These smart bird feeders let you connect with birds in a whole new way

Some of these feeders can use AI to identify birds and have cameras that alert you when they arrive, so you don’t miss any of the action.

A yellow bird sits on a bird feeder filled with seeds and a built in camera.
Photograph by Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images
ByChelsey Cook
October 10, 2024
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Bird feeders offer an easy way to start bird-watching and connect more deeply with nature. Standard bird feeders have been around since the 19th century, but new “smart bird feeders” have made it even easier to connect with birds from home. In addition to having reservoirs for food, many include built-in cameras that can send you notifications when birds arrive, photos and videos, and even help you identify species through artificial intelligence (AI) tools. 

As an avid birder, I know the value of using AI and apps like Merlin ID to help identify birds in the field. The ability to learn about birds from the comfort of your home can enhance the bird-watching experience and may even spur you to venture out into nature for more. 

The best smart bird feeders should come with a high-quality camera that shoots in a minimum of 720p. Artificial intelligence, either as a built-in feature or as an add-on subscription, is also helpful for identifying visiting birds. But you can get by with apps like Merlin ID too. We looked at several smart bird feeders, and based on these qualities, expert advice, and our own experience birding, we’ve determined that the Netvue Birdfy Feeder is the best overall. We found other great smart feeders too. 

The best smart bird feeders 

Here’s everything you need to know about our favorite smart bird feeders. 

Best smart bird feeder overall: Netvue Birdfy Feeder 

Red bird sitting on a blue and white bird feeder with a built in camera placed on a tan background.
Photograph Courtesy Amazon

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Why we like it: The Netvue Birdfy Feeder is our overall smart bird feeder pick for its sturdiness, impressive AI technology, ease of use, and phenomenal camera capabilities. It comes with an app that sends real-time notifications and pictures of bird visitors and an AI subscription that can identify over 6,000 species, according to the manufacturer. The camera has a wide, 155-degree field of view, color night vision, and 8x magnification offering plenty of details. The perch stretches fairly far from the feeder, accommodating several birds at once. We also like that this smart feeder has a six-month battery life and a solar panel. 

Keep in mind: Some reviewers say the AI feature has mistaken certain birds for similar species.  

Product details:

Weight: 3 lbs. | Seed capacity: 1.5L | Camera resolution: 1080 pixels | Mounts: Wall, pole, tree 

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Best smart bird feeder with solar panel: Harymor Bird Feeder with Camera 

Yellow and black bird flying to a green bird feeder with a built in camera surrounded by fruits and nectar. A solar panel sits in the background.
Photograph Courtesy Amazon

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Why we like it: While most of the smart bird feeders in this guide sport long battery lives, the Harymor Bird Feeder has the best solar capacity. The built-in 3W solar panel and 3W external solar panel provide enough power so you don’t miss the action due to a dead battery. 

We also like that this feeder includes an app with bird arrival notifications and access to AI technology with a database of 10,000 species. A paid subscription gets you bird facts, so you can learn all about visiting species.  

Keep in mind: Some reviews mention durability issues, including bent mounts and squirrel-chewed cables.   

Product details:

Weight: 5.4 lbs. | Seed capacity: 2L | Camera resolution: 1080 pixels | Mounts: Wall, tree 

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Best smart bird feeder with AI identification: Birdbuddy Smart Bird Feeder 

Blue bird sits on a blue birdhouse bird feeder with built in camera. A phone shows the view of the camera.
Photograph Courtesy Amazon

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Why we like it: While many smart bird feeders offer AI identification, reviewers say that Birdbuddy is the most accurate. This feeder also comes with an app for arrival notifications, identification, bird trivia, and tips on how to attract new species. The app will even send your phone photo postcards of birds you may have missed. 

We also like that this feeder has a clear back so birds can see the food, plus the manufacturer says the housing is made of recycled plastic. For an additional cost, you can add a solar roof, a wall mounting bracket, and a nutrition set, including a water fountain, fruit stake, and jelly tray. 

Keep in mind: The Birdbuddy is one of the most expensive feeders in this guide. The camera is lower in quality compared to other smart bird feeders.  

Product details:

Weight: 1.3 lbs. | Seed capacity: 0.9L | Camera resolution: 720 pixels | Mounts: Hanging, pole (wall mount for additional cost) 

Best smart bird feeder on a budget: Wasserstein Birdfeeder 

Red bird sitting on a clear and brown plastic birdhouse bird feeder with a built in camera. All placed on top of a tan background.
Photograph Courtesy Amazon

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Why we like it: The Wasserstein Birdfeeder costs less than half of the feeders on this list because it doesn’t come with a built-in camera. However, it’s a great budget option that works with a wide range of Blink, Wyze, and Ring security cameras. We love the hummingbird tray and the ability to add a solar panel, which costs extra.  

Keep in mind: The Wasserstein has the smallest seed capacity, and there’s no AI function to help you identify birds.  

Product details:

Weight: 2.3 lbs. | Seed capacity: 0.8L | Camera resolution: N/A | Mounts: Wall, pole, tree 

(Here are the best bird feeders for hummingbirds, cardinals, and more)

Best smart bird feeder with sturdy mount: Soliom BF08 

Blue bird sitting on a green birdhouse bird feeder with a build in camera and a solar panel placed to the right all placed over a tan background.
Photograph Courtesy Amazon

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Why we like it: Soliom BF08 is built with a metal case and an acrylic container, plus three mounting options for poles, walls, and trees. We like that the mounting brackets are made of steel, adding a bit more assurance for a secure installation. 

Paired with the Soliom app, you can get real-time bird arrival notifications, photos, and videos. There’s even full-color night vision for after-midnight visitors. An AI subscription gives you access to 10,000 bird species. 

Keep in mind: The AI recognition requires a separate, monthly subscription. Some reviews mention that the app isn’t intuitive. 

Product details:

Weight: 5 lbs. | Seed capacity: 2.7L | Camera resolution: 1080 pixels | Mounts: Wall, pole, tree

(The best cameras for bird photography) 

Best splurge smart bird feeder: Netvue Birdfy Feeder Bamboo 

Orange bird sitting on a bamboo bird feeder with a built in camera. A solar panel and a phone showing the cameras view sit besides the bird feeder, placed on a tan background.

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Why we like it: Just like our overall pick, the Netvue Birdfy Feeder Bamboo is a high-quality smart bird feeder with color night vision, a 155-degree lens angle, and app-supported AI. We love that it’s made with FSC-certified and sustainable bamboo, which blends a bit better into the background for attracting birds.   

With the largest seed capacity and a solar panel, the Birdfy Feeder Bamboo is largely self-sustaining, providing plenty of time for bird activity between seed and power top-ups.  

Keep in mind: The Birdfy Feeder Bamboo is by far the heaviest and the most expensive bird feeder on our list.  

Product details:

Weight: 10 lbs. | Seed capacity: 3L | Camera resolution: 1080 pixels | Mounts: Wall, pole, tree 

How we chose the best smart bird feeders with cameras 

We considered several factors when creating this list of the best smart bird feeders. The following factors were particularly important. 

  • Third-party reviews: We combed through customer reviews from sources other than company websites for unbiased opinions.  
  • Image quality: This factor is important for bird-watching, so we chose smart feeders with cameras that offer at least 720p resolution with wide-angle lenses.  
  • Battery life: It’s important to choose bird feeders with batteries that last at least a week. We also included feeders with options for solar panels to extend battery life. 
  • Durability: Bird feeders are designed to live outdoors, so they’re likely to attract squirrels and raccoons. We looked for water-resistant or waterproof feeders with sturdy mounts.  

Tips for buying smart bird feeders 

AI capabilities 

Most smart bird feeders come with AI identification, either as an included feature or at an additional cost. Basic AI capabilities simply identify bird species, but some can also send you trivia about each species. The Wasserstein Bird Feeder doesn’t have AI, but you can use third-party apps like Merlin ID or Audubon to identify birds based on security camera photos.  

Integrated apps  

Many smart bird feeders come with smartphone apps that connect to your bird feeder and provide real-time bird visitor alerts. They also let you access photos and videos, AI identification, and education components like bird trivia. Some apps come with a community of bird lovers who share photos and information about the birds they see. You can download the apps before buying the feeder to test their usability; some are easier to use than others.  

Camera quality 

With the exception Wasserstein Bird Feeder, all of the smart bird feeders in this guide come with a camera. Like security cameras, they are motion-activated and provide high-definition images and videos of visiting birds. Most of the cameras shoot in 720p or 1080p, which is better quality. Some, like the Netvue Birdfy Feeder, come with night vision and magnification. If you’re looking for the best footage, choose a feeder that has a camera with a wide lens, shoots in 1080p, and has night vision and magnification. 

Add-ons 

Some smart bird feeders offer add-ons for an extra cost. Solar panels are great for boosting your smart bird feeder’s battery life. A water fountain, treat stake, and jelly tray can entice more birds too. 

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Frequently asked questions 

Do you have to pay a monthly fee for smart bird cameras? 

Most bird feeders require a monthly subscription to access AI identification. Feeders without AI, like the Wasserstein Birdfeeder, generally don’t require a subscription. 

Do smart bird feeders come with solar panels? 

Some feeders, like the Netvue Birdfy Feeder Bamboo, come with solar panels. Others, like the Birdbuddy, offer them as an add-on.  

Do all bird feeders with cameras have AI identification? 

Most bird feeders with cameras have AI identification available for an additional monthly subscription.  

Chelsey Cook is an Alaska-based writer, mountain guide, and avid birder who writes about the outdoors, travel, and conservation. Her work can be found in Wide Open Spaces, Matador Network, and National Geographic. 
*Although we are sharing our personal opinions of these experiences or products with you, National Geographic is not endorsing these experiences or products on behalf of anyone. It has not performed product safety testing on any of these products, did not manufacture them, and is not selling, or distributing them and is not making any representations about the safety or caliber of these products or experiences for individual consumers. Prices and availability are subject to change from the date of publication.