Bird watching is a wonderful hobby. There’s nothing quite as relaxing as viewing animals in nature, and it can be exciting to see a species for the first time or to catch sight of a bird that’s uncommon to your area. Smart bird feeders have emerged as a fun new home tech category over the last few years, and I’m here to help you navigate it. I’m not only a camera expert but also an avid birdwatcher, photographer, and the grandson of a renowned wildlife artist. You can say bird watching comes naturally to me. I’ve put all the most popular camera-equipped bird feeders to the test, and the Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro is my top pick for its impressive app support and picture quality. If you want a less expensive smart feeder or one that doubles as an outdoor security camera, read on for more top options.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Best Smart Bird Feeder Overall
Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro
- 5MP stills and 2K video
- Wide or tight viewing angles
- Accurate species identification and filtering
- Subscription not required
- IP67 rating
- Easy to clean
- Slow-motion video reduces picture quality
- Solar roof doesn’t maintain continuous power
The Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro has the best camera quality of any smart feeder we’ve tested. Its 5MP Nature Cam Pro camera is made just for bird watching and records vertical stills and 2K30 videos that play well on social media and phone screens. It also includes accurate species identification and server-side image filtering that throws away bad snaps so you don’t have to sift through as much noise as with other feeders.
Birders who are willing to spend a little more on a feeder should find the Smart Feeder Pro worthwhile. Its starting price is on the high end for the category, but its superlative picture and video quality and curated approach to recording and sharing bird visits win us over. The Bird Buddy app includes a fully featured free tier plus a paid $5.99 monthly option for birders who want to unlock some advanced features.
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Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro Review
Best Hybrid Bird Feeder-Security Camera
Netvue Birdfy Feeder AI
- Features a tiltable, built-in camera
- AI model we tested doesn’t require a subscription
- Sends bird alerts to your phone
- Long battery life with optional, low-cost solar panel accessory
- Works with extended perch and hummingbird tray add-ons
- So-so video quality
- Species identification isn’t perfect
- Camera-formatted memory cards didn’t work with macOS in testing
The Netvue Birdfy Feeder AI is the best security-camera-equipped smart feeder we’ve tried. It uses a 1080p security camera to record 15fps video and 2MP stills, with a motion-sensitive camera that records every visit and a night vision mode so you can catch raccoons and deer that hit the feeder after hours. It has security camera features too, including motion alerts, two-way audio, and a light and siren. The AI edition works without an additional monthly fee and identifies visitors by species, though that feature proved to be hit or miss for accuracy.
The Birdfy Feeder AI is a good option if you want to make sure you catch each and every visiting bird on camera. The AI edition of the feeder includes a lifetime subscription with species identification, so it is also a good feeder to get if you want to avoid a monthly subscription fee. And with its motion alerts, light, and siren, it doubles as a capable security camera.
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Netvue Birdfy Feeder AI Review
Best Affordable Smart Bird Feeder
Birdkiss Smart Bird Feeder With Solar Panel
- Integrated camera with adjustable angle
- Keeps tab on neighborhood birds
- Sends alerts directly to your phone
- Solar panel keeps battery full
- Skip subscription fees with microSD support
- Species identification is wildly inconsistent
- Low bit rate 15fps video
- Subscription required for some features
- No solar roof option
The Birdkiss Smart Feeder uses the same camera as the Birdfy Feeder AI, so you won’t be able to tell a difference between the 2MP stills and 1080p 15fps video. The Birdkiss typically sells for fewer dollars and is a good option for birders on a budget. Its species identification feature is locked behind a paywall, however, but you can still see the past three days of activity and pop in for a live view without a subscription.
If you’re on the fence about getting a smart feeder and want one that delivers decent picture and video quality for $150 (or less on sale), the Birdkiss fits the bill. And if you want to add species identification and 60 days of storage, you can get a $4.49 monthly subscription whenever you feel like it.
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Birdkiss Smart Bird Feeder With Solar Panel Review
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Buying Guide: The Best Smart Bird Feeders for 2025
How Do Smart Feeders Work?
Smart bird feeders put a camera and Wi-Fi connectivity into a traditional backyard bird feeder. They use motion-sensitive cameras to catch visiting animals, send those visits to a server for analysis and species identification, and show you video and stills in an app. Feeders built around security cameras like the Birdfy AI and the FeatherSnap Scout send every visit to your phone, while the Bird Buddy is unique in that it filters out many snapshots with bad poses or poor exposure on the server side.
A red-bellied woodpecker captured by Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro (Credit: Bird Buddy/PCMag)
Do Smart Feeders Require a Subscription?
Some do, but most provide at least some features without monthly fees. It’s important to check and see what’s included with your feeder. For example, Netvue sells its Birdfy Feeder AI in two editions: one with a lifetime subscription and another that costs less up-front but requires a monthly subscription to unlock its species identification feature.
The Netvue Birdfy can be bought with or without a lifetime subscription (Credit: Jim Fisher)
What Other Types of Bird Tech Are Available?
We’ve only tested seed feeders so far, but you can also get a hummingbird feeder with a camera. Birdfy makes a few, and Bird Buddy has one that uses the same Nature Cam Pro as the Smart Feeder Pro. I plan on reviewing some hummingbird feeders this summer, so be sure to check back to find out which ones I recommend.
Dedicated hummingbird feeders like the Netvue Birdfy dispense nectar instead of seed (Credit: Jim Fisher)
Birdfy also makes a smart birdhouse, the Nest Polygon, for bluebirds, wrens, and other cavity-nesting birds. It is made from bamboo and includes a solar-powered 1080p camera.
You can also get a smart bird bath. Birdfy is the only name brand with one available at this time, the Birdfy Bath Pro.
Recommended by Our Editors
More on Bird Tech
If you’re still looking for more about birds and the tech you need to watch them, check out our best photo tips for bird watchers and our guide to using Merlin, a free smartphone app that can identify birds by sight or sound.
