Tube bird feeders come in two different types of feeders: nyjer and thistle seed feeders, and mixed seed feeders. Depending on which type you use will determine the species of birds that come to the feeder. The two types of tube bird feeders are designed with plastic of mesh tubing, slotted feed ports, and feeding perches. Larger birds like woodpeckers, pine siskins, and house finches will also eat at these types of feeders, especially the types that cater to the thistle seed. As a matter of fact, any bird that fits on the perch will enjoy these functional and decorative tube bird feeders so you should see many feather friends perched on your new tube bird feeder soon after you install it.
Tube bird feeders are designed to discourage birds like cardinals, blue jays, grosbeaks, grackles and blackbirds from eating at them. They have no way to fit on the small perches that surround the bottom of the feeders. The feet are too big to fit in the space between the perch ring and the bottom of the feeder. Hopper and ground feeders are better for these types of birds.
If you are still having problems with larger birds chasing away the small birds you are trying to attract, invest in what is called an upside down tube bird feeder. The ports from which the thistle seeds come out of are actually located under the perches. It is interesting to watch the birds land and turn themselves upside in order to eat. Unless the birds are willing to be flexible in this way, only the smaller birds will come and feed at these. It’s also very common to see pine siskins and goldfinches eating from these upside tube bird feeders as they are acrobatic and don’t seem to mind hanging down.
Tube bird feeders that use mixed seeds have larger feeding ports. These ports are designed to allow larger seeds such as sunflower seeds easily pass through them so the birds can access them. There are numerous perches and feeding ports also located on these tube bird feeders. If you have numerous birds that frequent your yard, you may want to hang up quite a few of these feeders of different styles with different types of seeds. This helps reduce the birds from competing with each other to get to the tasty morsels you have set out for them.
As a child, Kent Spade spent his summers working in his grandfather’s workshop building bird feeders. As he grew older, Kent began to develop his writing skills. Combining the two, he has gone on to write numerous articles about outdoor furniture. As long as he keeps on collecting tube bird feeders, Kent will always have something to write about.