Recommended Birding Gear
Below are birdwatching gear, supplies, and equipment that I have personally used and recommend.
By the way, OnTheFeeder.com is independent. I research, test, and rate products to help you make the right buying decisions. Sometimes I use affiliate links and may receive a small commission if you make a purchase (at no additional cost to you). Learn more.
Bird Feeders
Best Overall
Woodlink Going Green Platform
Best feeder for any species of bird and any type of food. Simply toss onto the food every few days and you can enjoy the widest variety of visitors.
Best Auto Feeder
Wingscapes Bird AutoFeeder
This feeder is great for those who go on vacation and want better control over how much the birds eat each day.
Best Tube Style
Droll Yankees New Generation
This feeder is one of the best standard tube feeders. Keeps food dry and with the optional feed tray, all-size species can comfortably perch.
Best for Larger Birds
Droll Yankees Bird Feeder Tray
Best feeder for any species of bird and any type of food. Simply toss onto the food every few days and you can enjoy the widest variety of visitors.
Bird Feeder Cameras
Best Smart Feeder
Netvue Birdfy Feeder
The Netvue Birdfy AI Smart Feeder is the best smart feeder overall if you want maximum close shots of the birds and bird identification.
Hummingbird Smart Feeder
Soliom Humbirdy
The Soliom Humbirdy Smart Bird Feeder is suited to attracting and capturing images of hummingbirds. Best for a super close-up view of hummers with species identification.
Best Budget
Blink Security Camer
The Blink Outdoor security camera is the best budget solution and the ideal bird feeder cam if you already have a feeder to spy on or if you already have a Blink home security system setup.
Bird Feeders
Read about how I tested 9 bird feeder poles in my yard.
Best Overall
Birdfy Pole Station
Best Runner-up
Squirrel Stopper Sequoia
Best Budget
Feed Garden Deluxe
Heated Bird Baths
Best Overall
Songbird Essentials
Best Pedestal
API 970
Best Deck Mounted
API 650
Best Budget
API 400
Digital Cameras
Recommended Beginner Birdwatcher Bridge/Superzoom Cameras
Best Overall
Nikon Coolpix 950
The Nikon P950 is the best superzoom camera for the birder who wants extreme zoom capability and great image quality, but in a slightly smaller & lighter body (compared to the Nikon P1000).
Best Max Zoom
Nikon Coolpix 1000
The Nikon Coolpix P1000 is the best superzoom for maximum zoom capability and amazing image quality – even if the camera is a bit larger and heavier than the P950.
Best for Speed
Sony CyberShot RX10IV
The Sony CyberShot RX10IV is the fastest superzoom camera available (24 fps) providing you with a huge variety of great images to choose from with each shot.
Best Compact
Canon Powershot SX70
The Canon PowerShot SX70 HS is a compact camera with an impressive optical zoom of 65x.
Binoculars
Best Overall
Swarovski 8.5×42 EL
Best Under $2000
Vortex Razor 8×42 UHD
Best Under $1000
Maven ED 8×42
Best Under $500
ZEISS Terra ED 10×42
Best Budget-Friendly
Nikon PROSTAFF 3S 8×42
Binoculars
Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America
