What is a bird feeder?  This may seem like a basic question, but seeing as there are many different types of bird feeders it’s worth examining.  Many bird feeders are specific to the type of bird that is going to be fed.  So what types of feeders are there? 

Seed bird feeders – these are the ones that everyone thinks of.  A container to hold the seeds, usually with multiple small holes through which the birds can eat.  The feeding locations normally have a perch of some sort for the bird to sit on while eating.  Seed feeders come in different shapes and designs:

A platform or tray feeder has a flat surface with the seeds spread on them, and usually a cover overhead.

A house or hopper feeder is similar to a platform feeder, except that instead of all of the seeds being spread out they are stored in a hopper.  The seeds spill out of the bottom of a hopper as they are eaten.

A tube feeder is a hollow cylinder into which the seeds are poured.  It usually has multiple perches located near the feeding ports.

A peanut feeder is a special cage-like feeder that is designed to hold shelled peanuts.  Some species of birds are particularly partial to peanuts.

These feeders can contain different types of seeds, for instance thistle, canola seed, sunflowers, millet, or safflower, to name a few.  Some birds are bound to be partial to certain seeds, so the type added to a feeder may need to be adjusted based on the desired species.

Hummingbird Feeders – these don’t have seeds in them since hummingbirds don’t eat seeds.  Hummingbird feeders contain a liquid that is primarily made up of sugar.  It is sometimes colored red, but the birds will find it without the coloring.

Oriole feeders – these also don’t contain seeds.  Oriole feeders contain artificial nectar.

Suet feeder – these feeders are designed especially for woodpeckers, flickers, nuthatches, and other types of birds that eat primarily insects.  It looks like a cage containing a block of suet.