Odds are This you may see or know someone with a smart bird feeder. They can get along quite recognizable with clear housing, cameras, and solar panels, maybe a friend or family member sends you a photo or video of a bright goldfinch or a handsome woodpecker (incriminal). So the question at this point is whether these things are real Price tag worth more than $100. Are they really durable? What about the squirrel problem?
Fortunately, we have been testing the most popular smart bird feeder models, including Netvue's original Birdfy feeder ($145)this Bird Brother ($239)even lower prices Bird Feeding Camera Box ($56)for months – in the rain, snow and Texas heat, in a yard with continuous squirrels. We have explored the app and notification settings, installed any optional solar panels, and used all of Cornell Lab's About Birds and Google Lens and our own local expertise to verify AI-recognized accuracy.
February 2025 Update: We added Bird Buddy Smart Bird Fefter Pro and Harymor Bird Feeder with Camera, updated long-term test notes on Birdfy Duo, reordered draft picks, and updated links and prices.
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Former wired reviewer Medea Giordano tested some feeders on a balcony in Texas, and another in a backyard in Pennsylvania. In Texas, she put them all on the table and secured them to the railing with the included mounting belt. In Pennsylvania, she uses a bracket mount to attach to the pole. Wired reviewer Kat Merck tested the feeder in a rural-suburban community in southwestern Washington. The feeder is mounted directly on the house or on a fence with the included stand seat, or hung from the shepherd's hook.
Once set up, we filled them with bird seeds (or, a nectar mixture of 4-1 particles of sugar and water in the bird buzz) and waited patiently for local birds to find them. We checked all the included app features, check how often notifications are, and noticed whether they accurately pick up birds or any type of outdoor sports, and that they are able to differentiate between birds. We took them apart and cleaned them and returned them to the hill. We have to test for at least two weeks, but usually more than a month.
Overall best
This pleasant blue and white feeder from Security Company Netvue is the smart feeder in front of the Medea Giordano, the first smart feeder in 2022. Both metrics have improved since then – I was impressed with the Birdfy App's AI when I tested the upgraded 2 duos (see below), and the feeder is usually $200 or more Sold at a low price. If you pay $20 more, you will get a lifetime subscription to AI ID, which is a reliable deal. Without it, it costs $5 a month. Medea tested this and a bird-like bamboo feeder (pictured below) and found that AI recognition does not always correctly identify birds. This is the feeder for older parents I bought for Christmas during Amazon Prime Day sale and they have had similar experiences. That said, I've tested feeders from multiple brands and AI won't work perfectly given the huge differences in lighting, shadows and camera cleanliness. Unlike some brands, Birdfy's AI works more frequently than it does not have.
Medea found that the 1080p wide-angle camera picks up more action from non-birds, so you may get a lot of notifications based on where you are placed. But if you want to have a feeder security camera hybrid, then this may be exactly what you want, especially because it provides color night vision. The IP65 plastic construction also makes the feeder durable and easy to clean, and the 50-ounce seed reservoir is easier to fill than the bird buddy with a convenient flip top. Not all bundles come with solar panels, but you can buy them separately. Unlike other feeders, the solar panels are not built-in and must be installed and connected separately with the included 9.8-foot charging cable. (Birdfy comes with a pole, wall-mounted mount and tree strap.)
Unfortunately, we haven't tested a flawless smart bird feeder yet, but I think basic plastic birds are the best choice on the market right now, with a combination of value, ease of use and functionality.
runner up
Bird Buddy (8/10, Wired Recommended) is the original smart feeder, initially inspired wired commentator Medea Giordano launched this guide after announcing feeders during CES 2022. Its compact one-piece design (available in blue and yellow) is easy to manage and set up, especially if you pop up flushing rooftop solar panels for $20. The solar panel design does not require individually mounted or exposed wires from squirrels or other animals to potentially chew. AI is not exemplary, although its bird recognition is at least in the same family. For example, when Medea tested it, AI likes to say that the mourning pigeons visited every day are occasionally white-winged or Eurasian pigeons.
There are a lot of features that aren't hidden behind the subscription paywall. When you find a bird, you will see facts about the species, including what they like to eat and their typical size and weight, as well as songs and phone clips from birds. You can also see bird species in other community galleries (you must choose to share with the community to make your photos public). Premium subscriptions ($7.50 per month or $90 per year) unlock features such as reporting photos of birds you think might be sick, and the ability to provide a unique name for a specific bird.
Medea suggests pop-ups for bass expanders, as stock bass doesn't have many rooms, I agree – a lot of times I notice birds standing in seeds or sitting in the corners of bass, just invisible. Bird Buddy also has its own other add-ons, the brand allows creators to make their own accessories such as cute fences and different types of habitat.
