The Best Bird Feeder Cameras of 2024 (I Tested 7 In My Yard!) (2024)

Table of Contents
JCs Wildlife E-Z Fill | Birdfy AI | Bird Buddy | Soliom | 3 More Tested | Key Factors

Each bird feeder camera was installed and tested in my yard. Scoring was applied to each of the 12 key factors to consider when purchasing a smart feeder. More details about these key factors are later in this article. Click here to see the details now.

JCs Wildlife E-Z Fill: Best Overall

My Observations of the JCs Wildlife E-z Fill

The JCs Wildlife smart feeder boasts impressive features and durability.

The image quality is very good and in line with other bird feeder cameras on the market. Check out the video montage below that I created from this feeder starring the birds in my yard.

Its weather-resistant design effectively protects against rain, snow, and wind, while the 1080P HD video and 2.0 MP2 photo capabilities ensure clear and detailed images.

Setting up the feeder is straightforward, with a pre-assembled feeder and comprehensive instructions for camera and app setup.

Although the app interface may initially seem confusing, referring to the provided instructions and online FAQs simplifies navigation over time.

The EZ Fill had a 100% bird identification accuracy score when I tested it one morning. Per the video below, it identified seven different species correctly.

The feeder’s durable construction, made from recycled poly lumber, includes a clever lever for easy filling ensuring longevity and convenience.

The large capacity container holds a whopping 80oz of seed.

It has an amazing battery life when connected to the solar panel. JCs Wildlife includes the panel at no additional charge – a unique benefit. I was surprised that the solar panel worked so well in my not-so-sunny state of Wisconsin.

Cleaning is hassle-free with removable components and a user-friendly design.

JCs Wildlife backs its product with a one-year warranty, reflecting its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction in the backyard birding market.

Birdfy AI: Best App

My Observations of the Birdfy

Birdfy includes a comprehensive Quick Guide booklet for easy setup.

Birdfy’s proprietary smartphone app is easy to use enabling you to quickly view and share images.

The Birdfy accurately identified both male and female northern cardinals as shown in the screenshot below.

I’ve also experienced accurate IDs for goldfinches, house finches, chickadees, bluebirds, Blue Jays, downy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, house sparrows, juncos, and more!

The Birdfy Feeder functions well even during inclement weather. In my Wisconsin yard, the Birdfy withstood driving rain, hail, snow, sleet, and temps over 100 ° F as well as temps below -65° F and kept the bird food dry.

Birdfy captures all moments in 1080P FHD. With 8X digital zoom/ I could see all the birds’ details.

The video images are up-close, clear, and impressive. Check out the video montage below that I created from the Netvue Birdfy Feeder videos captured in my yard.

The battery life was surprising. In my yard, it ran on the same battery charge for more than 9 months and I have a lot of activity.

Even when the battery depletes, recharging is simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly since you don’t have to buy new batteries and toss the old ones in the landfill. Just plug it in for a few hours and you’re set!

There’s much to love about this bird feeder camera but a couple of not-so-wonderful things to be aware of:

1. Getting the feeder properly cleaned was a challenge. It broke down into a few large pieces (roof, base, and middle section that houses the food) leaving many nooks and crannies for clumps of birdseed to hide.
2. The feeder is made from a hard plastic but if dropped, it will break.

The feeder is versatile enough to hold most types of bird food (except suet cake) and the perch is large enough to welcome a variety of sizes of birds. They also offer a variety of attachments for more food options like fruit and nectar.

Netvue, the company behind the Birdfy, offers a generous 2-year warranty on this product. They’ve been around in the bird-feeding industry for a few years now.

What Netvue lacks in longevity, it makes up for in dedication to improving the products based on user feedback. For example, when the Birdfy AI first came out in 2022 the bird ID feature was hit or miss. Improvements were made incrementally and now the bird ID is nearly 100%.

How to Mount The Feeder

You can mount the Netvue Birdfy by strapping it around a tree or post (strap & buckle are included) or screwing the mounting bracket to a tree or post (bracket included).

If you prefer to hang from a bird feeder pole (e.g. to prevent squirrels from accessing the food) you’ll need to make your own hanging system. The best solution I could come up with was to install the bracket to the top of a wooden block and screw the pole mounting flange to the bottom of the block.

I install all of my bird feeder cameras on the Squirrel Stopper Denali in my yard. It’s a sturdy pole equipped with a baffle that bounces around in all directions. Here’s a bit more detail depending on your situation:

If you don’t care about the bird identification feature (AI), you can save some money by buying the Birdfy Lite. See the pic below.

Does the Birdfy Require a Subscription?

The Birdfy AI does not require a subscription.

The Birdfy Lite does not require a subscription. However, if you wish to use the bird identification feature you must pay for the subscription.

If you’re thinking the Birdfy Lite looks a lot like the Birdfy AI, you’re right! The feeders are identical. There are a few differences in the camera capabilities between the AI and Lite.

1. The Lite model costs about $20-$30 less, making it a terrific budget option.
2. The AI model includes the ability to identify the bird species with no additional charge (a paid subscription is not needed).
3. You can “convert” the Lite model to support bird identification by purchasing the subscription. The paid subscription is about $5/month.

Bird Buddy: Best for Tech Phobic

My Observations of the Birdfy

The device is preassembled, which is helpful for those not good with mechanics like me. The pamphlet had three simple steps:

1. Charge the camera.
2. Download and install the app.
3. Make an account and follow the on-screen instructions.

The app’s language was easy to understand, unlike some others I’ve used before.

The feeder works great in all types of weather. In my Wisconsin yard, it stayed strong through rain, hail, snow, and extreme temperatures, keeping the bird food dry.

The Bird Buddy provides a 5MP camera resolution for photos and 720p HD for videos. 1080p is the recommendation for good quality but I found the clarity and detail of the images to be excellent. See for yourself in the videos below.

The app is very easy to use. Each time the device captures bird activity at the feeder, it alerts you on your phone. When you open the app you’re presented with a list of birds the feeder identified along with an icon of each bird. Surprisingly, the icon bears a likeness to the species of bird.

You’re then walked through the process of viewing the images and photos, saving, sharing, etc.

Here’s an example:

1. A house finch was captured on the feeder. You decide to “collect” the images. You tap “Collect”

2. The video displays and you like it. You tap “Yes, save the video”

3. You choose which photos to save.

For an experienced smart feeder app user, the app is almost too easy. The user is walked through actions step-by-step which took more time than I was used to. As a “super-user” I typically zip around from one screen to the next to view the video and share it if I want to.

In my opinion, Bird Buddy’s app interface is designed for people who are not very tech-savvy. While it’s simple for anyone to use, speed users (myself included) may find it slows them down because there is no way to skip steps.

The feeder’s motion detection feature is interesting. I didn’t understand it at first. I knew birds were coming to the feeder (I could see them from my window) but the camera wasn’t triggering to capture them. I learned it only captures images when the birds are in an ideal position for photography. This saves you from sifting through poor-quality videos.

However, Bird Buddy’s definition of an “ideal image” may differ from yours, potentially causing it to skip over the images you wanted to capture.

For instance, if an elusive Indigo Bunting appeared but Bird Buddy didn’t consider it still enough for a quality photo, it wouldn’t capture the video or photo, even though you might have wanted to know the bird was there regardless of the quality.

The battery life is not amazing. In less than a month the charge was depleted. Luckily, it’s a lithium rechargeable battery and the camera easily comes out of the unit for recharging.

Just like the other plastic feeders, this one can easily break or crack if dropped rendering it less durable.

I was able to completely disassemble the feeder to clean it thoroughly. The camera was especially easy to remove.

The feeder holds many types of bird seeds and the perch is large enough to welcome cardinals and other medium-sized. You can purchase a variety of optional attachments for the feeder like a solar roof and perch extender.

The 2 year-warranty will safeguard your investment if you choose to purchase it.

The company behind the Bird Buddy began a few years ago first launching the feeder as a Kickstarter. Currently, they offer the smart feeder and hummingbird smart feeder

How to Mount The Feeder

The Birdfy offers two mounting options: a universal mount and a metal hanger. I went with the universal mount, which I easily attached using four screws and a screwdriver. It fits well on top of my Squirrel Stopper pole system, which I recommend if you have squirrels nearby.

Soliom Humbirdy: Best for Hummingbirds

My Observations of the Soliom Smart Hummingbird Feeder

A few of the other smart bird feeders offer hummingbird extensions that attach to the feeder offering a reservoir of nectar. The problem is the birdseed from the main container blows into the nectar holes and plugs them up. As a result, the hummers aren’t able to feed from it.

The Soliom smart feeder is specifically designed for hummingbirds. Since the design supports only nectar, no bird seed or other foods are flying around plugging up the nectar holes.

This feeder has all the key factors a smart feeder should have but what I love most about it is that the hummingbirds love it! No matter where I placed it in my yard, the hummers found it and took their time while feeding from it.

The feeder comes with a user-friendly user manual making it a dream to set up. In addition, it explains the smartphone app in detail. Even the least tech-savvy person benefits from this document.

Rather than taking a security camera and sticking it inside a feeder, the company appears to have taken steps to understand its target market – backyard birders. The feeder is designed to be easy to clean and is leak-proof to prevent ant and bee infestation (a leading cause for hummingbirds to avoid a feeder).

The video images are up-close, clear, and impressive. Check out the video below created from the Soliom Humbird Hummingbird Smart Feeder in my yard.

The bird species identification feature accurately identified the ruby-throated hummingbird. Unfortunately, that is the only hummer species in my area so I wasn’t able to validate its accuracy for other species.

Soliom, the company behind this hummingbird smart feeder, has been around since 2017. While their primary focus started with home security cameras, their expansion into the bird feeder camera market was a natural transition.

3 More bird feeder cameras I Tested

Wasserstein & Blink

Wasserstein is a smart bird camera case. The Blink is an outdoor wireless camera. The Wasserstein is designed to hold the outdoor camera inside the enclosed, watertight case. Supported cameras include the Blink Outdoor, Ring Stick Up, Wyze Cam Outdoor, and Wyze Cam v3.

Together, the case and camera make an alternative option you may wish to consider.

The biggest difference between this setup and the smart feeders we’ve discussed is the Wasserstein/Blink do not have a bird identification feature. Some people don’t care about this feature and if that’s you, I recommend the Wasserstein & Blink. I especially recommend the combo if you already use one of the compatible camera models.

You can check out my full review of the Wasserstein & Blink here: .

isYoung Smart AI Recognition Bird Feeder

The isYoung smart bird feeder did not score as high as the others. If you can live without the drawbacks associated with this feeder, it may be a good option for you.

Pros

• Inexpensive.
• Good image quality.
• The weather-resistant enclosure keeps food dry and fresh.
• Included solar panel to keep batteries charged.

Cons

• Very poor setup instructions.
• Confusing smartphone app.
• Small food storage capacity.
• Cannot be easily mounted to a pole system.
• Bird identification accuracy only 50%

You can check out my full review of the isYoung feeder here: isYoung Smart Bird Feeder Review.

AUXCO Smart Bird Feeder

The AUXCO would have been another decent budget option but unfortunately is no longer available.