Backyard birding, made simple

Bring more birds to your backyard.

Clear, honest guides to the feeders, seed, baths and binoculars that actually work. Fewer squirrels, more cardinals, and a view you'll look forward to every morning.

Find your perfect feeder See what birds eat

Holiday gift season

Gifts bird lovers use every single day

Smart camera feeders, binoculars and squirrel-proof upgrades they'll be excited to unwrap.

See the gift guide

Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder

The feeder that turned bird watching into something you check on your phone. A built-in camera snaps photos when a bird lands, the app sends you a notification, and it suggests which species you're looking at.

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Celestron Nature DX 8x42 Binoculars

The best binoculars you can buy without spending much. Bright, sharp, waterproof and comfortable, they're a huge step up from cheap compacts.

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Brome Squirrel Buster Plus

The squirrel-proof feeder most experienced backyard birders end up buying. When a squirrel climbs on, its weight pulls a shroud down over the seed ports. Small birds keep eating.

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Buying guides

The Best Smart Bird Feeders with CamerasCamera bird feeders that send photos and videos of every visitor to your phone and help you identify the species. Our top picks, plus what to know before you buy.The Best Squirrel-Proof Bird FeedersSquirrel-proof bird feeders that actually work, from weight-activated tubes to spinning perches, plus the setup tricks that keep squirrels off for good.The Best Hummingbird FeedersHummingbird feeders that are easy to clean, keep ants out and bring hummingbirds close, from saucer feeders to window feeders.The Best Heated Bird BathsHeated bird baths and de-icers that keep water open all winter, plus solar fountains for summer. Water brings in birds that never visit seed feeders.The Best Binoculars for Bird WatchingBinoculars for backyard and beginner bird watching at every budget, with plain-English advice on magnification, size and what really matters.The Best Bird Seed, Suet and MealwormsWhich bird seed attracts which birds, the bags worth buying, and how to cut waste and mess. Black-oil sunflower, safflower, Nyjer, suet and mealworms explained.The Best Bird Feeder Poles and Squirrel BafflesBird feeder poles, shepherd's hooks and squirrel baffles that keep feeders steady and squirrel-free, with simple setup rules that work.

Winter tip

Open water brings birds that seed never will

When ponds and puddles freeze, a heated bird bath can become the busiest spot in your yard. Robins and bluebirds that ignore feeders will come for a drink.

Best heated bird baths

Just starting? The three things to buy first

Brome Squirrel Buster Standard

The same weight-activated idea in a smaller, cheaper size. A great first squirrel-proof feeder for chickadees, titmice and finches.

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Wagner's Black Oil Sunflower Seed

If you only buy one seed, make it black-oil sunflower. It's high in fat, has a thin shell small birds can open, and nearly every seed-eating bird loves it.

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API Heated Bird Bath with Stand

Open water in winter brings in birds that never visit seed feeders, like robins and bluebirds. This bath has a built-in thermostat, so it only heats when the water is close to freezing.

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Feeder FinderThree questions, one clear recommendation. Bird Feeding ChartWhat 15 common birds eat and which feeder they prefer. Nectar CalculatorThe exact sugar and water for any hummingbird feeder.

Learn the basics

How to Start Feeding Birds: A Beginner's GuideEverything you need to start feeding backyard birds: the first feeder and seed to buy, where to put it, keeping it clean, and how long until birds arrive.How to Keep Squirrels Off Bird Feeders (Methods That Work)Proven, humane ways to keep squirrels off your bird feeders: the 5-10 rule, baffles, squirrel-proof feeders, and seeds squirrels won't eat.

Why trust Seed & Song?

No sponsored picks

Brands can't pay to be included. We recommend what we'd hang in our own yards.

Honest trade-offs

Every pick lists what to keep in mind, not just the highlights.

Birds come first

We favor feeders that are easy to clean and safe for birds.