Specialty Feeders cover a wide variety of feeder types and a number of birds. Most either feed unusual foods (like nectar or suet) or they’re made in some unusual way that doesn’t fit in the Tube or Wood category (like a thistle sock, or a window feeder).

Tube feeders and Wood feeders are an excellent place to start a feeding station, or a major part of a wildlife habitat. The hold a large volume of seed, and attract a wide variety of birds. Specialty feeders are usually the second or third feeder added. These are made to serve a small group of birds (like Hummingbird feeders) or they are made to give us a unique perspective (like a Window Feeder).

Hummingbird Feeders

The hummingbird is a small bird with a long, thin beak. This elongated beak is one of the defining characteristics of the hummingbird, which, with an extendable, bifurcated tongue, has evolved in order to allow the bird to feed upon nectar deep within flowers. Hummingbirds get the energy they need to maintain their metabolism primarily from flower nectar and the sugar water they find at feeders.

You can make your own nectar or there are commercially available nectars, but be sure to stay away from those that have chemicals, preservatives or stabilizers in them. If you want to make your own nectar, simply mix one part cane sugar with four parts water and refrigerate. Be sure not to use honey or any food coloring.

TIP: If you plan to feed Hummingbirds for the first time, be sure to plant to attract them. Hummingbirds are attracted to flowers, and can see them easily while in flight. The feeder is a supplemental food source, and helps bring the hummingbirds to an easily visible location for our enjoyment.

Thistle Sock Feeders

Thistle sock feeders are a terrific way to start bird watching as they are inexpensive. As the name implies, it is a sock that has holes small enough to retain the small Thistle (Nyjer) seed, yet large enough for finches to access the seed.

Window Feeder

Window feeders are a great way to bring the birds a little closer to you as you eat breakfast in the morning. They are equip with suction cups that attach to your window and typically have a small container that will hold just about any type of bird seed.

Suet Cake Feeders

Suet cake feeders are specifically designed to hold suet cakes. They typically have a wire grid with large openings for easy access to the food. The wire grid also serves as a place for the birds to perch while eating. Suet feeders are typically hung as opposed to mounted on a pole.

Suet is a high-energy food source that birds need, particularly through the harsh winter months. Suet is an excellent 2nd or 3rd feeder choice. Over 60 birds are attracted to suet, particularly woodpeckers, juncos, titmice & nuthatches. Offering suet is another way to broaden the variety of birds visiting your backyard. Although suet is critical in winter, our suet is formulated for year-round feeding, and the feeder will continue to attract birds all year long

Squirrel Proof Feeders

Unfortunately, when you feed the birds, you feed the squirrels. While there is nothing wrong with feeding squirrels, they have a tendency to eat up all the food, leaving nothing for birds, and they can destroy your feeder in the process.

There are several types of squirrel proof feeders that we sell. One is a tube feeder housed inside a cage which prevents the squirrel from reaching the bird seed since squirrels at to big to fit through the openings of the cage. These opening however, are large enough for birds to fly through and access the food in the tube feeder.

We also have a few models that take advantage of the fact that squirrels are significantly heavier than birds. The perch on these types of squirrel proof feeders act as a shut-off valve to the food supply. When a squirrel lands on the perch, their weight triggers the perch to move and shut off access to the food. This does not happen when birds land on the perch since they are not heavy enough to move the perch.