Squirrel-Resistant Bird Feeders I'm Actually Using in 2026
Quick note: this page started years ago as a simple "Amazon clicks" page. I'm rebuilding it in 2026 to reflect what I actually use at my feeding station and what has held up.
Disclosure: Wild Bird Watching is an Amazon Associate and may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
One quick clarification before we go further. Throughout this page I use the term squirrel proof, mainly because that's the phrase most people search for.
In practice, what I'm really talking about are squirrel-resistant feeders.
No feeder is truly squirrel proof in every situation. Placement, mounting height, nearby launch points, and squirrel persistence all matter.
The feeders I describe here are the ones that have consistently reduced squirrel access at my own feeding station and have held up over time.
Current Winter Bird Feeding Station
My Setup
- Location: Backyard feeding station (northeastern Kansas)
- Squirrel pressure: moderate
- Mounting: hanging from branch, shepherd's hook
- Seed I usually run: black-oil sunflower, sunflower chips and hearts for seed feeders
- Birds I favor for these feeders: cardinals, finches, chickadees, titmice, downy woodpeckers etc.
The feeders I'm using right now with my pros and cons on each.
Two of the feeders I review (Squirrel Buster and Squirrel Be Gone Feeders) are located in my front yard. The other two are hanging in my feeder station.
No matter where I am while inside my home, I have viewing options.
If you're looking for a specific type of feeder, you can jump directly to each review below.
Squirrel Resistant Feeder Comparison Chart
| Feeder Name | Best For... | My "Real Life" Note | Refill Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squirrel Buster Finch | Goldfinches, Chickadees, Downy Woodpecker | Use sunflower chips/hearts. | Low - Every few days |
| Red Metal Feeder | House Finches | Wish it held more seed, but like it a lot. | High for me - top off daily |
| Squirrel Be Gone | Cardinals & Small Perching Birds | Perch could be better | Low - Holds 8 pounds of seed |
| Caged Bird Feeder | Titmice & Chickadees | Keeps Grackles from reaching the seed | Depends on how many feeders you have |
1. The Squirrel Buster Finch Feeder
↑ Back to Feeder Images
I hung the Squirrel Buster Finch Feeder from a branch of my Japanese maple in the front yard in July. Within just a few days, American Goldfinches showed up.
That may not sound remarkable, except this was midsummer in Kansas, a time when I had no goldfinches visiting my other feeders and natural food sources were everywhere.
This is a thistle feeder made for using nyjer seed. I filled mine with sunflower chips. At this point, I'm finished with nyjer, here's why.
The birds took to the sunflower chips immediately, and I haven't looked back.
The feeder hangs only inches from a fence railing giving squirrels easy access.
Squirrels investigated it early on, but once they triggered the spring-loaded mechanism and the feeding ports closed, they lost interest and haven't returned.
When a squirrel pulls down on the feeder, the spring-loaded design shuts the ports, and the surrounding metal cage protects the acrylic tube from chewing.
Although it has four perches, there are eight total feeding ports. Clinging birds have no trouble accessing the ports, even without using the perches.
- Birds I've seen: American Goldfinches, Black-capped Chickadees, Downy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse
- What I like: Solidly built, holds about two pounds of seed, and simply works
- What I don't like: If it's hung overhead, it can be awkward to fill and easy to tip while refilling
- My notes from using it: I was surprised to see Downy Woodpeckers using this feeder. Their bills are small enough to pull sunflower chips directly from the tiny ports.
This is the exact feeder I'm using: View this feeder on Amazon
2. The Red Metal "High Traffic" Feeder
The Red Metal Squirrel Proof Feeder doesn't have a fancy brand name.
I first noticed it on a birding Facebook page, where the original post was about a bird, but nearly everyone in the comments wanted to know about the feeder.
After using it myself, I think it deserves a different name: the House Finch Magnet Feeder.
When the house finches aren't covering it, I regularly see tufted titmice, black-capped chickadees, and American goldfinches using it.
I run black-oil sunflower seed in this feeder. It handles that seed well and keeps birds coming back consistently.
Like some of my other squirrel-resistant feeders, this one is spring-loaded.
When a heavier animal, such as a squirrel, climbs on, the outer metal sleeve slides down and closes off the feeding ports.
- Birds I've seen: House Finches, American Goldfinches, Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse
- What I like: Clean-looking design, solidly built, holds about two and a half pounds of seed, and works well with black-oil sunflower seed. It's also the least expensive feeder in my current setup.
- What I don't like: Even though it holds about 2 1/2 pounds of seed, it still needs to be refilled daily. I usually top it off in the evening so it's ready for the morning rush.
- My notes from using it: I've owned similar feeders, but for reasons I can't fully explain, this one consistently attracts more house finches than the others.
This is the exact feeder I'm using: View this feeder on Amazon
3. Squirrel Be Gone
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I'm not sure what officially qualifies a bird feeder as an antique, but my Squirrel Be Gone Feeder might be getting close.
I bought this feeder more than 15 years ago, and it's still in use today.
The single, long perch gives cardinals the landing space they prefer. Smaller birds tend to grab a seed quickly and move off to a nearby branch or perch to eat.
I keep this feeder on a short shepherd's hook in my front yard.
When a squirrel stands on its hind legs and reaches for the perch, its weight closes the feeding ports, and it usually loses interest quickly.
- Birds I've seen: Cardinals, Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Sparrows
- What I like: Classic, no-frills design, holds up to eight pounds of seed, and can be mounted several ways including a post, shepherd's hook, or tree branch.
- What I don't like: Determined squirrels may eventually figure out how to open the top or knock it down. Seed doesn't always flow toward the opening, although a quick tap usually fixes that.
- My notes from using it: This is one of my favorite feeders for summer. I fill it, forget about it, and the seed stays dry. Birds visit it periodically throughout the season.
This is the exact feeder I'm using: View this feeder on Amazon
4. Large Caged Feeder
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I originally saw this style of feeder at my local feed store where I buy bird seed, peanuts, and specialty mixes.
The price was over $100, so I passed on it for a few seasons.
I eventually bought it for one specific reason: to keep grackles and other bully birds out during that early spring "bridge period" when natural food is still scarce but migration is in full swing.
Unfortunately, the Droll Yankee model I own is no longer available.
The closest match I've found is the Woodlink Caged Seed Tube Bird Feeder, but I can't vouch for that exact feeder since I haven't used it myself.
I include this feeder because caged designs are very effective at keeping squirrels and larger bully birds out while letting smaller birds feed.
- Birds I've seen: Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse, House Finches, Downy Woodpeckers
- What I like: Excellent at discouraging squirrels and larger birds from reaching the seed.
- What I don't like: Birds may take a while to trust a caged feeder. They also use it less if other feeders are available.
- My notes from using it: Because my exact feeder was discontinued, use due diligence when choosing a replacement.
If you go this route, I recommend buying the largest diameter you can find. This improves results. For reference, mine is 12 inches.
This is a similar feeder to what I'm using: View this feeder on Amazon
As always, results depend on placement and setup. These feeders have been squirrel-resistant in my yard, which is why I continue to use them.
Gene Planker is the creator of Wild-Bird-Watching.com, where he shares over 50 years of backyard birding experience. His guides help readers understand the nesting, feeding, and behavior of backyard birds.
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