Odds are, at This point you’ve probably seen or know someone who has a smart bird eater. They are quite recognizable from afar with their clear dwellings, cameras and solar panels, and perhaps a friend or family member sent you a photo or video of a bright gold or beautiful piece of wood (guilty). The question at the time is if these things are really worth the $ 100 plus price. Are they actually ongoing? And what about the squirrel?
Fortunately for you, we have tested the most popular models of smart bird eaters, including Original BirdFy Eater of Netvue ($ 145)the Bird Buddy ($ 239)and even lower price Case of Bird Eater Phonic ($ 56)For months finally – in rain, snow and Texas heat, and in a yard with constant squirrels. We have explored the programs and notification settings, installed any optional solar panels and use Cornell Lab is about birds– is good as Google -Lenso and our own local competence – to control the accuracy of AI identifications.
Updated February 2025: We added the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro and Harymor Bird Feeder with a camera, updated longer test notes on the BirdFy Duo, rearranged options and updated links and prices.
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Former wired reviewer Medea Giordano tested some eaters on a balcony in Texas and one in a courtyard in Pennsylvania. In Texas, she set them both on a table as well as fixed to the grid with the inclusive mounting straps. In Pennsylvania, she used the brackets to attach to Polo. Wired reviewer Kat Merck tested eaters in a rural summer district in southwestern Washington. The eaters were mounted directly on the house or on a fence with the inclusive bracket mountains, or hanged by the shepherd’s hook.
After an arrangement, we filled them with a bird seed (or, in the case of the birdfy Hum, a nectar mixture of 4-to-1 granulated sugar and water) and patiently awaited the local birds to find them. We checked all inclusive app functions, seeing how often we have received notifications and noting whether they are exactly picking up only birds or any kind of outdoor movement, and how good they can distinguish bird species. We dismantled and cleaned them, giving them back to their pointers. We test each for two weeks at least, but usually for more than a month.
Best overall
This gay blue-and-white eater, of security company Netvue, is the first Smart Feeder former wired reviewer Medea Giordano tested, in 2022. At the time she gave it to it 6/10 Rating because of its Price and Wonky Ai. Both metrics have improved since then -I was impressed by BirdFy’s AI -App when I tested the updated 2 -duet (see below), and this eater is very often sold for $ 200 or less. If you pay $ 20 more, you get a lifetime subscription from AI identification, which is a solid agreement. Without it it will cost you $ 5 monthly. Medea tested this and the birdfan bamboo diner (below) and found the AI -recognition did not always identify birds correctly. This is the eater I bought my old parents for Christmas while Amazon Prime Day Sale, and they had a similar experience. This said, I tested eaters of multiple brands and, considering the wide variety in lighting, shadows and camera cleaning, no ai will do perfectly. Unlike some brands, BirdFy’s AI still works more often than not.
Medea has found that the 1080p wide-angle camera picks up a lot more movement of non-birds, so you may end up with a ton of notifications depending on where this is set. If you are looking forward to a bird’s food-security camera hybrid, however, this could be exactly what you want-especially because it offers a color night vision. The Ip65 Plastic construction also makes this eater lasting and easier to clean, and the 50-month seed reservoir is much easier to fill than the bird booth with its proper flip top. Not all packages come with a solar panel but you can Buy it apart. Unlike other eaters, the solar panel is not built in and will need to be mounted and connected separately with the inclusive 9.8-foot load cable. (The BirdFy comes with a polar mountain, wall -mountain and tree -strap.)
Unfortunately, we still have to test a perfect smart diner, but I think the basic plastic bird is the best option on the market now for its value, ease of use and combination of functions.
Under champion
Bird Buddy (8/10, Wired recommends) is the original smart eater and what originally inspired a cable reviewer Medea Giordano to launch this guide after the nutrition has been announced during CES 2022. Its compact, one-piece design (available in blue and yellow) is easily managed and configured, especially if you spring for the flow roof solar panels for $ 20 more. The solar panel design does not require separate mounting or displayed wires for squirrels or other animals to potentially chew. The AI is not example, although its bird identification is at least usually in the same family. For example, when Medea tested it, the AI liked to say that the funeral pigeons who visited daily were sometimes white-winged or Eurasian column pigeons.
There are many functions that are not hidden behind a subscription salary. When a bird is identified, you see facts about this species, including what they like to eat and their typical size and weight, plus clips of their bird songs and calls. You will also be able to see this species of birds among other community galleries (you must specifically choose to share with the community to publish your photos). Premium -abone ($ 7.50 a month or $ 90 per year) unlocks functions such as reporting photos of what you think could be sick birds, along with the ability to give specific birds unique names.
Medea recommended spring for the Perch ExtenderBecause the stock does not have a ton of room, and I agree – many times I noticed birds standing in the seed or sitting on the corner of the perch only visible. The bird’s friend also has his own host of others Add -onsand the brand allows creators to make their own accessories Like beautiful fences and various types of perks.
