Camera (Smart) Bird Feeders

All your smart bird feeder questions answered

Image of a Northern Cardinal taken by a Bird Buddy smart bird feeder
Thinking about getting a smart bird feeder? Here's everything you need to know about them!

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Choosing the right smart bird feeder can be overwhelming - there are a lot of models on the market as everyone jumps onto the latest technology bandwagon.

We dug into the nitty gritty to answer all your questions about smart bird feeders, so you can get up close and personal with your back yard birds like never before.

In fact, the picture at the top of this article was taken by a Bird Buddy smart bird feeder camera. You can't get much closer than that!

What is a smart bird feeder?

A smart bird feeder is bird feeder with a motion-activated camera built right in.

Most come with 1080p, high-definition videos, along with features like night vision and a microphone that picks up bird sounds. Some also have a speaker, which you can use to chase squirrels away.

Some smart bird feeders can automatically capture both photos and videos.

What makes a smart bird feeder smart?

Screen shot of typical smart bird feeder app.

Smart bird feeders sync the camera with an app downloaded to your phone so you can get notifications when a bird arrives.

Many of the apps will (try to) use AI (artificial intelligence) to identify the type of bird for you, but accuracy is hit and miss for most of them. 

The image here is a screen shot from a typical bird feeder app.

What kinds of birds will the smart bird feeder attract?

First of all, it will only attract birds that come to bird feeders, despite advertising images of kingfishers of a smart feeder. (Kingfishers eat fish, not birdseed.)

Which feeder birds are attracted depends mainly on where you are, what kind of food you offer, and whether the perch and feeding ports can accommodate birds that need a lot of room, like doves and cardinals. 

Smart bird feeder product photo showing a kingfisher on a seed feeder.

How does a smart bird feeder work?

A motion sensor triggers the camera to take pictures, and the camera then uses a connected app to identify the bird and send a notification to your phone.

Do bird feeders with a camera scare birds away?

Birds are sometimes wary of new objects in their environment, even non-camera bird feeders. It can often take a few days or weeks until they get used to a new feeder of any kind. Eventually they realize realize the feeder is not dangerous and will start using it.

Where do you put a smart bird feeder?

Mount your smart bird feeder on a solid post or tree, in a well lit area. Hanging the feeder from a tree or hook allows the unit to move, which will create a motion blur in your images. You'll also need to choose a spot that receives a good WiFi signal, or boost your signal strength with a WiFi repeater.

What is the best smart bird feeder?

It really depends on what features you want in a smart bird feeder. Here's our take on the 7 best options.

How much does a smart bird feeder cost?

This technology is fairly new, so the good ones cost between $150 - $300 USD. Prices should come down as the technology matures.

Are there restrictions on how the downloaded images can be used or distributed?

No. Like images you make with any other camera, the copyright belongs to you.

Is there a bird feeder camera you can watch on your phone?

Yes, there are several. Here's our take on the 7 best options.

Do smart bird feeders with a camera require a subscription?

Some do and some don't. If a subscription is required, the charge is usually nominal - around $5 USD per month.

Are smart bird feeders hard wired or wireless?

Most are wireless and battery powered. Some can use a small solar panel to keep the batteries charged.

Do I need a WiFi connection to use a smart bird feeder?

Yes, you will need need a 2.4G connection, not a 5G connection. (2.4G is said to reach outdoors more effectively.)

Smart bird feeders can pick only up a WiFi signal from about 30 feet (10 meters), so choose a spot with a strong signal or consider adding a repeater to enhance the signal.

What if I only have 5G WiFi?

Your wireless router may be a dual band model that also offers 2.4 G connectivity; you may be able to switch it from 5G to 2.4G or you may be able to use an affordable 5G to 2.4G adapter.

Can a smart bird feeder camera transmit video to my TV?

Most don't.

Are smart bird feeders squirrel-resistant?

Smart bird feeders are made of very strong, durable plastic but are not at all squirrel resistant. You'll have to take active measures for squirrel-proofing!

See also: The ugly truth about squirrel-proof bird feeders

Is the Bird Buddy smart bird feeder a real thing?

Yes, Bird Buddy is a brand of smart bird feeder with a camera module that photographs and identifies any birds (or other critters) that come to the feeder. Check it out here

Does the Bird Buddy smart bird feeder take videos?

Yes, in 720P format.

What does IP65 mean?

The IP code or Ingress Protection code indicates how well a device is protected against water and dust. IP65 means "Protected against water jets from any angle." This means your smart bird feeder should remain watertight in any kind of weather.

Can I share the live views from my smart bird feeder?

Most apps allow you to give access to multiple viewers.

Can you live stream from a smart bird feeder?

It depends on the model. Some can live stream, while others can't.

Are there alternatives to expensive smart bird feeders?

There are bird feeders with camera that are quite "cheep", but cheap is the operative word. Don't expect long life or good quality from a smart bird feeder under $100. The low-priced bird feeders with camera also don't use an app to identify birds or send notifications to your phone.

Can I DIY a smart bird feeder?

You can build a bird feeder with a camera using a GoPro, doorbell or other security camera or you can use a motion activated trail cam. These won't give you the "smart" feature of bird identification though, unless you can figure out how to pair with one of the online apps.

However, trail cams usually don't transmit pictures; doorbell cameras don't give the best quality video and GoPro is quite expensive.

For those who love to tinker, you can build your own bird feeder camera from parts. There's a parts list and instructions here, and a video explaining what to do here.

(Note that these links are for building the camera, not a feeder with a camera.)

Got more questions?

If we've missed an important question, drop us a line in the comments and we'll try to get answers for you!

Know someone who wants a smart bird feeder? Please help them out by sharing this article!

Image credit: Bird Buddy

About the author

Joy Thurlow

Hi, I'm Joy Thurlow. Watching birds in the back yard is a favorite hobby of mine. My mission with Joy of Birdwatching is to share (accurate) information about birds, birding and useful products to help everyone connect with nature and enjoy the birds while we still have them. Thanks for reading!

20 Comments

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    • Hi Darlene, thanks for visiting!
      Check the manufacturer’s instructions if you still have them.

      Many smart bird feeders are rated for temperatures above -4 degrees Fahrenheit, so if it gets colder than that you should probably take it down.

      Best wishes,
      Joy

  • Hi I have a Bird Fly camera and there are three camera settings. what is the difference between HD SD and Auto? do you know?

    • Hi Karen,
      Thanks for visiting. HD and SD would be high or standard definition, like on your TV. You’d choose HD if you want to watch the videos on a larger screen than your phone, but this will also make the file sizes larger.
      I don’t know what auto means on your model, though I would guess it means either “choose HD or SD automatically” or “snap a photo when motion is detected.”
      Sorry I can be more help. Enjoy your new camera!
      Joy

    • Hi Shelly,
      Thanks for visiting. Can you select the motion-sensor sensitivity? If you can, possibly it’s set on ‘high’. Change the setting to a lower level and see if that helps.
      Enjoy your camera feeder!
      Joy

    • Hi Randall,
      Congrats on your new camera feeder! There’s no need to take your other feeders down. More feeders = more birds.
      If you position your camera feeder so it can ‘see’ birds on your some of your other feeders, you’ll capture even more action!

      Birds are skittish about new things in their environment, so give them at least a couple of weeks to get used to the new feeder.

      Happy birdwatching!
      Joy

    • Hi Laura,
      I’m sorry to hear that. In some feeders, the moisture will evaporate eventually. Unfortunately I don’t know what proactive steps you can take.
      If there is an electronics or camera store nearby, you might try taking it to one of them. They may have some useful advice.

      Sorry I can’t be more helpful,
      Joy

  • I threw box out and now need the code on it to get onto Wi-Fi. What can I do? It’s a amoejov humming bird feeder.

    • Hi Barbara,
      You can try contacting the manufacturer, but most camera feeders are made in China. It’s possible a tech support team like Geek Squad may be able to help, but other than that, I don’t know what you can do.

      Best wishes,
      Joy

    • Hi Ruth,
      Probably not unless the smart birdfeeder app allows you to connect more than one on the setup page.
      If you can contact the app maker, they’d be able to tell you.
      Sorry I can’t be more helpful.
      Joy

  • my camera was just installed yesterday and have been getting great pix! Today tho, for last half hour I’m getting a red ring or glow in the middle of the picture? Any thoughts as to why that is happening?

    • Have you noticed a shift in the angle from which the sun is coming at the feeder? That’s the only thing I can think of that could cause that. Hope this helps!
      Joy

    • Hi Martha,
      That’s a strange thing to have happen. I’m sorry but I have no idea why it’s occurring. My best guess is that it’s a software glitch? Best thing to do is contact the manufacturer of the camera and the app provider for advice.
      Hope this helps,
      Joy

About the Author

Joy Thurlow

Hi, I'm Joy Thurlow. Watching birds in the back yard is a favorite hobby of mine. My mission with Joy of Birdwatching is to share (accurate) information about birds, birding and useful products to help everyone connect with nature and enjoy the birds while we still have them. Thanks for reading!

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