I learned the best bird feeder cameras by setting up several of them in my yard and testing them out. Find out what I learned from actually using the bird feeder cameras, check out the videos they captured, and understand the pros and cons of each before you buy.
Have you started shopping for a bird feeder camera yet? It’s overwhelming, isn’t it? There are bird feeders with cameras, smart bird feeders, security cameras, and even trail cameras.
It’s difficult to determine which one does the best job of capturing video of the birds visiting your feeder. I felt the same. That’s why I purchased, installed, and tested several different types of backyard bird cams in my yard to video the birds.
Why listen to me?
I actually used the video camera bird feeders in my yard before recommending them. It’s the only way I know to tell which ones work the best (guessing doesn’t work!). And, I’ve been backyard birding for more than 25 years so I know what to look for when it comes to backyard bird cams.
In this article, I share an overview of the types of devices you can use to record birds at the feeder along with a detailed list of key factors a bird feeder cam should have, detailed reviews of each of the best birdcams setup in my yard including pros/cons and videos they captured, and answers to common questions such as “how to mount the birdcam?”.
But first … my recommendations for the 4 best video camera bird feeders …
Table of Contents
- The 4 Best Bird Feeder Cameras
- Key Factors to Consider When Buying a Bird Feeder Camera
- 1. Wasserstein Bird Feeder Camera Case
- 2. Blink Outdoor Security Camera
- 3. Netvue Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder with Camera
- Additional bird feeder cameras I Tested
- isYoung Smart AI Recognition Bird Feeder Review
- The isYoung Birdfy video camera bird feeder Meets All Key Factors
- Video from the isYoung Smart Feeder in my yard
- AI Feature
- Wyze Cam v3
- The Wyze Security Camera Meets All Key Factors
- Video from the Wyze Outdoor Camera in my yard
- Does the Wyze Camera Require a Subscription?
- How to Mount a Wyze Camera to a Bird Feeder Pole
- Key Takeaways
The 4 Best Bird Feeder Cameras
The Wasserstein Bird Feeder Camera Case is the best overall and the ideal bird feeder cam setup if you want a super close-up view of the birds and/or have an existing *home security system to tie into. *compatible with Blink Outdoor, Wyze Cam v3, Wyze Cam Outdoor, and Ring Stick Up.
(Camera sold separately.)
The Blink Outdoor security camera is the best budget solution and the ideal bird feeder cam if you already have a feeder to spy on or if you already have a Blink home security system setup.
The Netvue Birdfy AI Smart Feeder is perfect if you want maximum close shots of the birds and a chance to identify the species in either live view or while watching a recorded video.
Coupon: GET 10% off when you purchase from Netvue and use coupon code "ONTHEFEEDER".
Key Factors to Consider When Buying a Bird Feeder Camera
After cutting through the endless list of features and marketing hype, I arrived at a shortlist of key factors that are important when buying a device to record birds at the feeder.
Depending on your personal preferences or circumstances, I also listed a few optional factors you may want to consider as well.
Key Factors
- Weather-resistant so the rain, snow, and wind don’t destroy it. Look for an IP rating of 65 or better.
- Good image quality so you’re able to clearly see the species of bird and what it’s doing. Look for HD video with 1080p.
- Wireless connectivity so you don’t have to run ugly outdoor approved extension cords to the bird feeder or depend on 5 hours of sunlight each day to keep the solar power camera charged. (Sure wouldn’t work in Wisconsin!)
- Supports your preferred camera brand so you get the camera features you want and/or can easily add to your existing home security system with the same brand camera. (Not applicable to all device types)
- Easy to set up so you can start enjoying the birds quickly rather than studying the installation manual.
- Easy & convenient to view the images so you don’t have to bother your teenager every time you want to see what the birds have been up to, or so you don’t have to get out of your jammies to run outside for the memory card.
- Look for a camera with a smartphone app to view images from anywhere vs one that stores images on a memory device (SD card or jump drive). Memory devices require you to retrieve the memory device before viewing.
- This requirement is the reason I won’t recommend trail cameras for a bird feeder camera. At this time I’ve yet to find a wireless trail cam that doesn’t require you to view the images from the camera itself. Hopefully, that will change in the near future.
- Motion detection so you’re only capturing images when a bird is on the feeder which saves on power and time when you want to go back and view the recordings.
- Long battery life so you’re not spending a fortune on batteries and wasting time replacing the batteries.
Optional Factors
- Price because you don’t have a money tree in the backyard.
- Audio because you want to hear what your feathered friends are tweeting.
- Night vision because you want to capture the birds early in the morning and late in the evening.
- Live view because you want to see what’s happening on the bird feeder RIGHT NOW!
- Notifications because you want to see what was happening at your feeder moments ago.
- Zoom capability is a nice feature especially if the image is too small to make out the bird details.
- No subscription is required so you spend less.
- Warranty to safeguard your purchase.
- AI capability to identify the species at the feeder.
1. Wasserstein Bird Feeder Camera Case
Best for folks who want super up-close video of the birds and/or the flexibility to choose their brand of camera. Wasserstein supports Blink, Ring, or Wyze cameras.
(Camera sold separately.)
Choose your preferred camera brand:
The Wasserstein Bird Feeder Camera Case is the best birdcam for anyone wanting to record birds at the feeder and already has a Blink, Wyze, or Ring home security system.
Supported cameras include:
- Blink Outdoor
- Ring Stick Up
- Wyze Cam Outdoor
- Wyze Cam v3
The case includes 3 different camera adapters depending on the brand of camera you have.
I tested and reviewed the Wasserstein Bird Feeder Camera Case with my Blink outdoor camera inside. It worked great at recording birds at the feeder.
The video is very up-close because of the feeder case design. And, the case is weather resistant enabling the food to stay dry and fresh.
A few drawbacks I observed with this camera case include:
- The feeder doesn’t hold very much food so I’m refilling it often.
- I’m not able to easily hang the feeder from my bird feeder pole, which is fitted with a baffle, so the squirrels can get at it. However, there is a workaround. If your bird pole system supports a mounting flange you can attach the feeder to it and place it on the top of the pole.
Pros
- Provides a very close view of the birds.
- You can use a camera of your choice (among the 3 compatible brands/models).
- The weather-resistant enclosure keeps food dry and fresh.
- More affordable than a smart bird feeder with the camera included.
- A solar panel can be installed (sold separately) to save money on batteries.
Cons
- Small food storage capacity.
- Cannot be easily mounted to a pole system. (However, some pole systems have a mounting flange that enables you to attach the feeder to the pole. ).
The Wasserstein Bird Feeder Camera Case Meets All Key Factors
| Weather-resistant | Yes, the plastic enclosure keeps bird food and the camera dry and protected from extreme weather. |
| Good image quality | N/A – Image quality is a function of the camera that is not included. |
| Wireless connectivity | N/A – Connectivity is a function of the camera that is not included. |
| Supports your Preferred Camera Brand | Yes, especially if strapping or screwing the bracket to a tree or post. |
| Easy to set up | Yes, especially if strapping or screwing bracket to a tree or post. |
| Easy & convenient to view the images and videos | Viewing images & videos is a function of the camera that is not included. |
| Motion detection | N/A – Motion detection is a function of the camera that is not included. |
| Long battery life | N/A – Battery life is a function of the camera that is not included. |
You can check out my full review of the Wasserstein here: Wasserstein Bird Feeder Case Review.
Videos from the Wasserstein Bird Feeder Camera Case (with Blink Camera)
Below is actual video footage from the Wasserstein device with my Blink Outdoor Wireless camera installed in my yard.
How to Mount a Wasserstein Bird Feeder Case
You can mount the Wasserstein Bird Feeder Case by strapping it around a tree or post (strap & buckle are included), screwing the mounting bracket to a tree or post (bracket included), or mounting it to a bird feeder pole.
I screwed the feeder to a dead tree in my yard.
2. Blink Outdoor Security Camera
Great for folks who already have a bird feeder and/or a Blink home security system and want an inexpensive way to spy on the bird feeder.
The Blink Outdoor security camera is ideal for you if any of the following are true:
- You want a budget-friendly solution to spy on the birds.
- You want to video birds on a feeder of your choice.
- You already have a Blink home security system setup. A new backyard bird cam can be easily added to your existing system. No new app to learn!
- You don’t want to feed the squirrels (e.g. your existing feeder is securely hanging from a pole system fitted with a baffle).
Pros
- The setup was simple, taking only minutes.
- The image quality is great for backyard birders.
- Versatile enough to spy on any bird feeder.
- Affordable (less than $100)
- Up to 9 more cameras can be easily added to the Blink system allowing you to capture more areas where birds hang out and view them all on the same app.
Cons
- Requires a separate mounting device to hold and direct it to the feeder.
The Blink security Camera Meets All Key Factors
| Weather-resistant | Yes, the Blink outdoor security camera is IP-65 rated meaning it is water-resistant. And, the operating temperature range from -4 to 113° F. In my yard, the camera withstood driving rain, hail, snow, sleet, and temps over 100 ° F as well as temps below -65° F. |
| Good image quality | Yes – The video quality is 1080p HD. See the videos from my yard below. |
| Wireless connectivity | Yes, connects via your wifi. |
| Easy to set up | Yes, very simple instructions walk you through step-by-step setup. |
| Easy & convenient to view the images and videos | Yes – The Blink Home Monitor smartphone app works on iOS, Android, or Fire. The cameras also work with Alexa. “Alexa, show me the bird camera”. |
| Motion detection | Yes. With the smartphone app, you can define when and how motion is detected. |
| Long battery life | Mfr: Up to 2 years (2 AA Lithium Batteries) based on specified use. My batteries lasted 10 months with constant use through 4 seasons. Impressive! |
Video Footage from the Blink Outdoor Wireless Camera
Below is actual video footage of my bird feeders from the Blink Outdoor Wireless camera about 7″ away.
Does Blink Require a Subscription?
No. Blink does not require you to have a subscription. However, the Blink subscription is valuable in that it stores unlimited footage in the cloud.
If you want to store and view the captured video and images without a subscription you can plug a USB drive into the Sync Module (which is included in the camera kit) to store images locally. Images are then viewed from the Blink smartphone app same as you would view images with a subscription. The drawback with storing to a USB drive is you’re limited to the capacity of the drive.
If you don’t have a subscription or USB drive connected to the Sync Module, you are limited to live views only. In other words, you would receive a notification of activity and be able to view it live, but saving and storing the video doesn’t occur. This may be fine for subjects that stick around a while but that doesn’t describe our feathered friends. That’s why I recommend getting the Blink subscription (easy and inexpensive) or the USB drive option to store locally.
By the way, the Blink subscription is pretty affordable. Only $3/month per camera or $10/month for the Plus plan which supports up to 10 cameras.
How to Mount a Blink Camera to a Bird Feeder Pole
I love my bird feeder pole system for hanging a variety of bird feeders. To capture activity from the pole I needed to find a way to mount the feeder to the pole. I found a solution and it works perfectly for mounting on a pole, tree branch, or any other object you can imagine. It’s a clamp specifically designed for use with the Blink Outdoor Wireless camera.
3. Netvue Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder with Camera
Coupon: GET 10% off when you purchase from Netvue and use coupon code "ONTHEFEEDER".
I tested and reviewed the Netvue Birdfy AI and determined it to be a fantastic bird feeder camera. And, since it identifies the bird species, it has the added title of “smart” bird feeder camera.
The video is up-close, clear, and impressive. The feeder is versatile enough to hold most types of bird food (except suet cake) and the company offers an optional nectar attachment for hummingbirds.
However, the AI feature does not work well. For example, according to the AI, the male cardinals on my feeder were parrots.
Update: It’s been almost a year since my initial review of the Birdfy. I went back to test the AI feature again and was shocked to see it had improved – significantly. While it’s still not 100% accurate (wavering around 50%) at least the northern cardinal is now identified as a northern cardinal and not a parrot!
While I still recommend the Netvue Birdfy Lite (which doesn’t have the AI feature built-in), I now find the AI model worthy of recommendation.
The Birdfy Lite is the same as the other Birdfy except it does not have the AI feature built-in and is about $50 less expensive.
A few drawbacks I observed with the Netvue Birdfy include:
- The feeder doesn’t hold very much food so I’m refilling it often. Depending on the bird traffic in your yard, you may not need to fill as much.
- I wasn’t able to easily hang the feeder from my bird feeder pole, which is fitted with a baffle, so the squirrels scarfed a lot of the. However, there is a workaround. I mounted the Netvue Birdfy’s bracket to a block that I installed to my bird feeder pole system mounting flange. The feeder now sits on top of my pole system and squirrels are no longer a problem.
Pros
- Provides a very close view of the birds.
- Image quality is good for an all-season outdoor camera that stands up against extreme weather conditions.
- Contains a built-in rechargeable battery to save money on replacement batteries.
- The weather-resistant enclosure keeps food dry and fresh.
- Terrific customer support starting with the instructions manual that accompanied the feeder.
Cons
- Relatively small food storage capacity.
- Cannot be easily mounted to a pole system. (However, some pole systems have a mounting flange that enables you to attach the feeder to the pole. ).
The Netvue Birdfy video camera bird feeder Meets All Key Factors
| Weather-resistant | Yes – Per the manufacturer, it’s integrated with an IP65 weatherproof design, Birdfy Feeder Cam works properly under rain, sun, snow, and wind. In my 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. |
| Good image quality | Yes – Birdfy captures all moments in 1080P FHD. With 8X digital zoom, you will see all the details of the birds clearly. I believe the image quality is good for an all-season outdoor camera. |
| Wireless connectivity | Yes. Uses your wi-fi to communicate. |
| Easy to set up | Yes. |
| Easy & convenient to view the images and videos | Yes. Uses your Wi-Fi to communicate. |
| Motion detection | Yes – it has a motion detection feature. It does not record continuously to protect the battery life. |
| Long battery life | The advanced battery design allows Birdfy to work constantly for up to 6 months with 200s recording per day. That’s an amazing battery life! The Birdfy in my yard is running on the same battery charge for more than 9 months and it has a lot of activity. |
Video from the Netvue Birdfy in my yard
Below is actual video footage from the Netvue Birdfy in my yard.
How to Mount a Netvue Bird Feeder with Camera
You can mount the Netvue Birdfy by strapping it around a tree or post (strap & buckle are included), screwing the mounting bracket to a tree or post (bracket included), or mounting it to a bird feeder pole.
Initially, I had the Birdfy screwed to a dead tree in my yard. Squirrels became a problem so I moved it to my bird feeder pole equipped with a baffle. See the setup in the photo below.
More Smart Bird Feeder Articles
Additional bird feeder cameras I Tested
isYoung Smart AI Recognition Bird Feeder Review
I tried out and checked the isYoung Smart Bird Feeder with Camera, and it worked really well as a bird camera for the backyard feeder. Because it’s a smart feeder, it can even tell you what kind of bird it is when you’re watching it live (50% of the time).
The video you see is really close, easy to see, and looks amazing.
While the AI feature was able to identify the bird species, it only works in live mode (where you’re actively watching in real-time when the bird appears on the feeder).
A few drawbacks I observed with this camera case include:
- The feeder doesn’t hold very much food so I’m refilling it often.
- I’m not able to easily hang the feeder from my bird feeder pole, which is fitted with a baffle, so the squirrels can get at it. You may be able to implement a workaround like I did with the Netvue above.
Pros
- Provides a very close view of the birds.
- Image quality is good for an all-season outdoor camera that stands up against extreme weather conditions.
- Contains a built-in rechargeable battery to save money on replacement batteries.
- The weather-resistant enclosure keeps food dry and fresh.
- A solar panel is included to avoid having to recharge the batteries as often.
Cons
- Small food storage capacity.
- Cannot be easily mounted to a pole system. (However, some pole systems have a mounting flange that enables you to attach the feeder to the pole. ).
- AI did identify the bird species for me but only while in live viewing mode which may not be suitable for everyone.
The isYoung Birdfy video camera bird feeder Meets All Key Factors
| Make & Model | isYoung Smart Bird Feeder BF002 |
| Weather-resistant | Yes, it’s IP65 waterproof. The feeder/camera was able to function properly under various weather conditions in my yard including rain, sun, snow, and strong winds. (Yes, we have rain, snow, and sun in Wisconsin within a 1 month span). |
| Good image quality | Yes – it captured video and images with good quality. Check out the videos below. |
| Wireless connectivity | Yes. Uses your wi-fi to communicate. |
| Easy to set up | Not great. The smart feeder camera was accompanied by a Product Manual that covered FAQs, the included parts, and mounting instructions. However, it lacked guidance on assembling the feeder/camera and using the app. Despite the useless documentation, connecting the camera to Wi-Fi was easy. |
| Easy & convenient to view the images and videos | Not the best. Installing the app was straightforward, but the manual lacked instructions on how to navigate and utilize its features, and I found it to be less intuitive. Through trial and error, I eventually figured out how to access and review the videos after exploring various options (taking into account my prior experience with using and testing other smart feeders). |
| Motion detection | Yes – Once it was set up and installed in my yard, I found it did a great job of detecting the birds via motion and videoing them while on the feeder. |
| Long battery life | Yes, it’s IP65 waterproof. The feeder/camera was able to function properly under various weather conditions in my yard including rain, sun, snow, and strong winds. (Yes, we have rain, snow, and sun in Wisconsin within a 1-month span). |
You can check out my full review of the isYoung feeder here: isYoung Smart Bird Feeder Review.
Video from the isYoung Smart Feeder in my yard
Below is actual video footage from the isYoung in my yard.
AI Feature
The IsYoung was able to identify the house finch that landed on the feeder (see below). This was very cool and I was delighted to see the identification was accurate. I only tested one bird so can’t speak to its success rate for identifying the species.
Remember, the AI only functions when using the live view mode or with a photo image. It does not work with a playback video. Keep this in mind when deciding to purchase this bird feeder camera.
While on the Live View screen, isYoung identifies the species using AI.
The user can tap Learn More to be redirected to Wikipedia for more info on the species
Wyze Cam v3
The Wyze camera makes an ideal bird feeder camera - especially for folks who already have the Wyze security system and cameras set up.
The Wyze camera bird feeder is a security camera that’s also suitable as a bird feeder camera. It’s a close 2nd behind the Blink security camera system in the ‘overall’ category. The biggest difference is image quality and battery life. The Blink is better in both areas.
The setup was super simple which non-techies such as myself appreciate.
The image quality enables you to decipher the size, color, and even species visiting your feeder but lacks sharpness. The battery life is good and the Wyze Cam v3 meets all the other key requirements (see my notes in the table below).
You can easily expand the system with additional cameras (up to 4 total).
Pros
- The setup was simple, taking only minutes.
- Image quality is good for backyard birding.
- Contains a built-in rechargeable battery to save money on replacement batteries.
- Affordable (less than $100)
- Up to 3 more cameras can be easily added to the Wyze system allowing you to capture more areas where birds hang out and view them all on the same app.
Cons
- Image quality is a bit fuzzy and really becomes pixelated when viewing in fullscreen.
- Requires a separate mounting device to hold and direct it to the feeder.
The Wyze Security Camera Meets All Key Factors
| Make & Model | Wyze Cam v3 |
| Weather-resistant | Yes – It’s IP-65 rated meaning it is water-resistant. And, the operating temperature range from -5 to 113° F |
| Good image quality | Yes, but images could be sharper. Video: 1080p HD. |
| Wireless connectivity | Yes |
| Easy to set up | The battery is built-in and charged via USB. Wyze states 3-6 months with “normal” usage which translates to 10-20 event videos/day. My feeder is pretty active and captures about 40 videos/day. In 2 weeks’ time, the battery was depleted 34%. Depending on the activity at your feeder the battery life may be fine. On the plus side, you never have to buy batteries – instead bring the camera inside and charge it. |
| Easy & convenient to view the images and videos | Yes – The Wyze smartphone app works on iOS and Android. |
| Motion detection | Yes. With the smartphone app, you can define when and how motion is detected. |
| Long battery life | The battery is built-in and charged via USB. Wyze states 3-6 months with “normal” usage which translates to 10-20 event videos/day. My feeder is pretty active and captures about 40 videos/per day. In 2 weeks’ time, the battery was depleted to 34%. Depending on the activity at your feeder the battery life may be fine. On the plus side, you never have to buy batteries – instead bring the camera inside and charge it. |
| Backed by a trustworthy & reputable company | Wyze is a widely known and reputable company. |
Video from the Wyze Outdoor Camera in my yard
Many things in life are subjective which is why I included video footage from the Wyze camera below. You be the judge of image quality. The camera is mounted on my bird feeder pole about 7″ from the feeder.
Does the Wyze Camera Require a Subscription?
No. Wyze does not require a subscription to use its camera. However, the videos are limited to 12 seconds in length. A Wyze subscription enables longer videos and unlimited cloud storage.
If you want to store and view longer videos without a subscription, you can insert an SD card into the camera and store them on the card instead. The drawback with storing to an SD card is you’re limited to the capacity of the card and you have to go outside to get it.
That said, for convenience, you can’t beat the cost of the subscription. It’s only $1.99/per month per camera. I’m not aware of a multi-camera discount plan.
How to Mount a Wyze Camera to a Bird Feeder Pole
I found a really cool solution to hold the Wyze camera while spying on the birds. It’s a gooseneck twisty device that you first screw into the bottom of the camera, then wrap around something to hold it in place. I wrapped it around my bird feeder pole but you could also wrap it around a tree branch, deck rail, etc.
Key Takeaways
I spent hours upon hours researching, purchasing, installing, and testing different cameras to record birds at the feeder. Of the types of cameras that could work for this purpose (smart bird feeder, bird feeder with camera case, home security camera, trail cam, and action cameras), here are my recommendations:
- The best video camera bird feeder overall for super up-close shots of the birds is the Wasserstein Bird Feeder Camera Case (+ camera such as the Blink Outdoor Camera).
- The best budget-friendly that allows you to direct at your existing feeder is the Blink Outdoor Camera (+ mounting clamp).
- The best smart bird feeder for bird ID and super up-close shots of the birds is the Netvue Birdfy AI (Be sure to use the coupon code “ONTHEFEEDER” for 10% off!).
- The best budget-friendly smart feeder that identifies bird species and provides very up-close shots of the birds is the isYoung Smart AI Recognition Bird Feeder.
You can’t go wrong with any of the above devices to record birds at the feeder.
What about you? What’s been your experience shopping for a bird feeder camera to spy on the birds? Please leave your comment below.
Thank you for your terrific post. I wanted to buy my husband a bird feeder and camera setup for Christmas but was dreading the thought of hours of research that it would require to make sure that the system would work. Your post saved me tons of time and rivals Consumer Reports for ease of use. I will let you know how he likes his setup (the Blink camera, the feeder pole, camera clamps, and platform feeder)….all products recommended by you!
Thanks again.
Thank you for this detailed wonderful article! I love to watch birds & feed them on my pole system from wild birds unlimited! That being said I’m 31 work full time as a dental hygienist and would love to see what’s going on during the work day! I appreciate your dedication and detail of your research on cameras and suggestions for mounting! Happy bird watching 🥰🐦
Thank you Brittany! My pleasure 🙂
Great article – I already have a Wyze doorbell camera so was looking into getting an outdoor camera to see what the bird feeder activity is like. I see you have your camera only about 7 inches from the feeder. I was thinking maybe a few feet away and pointed at a few feeders at once. Did you ever try it a little further away? Also does your feeder pole seriously outsmart the squirrels?
Thx
Julie
Yes, I tried further away and the birds were too small. Also, while the cameras have relatively good quality, they are not professional quality. The birds start to get pixelated and difficult to see. Closer is better 😉
We just hooked ours up w/ the Blink outdoor camera AND have the subscription but we don’t have the option to extend live viewing. The button pops up every 30 seconds to “continue?”. Any advice. From what I’m reading the blink outdoor cam doesn’t off extended live viewing.
What you state is correct – Blink only supports extended live viewing with a subscription and only for these cameras: Blink Wired Floodlight and Mini cameras. Extended live viewing is NOT supported on the outdoor camera. I’m guessing wired cameras have more juice to support extended usage. Battery-operated cameras, like the outdoor model, would run out of juice pretty quickly if left to view for long periods.