Caged Bird Feeder Test: The Solution to Aggressive Birds?

Sometimes, larger birds become dominant at a bird feeding station. In order to let the smaller birds eat, size-selective caged bird feeders can be used. Today, I test out one of these caged bird feeder, but how well will it work?

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Thanks to Terry Sohl for allowing us to use his range maps

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[bluekatgal]

After many years watching birds at our feeders I noticed that the smaller birds staggered their time at feeders to be there when more aggressive birds were gone. My husband pointed out that birds go from area to area in the neighborhood which caused me to start watching timing more. I did have issues with doves and pigeons but found some feeders that slowed them down.

[jamescady]

Thanks for this! After two years (I was lucky), the Starlings finally found my feeders... what a terror. I'm looking for such a solution. Reviews seem mixed, but I'm going to see if it works for me in Michigan. My chickadees and occasional bluebirds and goldfinches have almost disappeared since the invaders arrived. :)

[karenhummel]

I have a round squirrel proof feeder on a tall pole away from trees or anything a squirrel can jump from. I use a slinky from top to bottom of pole and the squirrels hate the slinky. But im still having problems with aggressive Bluejays and grackles. They fight and chase the woodpeckers and smaller birds.

[Beryllahawk]

Ha! The squirrel just said "Ooh, enrichment!" and got in anyway. Cheeky little gits. I feel like this is also a nice thing to have if you want to feed birds but also have cats... Well, if you have cats like mine, who are quite capable of leaping straight up into the air and whacking a hanging feeder o.O
I'd seen them do such leaps when battling blue jays. Didn't think they'd bother with Carolina Wrens and Cardinals!! But, cats are cats. I've changed some things round and we'll see if I can keep birds and cats separated a bit more successfully!
(They didn't catch the birds btw, they just really wanted to; I suppose the cats think the birds are just superior toys. Everything else in the universe is for them, right? haha!)

[JP-subp]

We started using cylindrical caged feeders specifically to defeat the grackles that hogged our original feeder. I cannot recall when last I saw a grackle.

[barbaracole]

I have a small one similar to this. I have it hanging on a pole so the squirrels can’t get to it. It seems to work well. I see lots of chickadees, finches, tufted titmouses, etc. using it. I have a lot of Eastern bluebirds and I see them occasionally use it, but not as much as the smaller birds. I haven’t seen any starlings, grackles, etc. have success getting seed from it, but I think that’s also because mine is smaller and they are too heavy to perch on it.

[clintrobinson]

Please watch some videos of Doug Tallamy and share videos of native plants in your yard. They are the best bird feeders!!

[lindap]

My anti-squirrel feeders do their job except early summer when baby squirrels are small enough to fit through the bars.

[garymeredith]

Derick I would love to know where I could buy one of those because squirrels are the biggest pain-in-the-ass in my yard .

[neely]

I'm all about keeping grackles and starlings away, but the red winged blackbird? Never found them aggressive. I enjoy watching blue Jay's and listening to their calls. Seems like cardinals may be too big as well. Sad

[mrpearl]

Just curious how heavy is it ? Just when you think its squirrel proof 🤷

[Oltoir]

Has anyone actually used it for bluebirds here? We have them a few miles away but I'm worried I'd be wasting mealworms trying to attract bluebirds and that they'd never find the feeder

[malolm]

idk why u had to do the blackbirds like that they need love to

[sweetdrahthaar]

I bet squirrels really hate that thing. 😂