small birds such as chickadees and finches, and its weight-sensitive perch closes the feed ports when squirrels or heavy nuisance birds try to step on the… perch. The straight, adjustable-length perches can be extended to attract medium-sized birds, and a detachable perch ring provides a secure grip for cardinals. The Brome Squirrel Buster Plus holds 3 quarts of seed in its clear plastic tube. Reviews say it is durable and easy to clean and keeps seed dry and fresh. One drawback is that the total weight of several birds dining together might overload the weight-sensitive mechanism, causing the seed ports to close.

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Experts say cardinals, who have shorter necks and bigger feet than other songbirds, have difficulty with ordinary tube-style bird feeders. But they say the curved perches on the Droll Yankee Whipper accommodate cardinals… and are individually calibrated to collapse when anything heavier hops on. Reviews say the Droll Yankee Whipper excludes red squirrels as well as gray ones. This feeder holds a little over 3 quarts of seed in its clear plastic tube.

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Reviews say the Droll Yankee and Brome tube feeders above do a good job of keeping squirrels out of the bird seed, but each holds about 3 quarts of seed. If you have a busy yard, you might prefer something with a larger… capacity. Hopper feeders are known to attract all sorts of birds, even big or shy ones. The Sky Café has a 5-quart barrel-shaped bin topped with a peaked roof that looks a bit like a witch's hat that's too steep for squirrels to stand on. Reviews say the Sky Café is easy to fill and clean. This feeder comes with a hanger; a pole-mounting kit is optional (*est. $5). One drawback is that some say seed can spill from this feeder when buffeted by wind (or pushed by squirrels), and the plastic can shatter if the bird feeder is dropped.

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This small (1-quart capacity) bird feeder consists of a clear plastic tube surrounded by stainless steel mesh that not only keeps squirrels' paws and jaws off the seed but serves as a perch for lots of small birds. The… lid locks so squirrels can't open it and this feeder comes with a lifetime guaranty. On the downside, its small capacity means you'll need to refill it often. Also, there's nothing preventing squirrels from crawling on the feeder; though they won't reach the seed, they could scare away birds.

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With a weight-sensitive, motorized perch that spins off squirrels, this bird feeder is top-ranked in reviews not only for entertainment value but for effectiveness with gray squirrels. Durable with a tight-fitting metal… cap and 3.3-quart capacity, this feeder comes with a rechargeable battery and charger. The interior design keeps seed flowing to four ports. On the downside, reviewers say it doesn't deter red squirrels, and if you don't keep the battery charged, it won't do much for gray squirrels either. We also read a few reports that rain can get into the seed ports.

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