I test smart bird feeders year-round for WIRED. While I love the variety of birds attracted by seed feeders, there’s something to be said for the simplicity of a hummingbird feeder. The visitors are so delicate and interesting to see up close, and it’s nice not to have to deal with squirrels and other vermin along with spilled seeds sprouting all over the yard.
My favorite hummingbird feeder I’ve tested happens to be on sale right now, the last day of Prime Day—a rare chance to snag it for yourself or as a gift for $53 off.
(Psst—time is running out on the Prime Big Deal Days clock! For bargains on all manner of gear, check out our Absolute Best Deals, and be sure to stay up-to-date on last-minute finds on our liveblog, which we’ll be manning right up until the sale ends tonight.)
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Photograph: Kat Merck
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Photograph: Kat Merck
Bird Buddy
Pro Smart Solar Hummingbird Feeder
One of my least favorite parts of dealing with hummingbird feeders is having to fill, refill, and clean the reservoir. Bird Buddy is the only smart hummingbird feeder I’ve tried whose reservoir simply unscrews from the bottom. No having to turn it upside down and risk spilling, no having to use specialty brushes. Bird Buddy’s app even gives you an alert when it’s time to swap out the nectar.
Speaking of the app, Bird Buddy’s is the best in the game, with plenty of user-friendly features that are accessible without a subscription, including 5 MB photos and 2K video. (Though a subscription, priced at $7.50 a month or $90 a year, will unlock higher 2K Ultra resolution, AI identification, the ability to share live streams, and more.) The app isn’t perfect, as I did find times that hummingbirds visited and did not register in my “postcards,” but it’s otherwise exceedingly well-designed and easy to find the features you’re looking for.
I also appreciate that this feeder sports a reliable rooftop solar panel, so you won’t have to worry about mounting an auxiliary panel or bringing the camera in to charge. (Note that Bird Buddy works on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only.)
This is a great time to start feeding hummingbirds to help them on their migration south, though if you live in a region where they overwinter (like where I am, on the West Coast), you’ll be able to enjoy them year-round. If you’d rather stick with a seed feeder, those are on sale too, including our recommended Bird Buddy Pro, seen below. Happy birding! (Check out other gift ideas for bird-loving friends and family in our Gifts for Bird Lovers guide.)
Photograph: Kat Merck
Bird Buddy
