Whether decorative or simple, whether a simple tube or enclosed in a cage, tube feeders are perhaps the most common type of wild bird feeder. They come in different designs, depending on the type of bird you want to attract, the kinds of birdseed you want to offer, and whether you want to deter squirrels.

What Type of Bird?

Tube feeders feed a variety of birds like chickadees, finches, wrens, and sparrows. Tube feeders with upside-down perches will feed only birds like finches.

Tube feeders typically will not feed birds like cardinals unless a tray is attached to the bottom of the feeder, like this tube feeder.

What Birdseed?

Most tube feeders will accommodate almost every kind of birdseed and nut. Some tube feeders are specifically designed for thistle seed (for example, Thistle Tube Feeder), while others are designed for shelled peanuts (like this Droll Yankees 13" Green Metal Peanut Feeder).

Squirrel-Proofing

To deter squirrels from tube feeders, enclose a simple tube feeder in a metal cage or purchase one already caged.

See our articles on caged feeders and keeping squirrels away for more information.

Number of Tubes

Tube feeders commonly have only one central tube. However, some tube feeders have multiple tubes for more seed capacity or for different kinds of seeds.

Some examples:

• a pretty three-column tube feeder
• a quality triple-tube bird feeder
• a larger-capacity feeder from Duncraft.

Other Styles

A sampling of the variety of tube feeders:

• an example of a classical tube feeder: Droll Yankees A6F Bird Feeder
  
• an inexpensive, smaller feeder: Dura-Lite Mini-Classic Tube
• the Bird Feeder Copper Top Feeder is a decorative, yet functional tube feeder
  
• extra-long single tube feeder for thistle or other seed