7 Best Bird Feeder Cameras for High-Tech Birdwatching

26.4 oz feed capacity | Solar panel compatible

Not into downloading yet another app onto your phone? If you use a Blink, Wyze, or Ring system somewhere else in your home, then you might want to get this DIY bird feeder camera. Everything but the camera and food is included with this feeder, leaving users with the ability to merge their smart bird feeder seamlessly into any other camera systems set up through their home.

There are definitely perks to the freedom of selecting your own camera system to install in this feeder. For starters, you won't have yet another app to download onto your phone. Also, buying a singular camera from Blink, Wyze, or Ring is fairly inexpensive, making this the least expensive smart bird feeder on the list.

What you might not love, though, is that these cameras are designed for security, not bird watching. While this won't make a significant difference for casual observers, intense bird watchers might prefer to have some of the more unique features the more specialized cameras offer, like AI and extra-quick trigger speeds.

The feeder itself couldn't be easier to install. It includes both a wall mount that can be drilled into a post or tree as well as a strap if you'd prefer not to pull out the power tools. However, we don't love the smallish feed capacity on this feeder. You'll probably find yourself needing to refill relatively often. Fortunately, though, refilling the bird seed is incredibly easy.

Positive review: "The bird feeder is very well built and easy to set up. I used the Ring Stick up Camera adapter and had it ready to mount in minutes. I also ordered the Wasserstein Solar Power Cell so that I do not have to worry about recharging the Ring Camera. It works great. Within a day, we had birds feeding from it and able to enjoy watching them on our Ring app. Highly recommend Wasserstein products."

1.5 L feed capacity | Solar panel compatible | 1080P high resolution | Real-time notifications

Netvue’s smart bird feeder is the cream of the crop when it comes to bird watching. It lets you see your feathered friends up close, and when you pair it with the Netvue app, it can identify more than 6000 bird species and send you real-time notifications when you have a visitor. And in case you were worried that the AI feature is only available via subscription, it's guaranteed free for life.

The camera delivers 1080P resolution in addition to color night vision and 8X magnification, so you can get up-close and personal with your feathered friends. It also stores images and video in the cloud for up to 30 days, but you can use an SD card or purchase a subscription for longer storage.

We also love that the Birdfy cameras include antennas, perfect for bird watchers who want to install their cameras farther away from their house. The Birdfy also comes with optional add-0ns, like a wide perch and hummingbird attachment.

The feeder itself holds 1.5 liters of bird feed, and because it’s weatherproof you won’t have to worry about the seed going bad. This model comes with a squirrel baffle, but you can also use the app to turn on a flashlight or play siren noises when you need to startle them away from the feeder.

There are quite a few ways to install the Birdfy camera using their included mount by either drilling it into a pole or tree or securing it with an elastic strap or metal clasp.

Positive review: "I got this for my wife for Mother's Day and we have really enjoyed using it. Unfortunately, the first week we got it the company was experiencing server issues so it was not working correctly but they got this resolved after a few days and now everything works fine. We definitely wanted the Bird AI identifier so we went for the more expensive unit with the lifetime subscription to the identifier service. At $5/month, this service will pay for itself within the first year. It gets the birds correct most of the time but not all of the time and when it does not, you can report it which is nice. It shows the service is always improving. I found out about the service issues via chat on their website, so I would say they have pretty good customer support as well."

1.5 L feed capacity | Solar panel compatible | 1080P high resolution | Real-time notifications

Netvue’s Birdfy Lite model has many of the same features as its AI Smart model–motion detection, 1080P resolution, color night vision, 8x magnification, and storage for 1.5 liters of bird feed.

So where does the Lite come in, then? This Birdfy version doesn't come with the free-for-life AI identification of species, but you can subscribe to it separately. However, if you're interested in the AI identification feature, we'd encourage you to go ahead and level up to the Birdfy AI Smart Bird Feeder — it'll end up paying for itself in the long run.

Both the AI Smart Bird Feeder and the Birdfy Lite include options to purchase a solar panel in addition to the feeder, which we recommend. We also love how easy it is to refill bird seed on these feeders, as simple as removing the roof.

Our main complaint with both the Birdfy feeders is the reliance on 2.4 Ghz signal. Many WiFi services are phasing out 2.4 Ghz and opting for 5 Ghz instead, so the tech on these models might be obsolete in the coming years.

Positive review: "The Birdfy feeder has been amazingly fun to watch so far. We had tried setting up a camera in our yard to capture birds at the feeders but it was never quite close enough or in focus to do the job. This camera gets up close and personal with your backyard bird friends. The pics are very detailed and clear. I love watching the video clips to hear the songs and chatter of our various backyard visitors."

.9 L feed capacity | Solar panel compatible | 720P high resolution | Real-time notifications

Bird Buddy sets itself apart by giving users a more engaging in-app experience, including the ability to interact with other users. You can even treat your bird watching like a game and "collect" different birds, seeing just how many you and your camera can rack up over time. It even has a meme-generator so you can let your feathered friends fly into being a viral internet sensation.

The Bird Buddy camera includes many of the traditional features you'll see on most other cameras, like real-time notifications, live-view, and snapshot storage. The feed capacity and image resolution aren't as high as the Birdfy models, but most casual bird watchers won't mind that.

In addition to allowing users to connect with one another, Bird Buddy's app also encourages users to learn more about their feathered friends. With one of the largest data bases on the market, including over 1,000 species, the app not only lists the pictured bird's species but also characteristics common to them. Information obtained from individual cameras is also provided to research databases that track migration and population patterns.

Bird Buddy comes with standard add-ons, including a wide perch, solar-panel roof, and nutrition set. The wall-mount uniquely is able to rotate 180 degrees to find the ideal angle of the sun for the solar panel, but we do wish the mount was included and not an add-on.

Unlike the Birdfy AI Smart Bird Feeder, some of the AI features of Bird Buddy's app can only be accessed through the Pro subscription, a definite downside. However, veteran bird watchers might be willing to pay the price to interact and engage with a more user-friendly app experience.

Positive review: "Ever since I first saw these were being made a few years ago, I knew I had to have one! It is amazing! The video and pictures are clear. I was worried about possible connectivity issues but I’ve had no problems at all. Set up was pretty easy. The solar panel keeps my feeder charged without having to bring it it which is a huge plus and worth the extra cost. I love that it not only identifies birds, but also provides info about them. I was never a “bird person” before, but I’m fascinated with this feeder and the ability to watch the birds up close!"

2.5 L feed capacity | Solar panel compatible | 1080P high resolution | Real-time notifications

The high-definition camera on the BROAIMX smart bird feeder offers a wide-angle, 130-degree view, along with night vision and audio, whether you’re watching the feed, or taking photos or video. Users can share photos and videos through an app, or have a live watch party–up to four phones can connect to the bird feeder camera at the same time.

This camera delivers images in an impressive 1080p high resolution images and sends real-time notifications when motion is detected. It also comes with a 64GB micro SD card for storing all your favorite images of your feathered friends.

Like the Birdfy AI Smart Bird Feeder, the BROAIMX feeder provides free AI identification for life, but this feeder does it at a fraction of the cost. The app also claims to be able to identify over 11,000 species, meaning just about every species in the world is included in their database.

The camera runs on battery and uses solar as a backup, so you’ll never have to worry about missing a shot. The feeder is also the largest of the group, holding 2.5 liters of bird food. It also includes a two-way communication feature, so you can both listen to and talk to your new feathered friends.

Based on user review images, we don't think the BROAIMX smart bird feeder's camera quality can compare to the others on this list. However, for the price, casual bird watchers will enjoy many of the features it offers.

Positive review: "My husband is a bird enthusiast!!! For his birthday, we bought him this bird feeder camera. It is amazing!!!! The picture quality is spectacular. There is also a microphone and you can hear the birds eating and chirping if you would like. Can take pictures and video. "

Solar panel compatible | 1296P high resolution | Real-time notifications

While many of the cameras on this list come with hummingbird feeder attachments, you'll want a camera that's designed for your fast-feathered friends to really get a good image. With this BirdDock feeder, you’ll be the envy of hummingbird spotters everywhere.

Take one look at the reviews and you'll see that this feeder takes stunning photos and videos of birds of all kinds thanks to the 1296P high definition camera. The wide angle gives a full view of the perch and the camera is able to record in night vision. The app allows for both live streaming and recording and sends users real-time notifications any time a bird is near.

While this feeder is designed specifically for hummingbirds, it's able to also store seed, so you can attract all the feathered friends to your yard. And with multiple people able to connect to the feeder, you'll have the whole family in on the bird watching extravaganza.

Users say setup of the camera is easy thanks to the included mount. A solar panel is also included and multiple reviewers commented on how well it holds a charge.

There are some complaints about the app lagging more than some users would prefer, however. Additionally, many users comment that the AI identification feature on the app isn't super useful.

Positive review: "Bought this as a gift for my mom who loves humming birds. Has been super fun to see all the birds up close from the camera. Was easy to set up and looks great outside. The App is accessible and provides a clear picture. So far loving the Bird Dock! Recommend for bird lovers or any bird watchers."

150g feed capacity | 1080P high resolution

While we love all the features the other cameras on this list provide, they all come with one caveat: they're reliant on WiFi. While this shouldn't make a difference if you plan on installing your feeder close to your home, it can be a deal breaker the farther you move away from your WiFi signal. If you plan on putting your feeder out of WiFi range, then you'll want to opt for a trail-cam style feeder like this one.

The Technaxx Bird Feeder Camera records via an SD card, so you'll have to manually check your footage. However, it does provide a slow-motion view that will allow you to see your feathered friends in a whole new way.

Additionally, you'll need to change the batteries every so often instead of recharging via a solar panel. But, this should be fairly easy to remember—just check the battery life when you add more seed!

Of course, since this camera doesn't connect to WiFi, it doesn't have all the snazzy smart features the other cameras on this have, like real-time app notifications, live-view, and more. But, if you're installing far from home, there's no better option than this feeder.