After spending the past year testing 25 smart bird feeders from 10 different brands, many have impressed me, but none so frequently and consistently as Birdfy's. It was the first brand on the market to introduce AI bird identification, as well as the first to introduce auxiliary products like smart nesting boxes, birdbaths (see below), and feeder bodies made from different materials like wood or metal. The products still suffer the occasional quirk or connectivity issue, but all smart feeders do. The Birdfys remain my go-to for gifts and personal use at my home due to their consistency and ease of use.
If you're looking to buy one this year for yourself or a loved one, these are the best prices you'll see, and these are the most giftable models, most usable out of the box without a subscription. (Note that all Birdfy feeders run on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only.)
For Beginners
If you've never dealt with a smart bird feeder before, it can be intimidating. I know multiple people who were gifted a smart bird feeder last year for the holidays and still, in November 2025, have yet to take it out of the box. Apparently they're not alone, because there's now a feeder specifically for the reluctant: the Rookie, which looks like a gravity pet feeder and snaps together in three simple pieces with no tools.
You'll still have to charge the 1080p camera (once a week, as this version doesn't come with a solar panel) and calibrate it to the app, but that's it—just pop the camera on its little side stand, fill the seed hopper, attach it to a wall or pole with the included hardware, and you're good to go. Because there's only a side view, you'll get a fair amount of butt shots from birds who are facing the other way, and note that you'll definitely want to site this one out of the way of squirrels, because it's pretty lightweight and the top is easily knocked off.
An Enduring Classic
There are an awful lot of smart feeders on the market, and none of them are perfect, but this longtime best-seller is the one I consistently recommend for its combination of features, usability, app, and price. There are options for a solar panel and either AI by subscription ($5 a month) or included, but Amazon's deal is on the one with the by-subscription option and solar panel. The panel has to be mounted separately, but in my experience, it's done quite well at keeping the camera charged even when it's cloudy.
If You're Worried About Squirrel Damage
I haven't yet tested this exact model , but I have tested many plastic feeders that have been chewed by squirrels. If you're interested in the original Birdfy but are worried about squirrel damage, this is the one to get. It uses the same 1080p camera you'll find on the side of Birdfy's Pro 2 Duo. It also doesn't need a subscription for AI identification, and it comes with built-in rooftop solar panels, so you won't have to bring it in to charge the camera battery. I've had great luck with Birdfy's solar panels on other models staying charged even during cloudy seasons.
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