I first started testing smart-home devices more than 20 years ago, when the only smart-home devices were X10. I’ve been covering smart-home gear for Wirecutter since 2016, and I’ve had my hands on everything from video doorbells, indoor security cameras, and outdoor security cameras to in-wall light switches, smart strip lights, and security systems. I’ve also written tech articles for The New York Times, Wired, and Men’s Health, among others.

Bird feeding is a fun pastime for both novice and experienced bird lovers, but if you’re not staring at your feeder 24/7, you could be missing out on a lot. And birding might be good for your health.

Smart bird feeders, a relatively new breed of devices, incorporate the attractive powers of a bird feeder with a wireless camera and a smartphone app that lets you view recordings of the activity in the feeder, so you don’t need to always watch the feeder to enjoy it. The camera can send smartphone alerts when birds come by and record videos or photos of their escapades for viewing later—and some smart feeders can even identify the various species of birds that visit, so they offer an educational component.

These devices aren’t for people who get their bird thrills from walking around in a park with binoculars. And they may not even be the best-designed feeders for attracting all kinds of birds. But smart feeders are for people who delight in having quirky bird selfies sent to their phone.

A smart bird feeder requires a strong Wi-Fi connection that can reach outdoors. How far you can place yours from your home depends on your networking equipment and the strength of your wireless signal. You may also consider beefing up that signal with a new router or a mesh network. Just keep in mind that even with the strongest Wi-Fi connection, you probably won’t be able to place the feeder on, say, a tree at the back of your yard. Look for locations that are closer to your home where you have a good Wi-Fi signal; use your smartphone to see where your signal is strong.

We’ve been researching smart bird feeders for about a year, looking at reviews from trusted publications and from owners. We found about a million knock-off feeders on Amazon, so we tried to restrict our selections for this guide to models from companies that have their own website, since it makes customer service a little easier. (We did make one exception to that rule.) On top of that, we considered the following criteria:

• Image quality: Most smart bird feeders have a camera with a 720p or 1080p resolution, which is good enough for this purpose. You should also consider the viewing angle, because birds don’t always pose right in front of the camera. All of the feeders we tested had cameras with a wide viewing angle of 120 to 135 degrees (which, incidentally, is considerably narrower than what you can find on our outdoor security camera picks).
• Bird identification: Most of the smart feeders we tested use AI to identify birds that visit. And while some do it better than others, this perk makes a smart feeder worth the money over a lower-tech option like simply setting up a camera next to a standard feeder or using something like the Wasserstein Bird Feeder Camera Case.
• Alerts: All smart bird feeders deliver smartphone alerts. We looked at which ones sent notifications during a feeding session and which were delayed, as well as the information that arrived with an alert.
• Video storage: Some feeders offer the ability to store photos and video to a microSD card, while others store your recordings in the cloud. A cloud plan allows you to access your videos on a smartphone when you aren’t home, or even when the power goes out. Some feeders that use a card require you to remove the card from the camera to view the footage on your computer, which we think is too much of a hassle.
• Solar panel: We looked for smart feeders that came with a solar panel or at least offered it for purchase as an add-on accessory. When birds figure out where food is, they come back often—and all of those visits trigger the camera, which can drain its battery faster. Having a solar panel keeps you from having to charge the camera regularly, which is a good thing, since the process typically involves removing the camera or climbing to a high place.
• Good-quality feeder: Birds can be ruthless, and squirrels are worse! We confirmed whether the feeder was sturdy, easy to clean, and simple to fill. A clean bird feeder makes for healthier and happier birds.

For testing, we connected all the cameras to our Verizon Fios network via a Wi-Fi router indoors (approximately 40 feet from the cameras) and our upgrade-pick mesh-networking kit, the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8). We used an iPhone 12 and a Google Pixel 7 Pro to review the cameras and their companion apps. We also set up an Arlo outdoor camera aimed at the feeders to see when they may have missed visits. And finally, we randomly selected 15 different visits from each feeder and ran them through Cornell’s Merlin Bird ID app to gauge the accuracy of the AI.

If you thought the movie The Birds could have used, well, more birds, choose the Netvue Birdfy Feeder. This smart bird feeder brings a flock of activity to your smartphone, delivering more notifications than any other feeder we tested. Each of those alerts includes the visitor’s species, and the camera captures clear audio and crisp 1080p video in a wide-angle view that isn’t distorted. Although the Birdfy Feeder can distinguish birds by name, we found that it could be indecisive, often tagging our videos with a few different bird types. Overall, however, the Birdfy Feeder is great for the budding or expert birder, as it offers an easy-to-fill feeder, all of the essential add-ons in one package, and a lively in-app community.

It can capture a bird’s entire wingspan in one wide, clear frame. The Birdfy Feeder has a built-in 1080p camera with a wide, 135-degree viewing angle. That wider image typically allowed us to see from beak to claw, even when more than one bird was perching. You can tilt the camera forward to angle it toward the action zone, as well. In addition, the camera features color night vision to capture raccoons, mice, bears, and other nocturnal creatures that may also enjoy the buffet you’ve left out.

You can enjoy a murmuration of notifications. Unlike other models we tested, which limit the number of alerts and recordings you get, the Birdfy Feeder delivers smartphone alerts every time the camera sees motion. We liked that, because even if the shot wasn’t clear, we still had a better idea of who or what was coming by: The Birdfy Feeder sends an alert for every single visitor, including other animals, as well as any people and vehicles that come into view (more on that below).

The Birdfy Feeder was also the only one of our picks that labeled the type of bird in the notifications—house sparrow, red-winged blackbird, mourning dove—so we knew whether the visitor was something we wanted to view immediately or whether it was that pesky grackle bullying all of the other birds and driving them away again.

It can also ID other animals. Netvue specializes in security cameras, including the one inside the Birdfy Feeder. That’s why this smart bird feeder can also detect and label all types of motion, besides birds and other animals, including people, cars, and package deliveries.

For best results at the bird feeder, go into the camera’s Settings and filter by “Pets, Animals, and Birds.” It will still capture and record video anytime it detects motion, even if the source is a person walking by, but in the app you can filter the activity feed to only “Birds, Squirrels, and other Animals.”

Choose your storage. The Birdfy Feeder can capture 20-second clips, which it stores free for up to 30 days in the cloud. You can increase that recording time to 30 seconds if you subscribe to Birdfy Cloud, which is $2 per month or $20 per year.

Should a bird or other creature hang out for a long time, the Birdfy Feeder creates several clips. In our tests, it wasn’t uncommon for us to get five or six clips from one visit (see Flaws but not dealbreakers), but for the most part, birds don’t linger for too long when they’re snatching a snack. And although we prefer the cloud storage, you also have the option to store footage on a microSD card.

It comes with everything you need. For about $200, you get the feeder, the solar panel, three different mounting attachments, and a perch. All of those components are extremely easy to set up, without tools. And we found that feeders with a perch attracted more birds than those without; often, one visitor would be waiting for another to finish chomping down or would just sit and belt out a few notes post-banquet. (That said, birds aren’t so picky. If you were to toss seeds into a wet cardboard box, they would still find it.)

Netvue also sells a Lite version of the Birdfy smart feeder that costs $150 but doesn’t have AI for bird recognition—something that we consider to be an essential part of the package. The AI is worth paying a bit more up front, but if you opt for the less expensive model, you can add on the AI later for $5 per month or by paying a $70 lifetime fee.

The seed reservoir is big and easy to fill. The flip-up roof on the feeder made the Birdfy model one of the easier feeders to fill in our tests, and we didn’t have to do it as often as with our runner-up since this model holds 50% more seed, 1.5 liters total.

The Birdfy Community is for the birders. When birds come to visit, you can save photos and clips to your Collection, as well as share them with the Birdfy Community, which includes endless clips and photos from other owners of Birdfy smart bird feeders. And tapping on the species name takes you to Wikipedia for more information about each bird. Although the birds have an ID, community members remain anonymous, as does their location. You can also filter to view non-bird animals that other Birdfy smart-feeder owners have captured, but a Birdfy spokesperson told us that the tags for such images (which in our experience included “Deer,” “Raccoon,” “Squirrel,” and even at least one “Labrador Retriever”) are added manually by community members.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The AI is a work in progress. We found that the Birdfy Feeder sometimes tagged clips of a single bird with two or even three different bird species. (The Bird Buddy model, our runner-up, did this too, but not as often.) We found that one of the tags was always correct. The app allows you to report when something is mislabeled, but it would be nice if you could just pick one ID and delete the others.

Recordings are too limited. Recorded clips max out at 20 seconds—30, if you subscribe to the Birdfy Cloud service. If a bird sticks around beyond that and continues munching, a new recording begins, but there’s about a 12-second gap between recordings. That said, birds tend not to hang out long, and 20 to 30 seconds of recording time should be plenty.

It may not do well in extreme cold. Whereas most outdoor cameras can withstand temperatures down to -4 °F, the Birdfy Feeder’s operating temperature range is from 14 °F to 122 °F. The company told us that it hasn’t received any negative feedback about this, saying that many owners report that the feeder works in extreme cold. Representatives also said that it isn’t necessary to bring the feeder in during winter months, but prolonged use outside may impact battery life.

The solar panel isn’t pretty. The Birdfy Feeder’s solar panel isn’t part of the actual feeder; it’s a separate piece attached with a cord. You can mount the panel on the feeder, but our runner-up from Bird Buddy, in contrast, integrates the solar panel into a snap-on roof, which results in a nicer, neater package, as well as less for you to mount. However, some people may see the separate solar panel as a benefit, since you can install and angle the panel out of shady spots.

Privacy and security snapshot

• Netvue encrypts video transmission from the camera to the app. Although storage and processing on the cloud are not encrypted, Netvue says the data is secured through the cloud platform.
• Although Netvue does not have a specific clause in its terms, representatives confirmed to us that the company will comply with legally supported requests from courts. Otherwise, audio and video sharing happens only as permitted by the owner.
• Location data is recorded only to enhance the bird-species recognition. It is never shared without user permission.
• User data is not shared outside of Netvue without granted permission.
• Netvue does not offer two-factor authentication, although a username and password are required for using the app.

For more details, read Netvue’s privacy statement.

For the budding bird lover, the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder with Solar Roof is a pricier option, but it has a sturdier build, allows for longer video clips, and provides more detailed information about feathered friends. The camera isn’t as good as that of the Birdfy Feeder, it misses a lot of action, and the feed hopper is smaller. However, Bird Buddy’s social network is an attractive feature, providing a window into feeders from around the world and letting you know exactly what you are watching and where it is.

It spouts more facts than a bird-trivia night. The Bird Buddy smart feeder is about more than just fun bird pics—it offers an educational aspect, too. But unlike a fusty bird book, Bird Buddy has a sense of humor: It gives birds labels such as “brainiacs,” “hoarders,” and “bullies,” and the descriptions more resemble kid-friendly trivia than they do dry ornithology essays. (Fun fact: Grackles allow ants to crawl all over them in an effort to kill parasites!)

Currently, Bird Buddy can identify about 1,000 species of birds using its proprietary database, which relies on individual vetting of new entries by ornithologists.

It’s tough but cute. At 9 by 6.3 by 6.89 inches, the Bird Buddy feeder is more compact than the other models we tested. Its solar panel doesn’t take away from its footprint, either, since that component is integrated into a snap-on roof; the piece also makes it look like a typical cute birdhouse, rather than a device with a high-tech (and sometimes bulky) upgrade. The feeder comes in two colors: blue and yellow.

It’s easy to install, but you may need extras. The Bird Buddy feeder comes already assembled; you just need to charge the included camera and pop it into the feeder, and you’re ready to peep. It comes with a metal hanger so you can hang it from a tree or deck, as well as an adapter for pole mounting (you supply the pole). You can also purchase a wall mount. We recommend getting the model that comes with the solar roof, though you can purchase the roof separately, as well as a perch, a hummingbird feeder, and other add-ons.

It has a lively community. The Bird Buddy app gives you a few ways to see birds beyond your backyard. Under Settings, BB Explore allows you to view videos and photos from five specific feeders located at Aloha Acres in Hawaii, Bird’s Eye Tower in Panama, Dove Buddy in Canada, Misty Mountain Trail in India, and Tropical Garden in Ecuador. Each spot features interesting birds against a lush backdrop. You need to tap to connect to each feeder if you want to view the content, which then delivers photos and videos to your main activity feed.

If you have a Bird Buddy Pro Subscription ($5 per month or $60 per per year), you can increase that number to as many as 25 feeders. Another tab in the app, labeled BB TV, provides endless bird action via publicly shared videos from Bird Buddy feeder owners all over the world. Unfortunately, you can’t interact with other birders, but BB Explore allows you to collect photos and videos for your in-app Collection, which organizes birds by type or timeline.

The AI is fussy, which can be either a perk or a problem. In our tests, this feeder delivered considerably fewer smartphone notifications, photos, and video than our top pick. Bird Buddy says that the AI works to deliver only the best of the best pop-ins. However, we set up a separate security camera nearby to see how much the Bird Buddy feeder was missing—and many of those events seemed like meaningful visits.

Sometimes, fewer notifications can be a good thing, because when there’s a free lunch, birds tend to come early and often—and all of those notifications could drive you bananas. If you’re worried that you are missing out, the Bird Buddy Pro Subscription offers a Frenzy mode, which delivers more notifications and more action.

Cloud storage is lengthy and free. Unlike the Birdfy model, the Bird Buddy feeder can capture clips up to one minute long, though it stores them in the cloud for only a week. If you want to hang on to footage of a specific visit, you can save the video or photos to your Collection with a tap.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

A better image will cost you. Out of the box, the Bird Buddy feeder has a fixed 720p camera, but you can enable it to go to 1080p with the Bird Buddy Pro Subscription ($5 per month or $60 per year). We don’t love having to pay for a better image. In our tests, we found the 720p footage to be bright and detailed enough, even though this model’s camera has a smaller viewing angle (120 degrees) than our top pick.

The add-ons—some of which we’d call essential—are expensive. While we recommend a solar panel for any smart bird feeder, it’s a must with the Bird Buddy model, which in our testing averaged just five days of battery life when fully charged. (In contrast, the Birdfy Feeder should be able to go for at least three months.)

You can purchase a Bird Buddy bundle with a solar roof or add the solar roof separately; either way, the piece makes this feeder a more expensive package. And while you have your wallet out, consider adding the $30 perch—we found that having one consistently attracted more visitors.

It doesn’t track nighttime visitors. Unlike the Birdfy Feeder, the Bird Buddy model does not have night vision, so you won’t be able to catch any midnight (or other night) snackers.

The Collection could be better organized. Once you save videos to your Collection, Bird Buddy doesn’t save the date or time of those visits. It can tell you the last time a specific species visited, but it doesn’t date-stamp individual photos or videos.

The feeder is not easy to fill—and you may be doing that often. The Bird Buddy model’s seed bin holds just 1 liter, a third less than our top pick. It’s also not as easy to fill, via a small flip-down window around the back. We do love that this feeder comes with a little seed cup, which we used to fill every feeder we tested. However, because the opening is so small, you can expect to drop some seeds. (The birds, squirrels, mice, and other critters won’t mind, though.)

Privacy and security snapshot

• Bird Buddy may share data with third parties, as outlined in section “4.4.3 Our processors/service providers” in its privacy policy.
• Bird Buddy may occasionally process personal data for the purposes of complying with legal requirements and other regulations.
• All location data collected is “non-precise.” The data serves to help identify bird species and may be shared with third-party processors in relation to storage of AI-related services.
• Bird Buddy does not offer two-factor authentication, although a username and password are required for use of the app.

For more details, read Bird Buddy’s privacy statement.

We loved the sharp images of the Feit Solar Camera Bird Feeder, but we couldn’t get over the wonky app, which was a little confusing and involved too many taps to see and ID birds. This feeder also offers no cloud storage option (it holds a microSD card), and both filling and dispensing seed was more difficult than it should have been.

Despite the parent company not having its own website, we still tested the Gyozol Smart Bird Feeder because at the time it was dubbed “Amazon's Choice.” Well, it certainly isn’t ours. Despite looking similar to our top pick, it constantly dropped its connection to our network and did a poor job of identifying birds—it often named species that aren’t even native to our locale.

We dismissed the Technaxx Birdcam TX-165 because it lacks a bird-identification feature and provides a smaller viewing angle than every other model we reviewed. It also has no cloud storage option. That last drawback would be tolerable, but you need to put the microSD card into a computer to access footage.

We plan to review the Birdkiss feeder, which has a camera similar to that of the Birdfy Feeder but comes in two variations: one with a circular design or a version with a metal build that claims to be squirrel-proof. The two models have the same camera with a 1080p resolution, a solar panel, and options for local and cloud storage.

We also plan to look at the FeatherSnap Scout, a Wi-Fi feeder that boasts a 100-foot range, bird identification, and options for storage on a microSD card or through a cloud plan ($6 per month or $60 per year).

This article was edited by Jon Chase and Grant Clauser.