OUR TOP PICKS
In this review of the best bird feeder camera we’ll show you what we found when we decided to add a bird feeder camera to our home.
This past summer I added a bird feeder to my front porch. I get to enjoy watching the birds come and go as they bicker over the food. But, I quickly realized that I was missing out on a way to share those moments with others. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a bird feeder with a camera. But now, I decided to do just that, and since I was shopping around, I thought I’d help you out and make a review post of what I found.
Our Top Picks
SOLIOM BF08- Smart Bird Feeder Camera
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NETVUE Birdfy Lite - Smart Bird Feeder with Camera
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Smart Bird Feeder with Camera Solar Powered
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There are hundreds (thousands???) of different makes and models of bird feeders with cameras built in. It was a little daunting at first trying to figure out where to start. So, after a lot of research, I settled on 3 brands and models. These choices were the right combination of features, durability and price for what I was looking for. I think they’ll work well for you too.
For each feeder camera we’ve provided more detail as well as some pros and cons of each. We’ve also given you multiple purchase options so you can find the best deal.
Since prices can change frequently, we didn’t include the prices, just the links. That way you’ll have the current information when you go to buy your bird feeder camera.
Just a heads up: ZenQuestLife.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs. That means that you should assume all links to products or services for sale are affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, you won’t pay one penny more but I may earn a commission.
- OUR TOP PICKS
- Our Top Picks
- More Details On Our Top Pick Best Bird Feeder Cameras
- SOLIOM BF08- Smart Bird Feeder Camera
- Pros
- Cons
- NETVUE Birdfy Lite – Smart Bird Feeder with Camera
- Pros
- Cons
- Smart Bird Feeder with Camera Solar Powered
- Pros
- Cons
- What You Need To Know About Best Bird Feeder Cameras Before You Buy
- FAQ
- Tips To Attract More Birds To Your Feeders
- The Best Bird Feeder Camera Review – The Bottom Line
- Our Top Picks
More Details On Our Top Pick Best Bird Feeder Cameras
So here is more information on each of our top picks. We’ve compiled all the information you need so you can get the best camera for your wants, needs and budget. We did all the ‘legwork” so you don’t have to!
SOLIOM BF08- Smart Bird Feeder Camera
The Soliom BF08 smart bird feeder camera makes it easy to watch birds both in real time and on video if you missed the live action. With the Wifi connectivity, you can receive notification on your phone when there is activity at your feeder so you can watch even if you’re away from home.
The Soliom camera feeder includes an AI program to help identify the species of birds. It has 10,000 records of bird species so it’s unlikely they’ll be a bird you can’t identify. The AI function is an addon subscription. A two way talk function allows you to hear and talk to the birds, or use it when a squirrel is trying to steal the food. There is also a spotlight and siren to drive away pests.
Sturdy, metal design with easy to add feed and clean design features. The feed area is large and has a clear feed container. It’s waterproof and comes with drain holes so no dangerous, moldy food for your birds.
This feeder comes with lifetime guarantee and a fee 32G SD card is included so you can save your videos locally. Built in rechargeable battery and solar panel for long lasting camera recording.
Pros
- Made of metal for durable long life
- Night vision
- Excellent image quality
- Easy set up
Cons
- May record movements of branches
- Some users complained of poor wifi connectivity
- Some users found that birds crawled into feeder when food levels were low and got trapped
NETVUE Birdfy Lite – Smart Bird Feeder with Camera
NETVUE smart bird feeder with camera is another great choice for anyone who wants to keep up on all the backyard action. WIFI connectivity means you can bird watch from anywhere you have internet. With a phone app you can receive real time notification when there are birds at your feeder.
With 1080P crystal clear, high resolution viewing and great night vision, you can watch birds day and night. The camera has an 8x magnification feature so you can get up close and personal and really see all the detail.
The 5dBi antenna and a stable 2.4ghz connection helps keep you connected with a strong signal.
The bird feeder is weather proof and will keep the food dry, which cuts down on dangerous mold growth. Decent size container so you may not have to refill really often (I say may not because it depends on how many birds you get!). This sturdy design means that you will be enjoying this bird feeder for years to come.
Pros
- Durable, weatherproof design for no mold in the food
- Can get close up views of birds
- Really good night vision
Cons
- Difficult to mount on pole
Smart Bird Feeder with Camera Solar Powered
The Smart Bird Feeder with Camera will be constantly on alert for the perfect picture of all your feathered visitors. You will be notified, via a WIFI connected app on your phone, when birds arrive so you never miss out. The free ai technology will even let you know which species of bird has arrived. This is an especially helpful feature to anyone who is new to birdwatching.
The camera is 1080p high definition with a 130 degree wide angle view and 2 megapixels so you get a nice clear view day or night.
The large capacity feeder means you don’t have to refill as often. The waterproof design keeps the feed dry so there is no mold on the food, which can be deadly to birds. The feeder has holes in the bottom to allow any moisture that does get in to drain away.
In addition to being waterproof, it is a durable feeder so it should withstand wind, rain, snow and other harsh weather pretty well.
It comes complete with a 5200mAh battery which is rechargeable. Battery life is as much as 3 months depending on how often it gets triggered to record. There is a solar panel on the roof of the feeder which can also power the camera during the daylight hours.
The camera and the app makes it possible for up to 3 different phones to be viewing the action at the same time. I think this is a really cool feature. If you have loved ones, grandkids, etc. far away what a great way to get “together’ and watch nature!
Pros
- Quality video, day and night
- Free bird identity ai
- Ability to share images live with 3 phones
Cons
- Some users complained of poor WIFI connection
What You Need To Know About Best Bird Feeder Cameras Before You Buy
OK, I’ll be the first to admit it – I can get pretty crabby when it comes to sorting through various features and benefits form products I want to buy. It really can be overwhelming. So, I’ve done it for you!
These are the features to look for before you buy the best bird feeders cameras:
Weatherproof
Since the feeder will spend it’s life outside year round, it needs to be able to stand up to whatever weather comes it’s way. I live in a full 4 seasons climate – it’s really hot and sunny in the summer and very cold, snowy and windy in the winter. And during fall and spring, you never know what you’ll get!
So waterproof is a necessity but so is having a strong build. Your feeder will need to be built strongly enough to support the weight of the camera, the seed and the birds as well as be able to withstand whatever Mother Nature has in store. All of the feeders we reviewed in this article are well built and should hold up very well for many years.
Quality Camera
If you have the best bird feeder camera for bird watching that means you’ll be getting really great video. Make sure the camera is HD video 1080p resolution. Night vision is important too. Birds aren’t as active at night, but you might still catch something interesting! Oh, all the feeders listed above have great cameras will high resolution and night visions so you’re all set.
Battery Powered
You will be severely limited where you can place your bird feeder if you have to rely on a cord for power. All the feeders reviewed above have long lasting, rechargeable batteries and two of them have solar panels too. This will make it easy to get great video without having to worry about constantly recharging a battery.
Phone App
The ability to watch the video of your birds from where ever you are via WIFI and a phone app allows maximum enjoyment and use of your camera feeder. All models above do have phone apps and WIFI connectivity available. How well the WIFI works will depend on your WIFI network and will work better for some areas than others.
Ease of Use
You want a bird feeder with camera that takes very little set up and is virtually ready to go right out of the box. Most users found each one of the feeders we reviewed above to be fairly easy to set up the feeder as well as the app and connect to the camera via WIFI.
Audio
The ability to hear your birds, as well as yell at pesky squirrels and scare them away, is a really neat feature. Our reviewed cameras come with two way communication so you can see and hear what goes on at the feeder!
AI Identification
For newer birders, or if you get an unusual species and you’re not sure what it is, having the ability to id the bird is a lot more fun. All of the cameras above have an AI detection service. Some are part of a paid subscription but 2 of them offer this service for free. Users commented that the ai wasn’t always correct, but it’s still a fun feature that may prove helpful.
Type of Mounting
Depending on where you want to place your camera feeder, you’ll want to consider what type of mounting hardware it comes with. One of the cameras we reviewed above doesn’t work for pole mounting unless you’re willing to get a little creative and create a mount. It’s not hard, but if you don’t feel like messing with it, that may not be the best bird feeder option for you.
Another consideration is the location of the feeder relative to your house. Some users found that their WIFI wasn’t up to the task when they placed the feeders far away from the house. They lost the signal often, or the quality just wasn’t as good as it should have been. For the most part, these issues cleared up when they moved the feeders closer to the house and closer to the WIFI signal.
FAQ
Which Bird Feeder Camera Is Best?
We took the time to wade through the best bird feeder camera so you don’t have to! The 3 we listed above have a lot of very good reviews online, they have the features and durability that are important and they are top picks. You won’t go wrong with any of them.
Is There a Camera That Identifies Birds?
Yes, all the cameras feeders we reviewed above have an AI identification feature. Some do require a subscription and some are free.
Is a Camera Bird Feeder Worth The Money?
Honestly only you can answer that question. It really depends on how interested you are in birdwatching. Avid birders think that this is a small investment in their hobby and get a massive amount of pleasure out of the videos of birds at their feeders. Many people enjoy the opportunity to use these camera feeders to help teach their children to love, respect and learn about nature. Other people have given these as gifts to their elderly parents or grandparents, especially those with mobility issues who may not get outdoors very much.
Can I Use A Trail Cam To Watch Birds?
Yes, these can work very well. If you already have a feeder and a trail cam just set the came up by the feeder and you won’t miss a minute of what’s going on.
Tips To Attract More Birds To Your Feeders
If you are new to attracting birds to a bird feeder you may not realize that it might take a little time before the birds realize your house has a buffet waiting.
Here are a few tips to attract more birds to your backyard bird feeder camera:
- Make them feel safe by providing shelter. Providing bird houses, or just some yard debris so they can build their own, will draw more birds to your yard. Birds need to feel like they are safe from predators and that they can build a home in order to want to spend any time in your yard.
- Add water. By providing water to drink and water to bathe in, you are providing a more complete habitat and that will attract more birds. Birds can get sick an die from dirty water though, so make sure you keep birdbaths clean. To clean a birdbath, dump out the old water, wipe the entire surface with a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 9 parts water and use a stiff brush . If you see algae use one part bleach with 10 parts water. Thoroughly rinse before adding fresh water. Also, wear gloves so you don’t come into contact with any bird droppings.
- Try a variety of food. Different birds like different types of food. Sunflower seeds can be a popular choice for many common backyard birds including: blue jays, cardinals, finches, chickadees and sparrows.
- Keep the feeders full and keep them clean. Moldy or rotten seed can cause birds to get sick and die. Keeping the seed dry and adding new seed regularly will attract birds. Clean the feeder out periodically. Do some research to find the most common species of birds for your location and you can narrow down the types of food to use.
- Be patient. It may take a little while, but they’ll come! And the nice thing? They’ll keep coming back for years to come. If you supply the food, water and shelter, they’ll be back. And they’ll probably bring their friends too.
The Best Bird Feeder Camera Review – The Bottom Line
I love the outdoors. I love to be outdoors, though sometimes in the climate I live in it isn’t so much fun. The next best thing is to be able to look out my window and watch the birds, squirrels, chipmunks and occasional turkey. Being able to see them up close and personal with a bird feeder camera is just cool. These feeders with cameras have a lot of functionality – real time updates, live feeds, ai species detection, for example.
If you’re interested in purchasing one of the products we reviewed above, we have provided links in several places throughout the post. We’ve also provide two different buying options, both top name retailers so you know you’re getting the best price available.
Our Top Picks
- SOLIOM BF08- Smart Bird Feeder Camera with AI Identify Bird Species, Wild Bird Watching Cam, Live View, Instant Notifications, 5W Solar Panel -Metal Case. Available on Walmart and Amazon
- NETVUE Birdfy Lite – Smart Bird Feeder with Camera, Bird Watching Camera, Auto Capture Bird Videos & Motion Detection, Wireless Camera Ideal Gift for Bird Lover — Available on Walmart and Amazon
- Smart Bird Feeder with Camera Solar Powered, Wireless Outdoor Bird Feeder, Free AI Identify Bird Species, 1080P HD Auto Capture Bird Videos, Real Time Views and Notifications – Walmart and Amazon