Don't you just love the idea of hummingbirds flitting around your yard?
They're such beautiful birds that if they're regular visitors to your state, you'll undoubtedly want to put up a hummingbird feeder to attract them to your yard. Either that or plant up your containers and beds with the best flowers for hummingbirds.
Of course, when it comes to where to put your hummingbird feeder, you'll want it somewhere you can actually see your winged visitors. But it's not always possible to find a spot for it that's right next to your kitchen window. If you want a better view of the hummingbird's you're inviting into your garden, a smart feeder is a fun way to capture them on camera.
These smart devices are packed with lots of features, and you can see any hummingbirds at your feeder on your phone at any time. These feeders come at all different price points, but which is best? To help you decide, I've done a deep dive into the reviews to present the best reviewed ones to you.
What makes a good smart hummingbird feeder?
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In case you don't already know, hummingbird feeders are a little different from traditional bird feeders as they incorporate wells of 'nectar' (actually a sugar water mix) in faux flower heads to attract these sweet substance lovers. It's a very simple design, until you introduce the smart elements into them to record these birds in action, though some designs appear to work better than others at attracting and keeping hummingbirds happy.
Smart hummingbird feeders need to pass a few tests in order to garner the good reviews garnered by the collection below, including:
- Connectivity — they need to be easy to set-up to your WiFi and non-glitchy when connecting to the live feed from your mobile device.
- Camera quality — if the resulting footage doesn't spark joy, is there any point in videoing your hummingbirds in the first place?
- Features — does your feeder have useful features like dual cameras? Will it send you alerts when hummingbirds appear on the scene?
- Power — how long does the power last? Does it need charging indoors, or is it solar powered?
- The basics — are hummingbirds attracted to it? Does it have a guard to protect from ants? Can you keep bees off your hummingbird feeder?
- Subscription — do you have to pay to use or store video?
With these ideas in mind, I set about reading through the reviews of the most popular models at different price points to see which is the best bet for aspiring ornithologists.
Under $100
Average rating: 3.9 stars
This star rating might not be dazzling, but this is one of the best priced, positively review hummingbird feeders on Amazon right now. The reviews praise its solar power source and the quality of its 1080 P HD camera that works well in low light situations too, meaning you don't miss a minute of the action. The downside? It's not a traditional WiFi camera — it comes with an internal storage card that you need to connect to your computer to access the images. Not the total dream for instant connection to your yard visitors, but while a 1 star reviewer says 'it's nothing like the Birdfy,' the price is nothing like it either. But more on that later.
Average rating: 4.7 stars
This model only falls into our under $100 category thanks to a well-timed and generous discount for Memorial Day, so you're getting a lot for your money right now. It can be set up for hummingbirds and filled with seeds for other birds out of season, too. Reviewers on both the Naipo site and at Walmart say that the video quality is "crystal clear" and it's so easy to set up, with the solar charger a plus, too. There's a tiny number of negative reviewers who struggled with the app connection, but in general, this received praise by most buyers.
Average rating: 4.6 stars
This is another version of the Naipo feeder we've seen before, but instead of an integrated solar panel, this one comes with a separate solar panel that you can position in the sunniest spot. 2 way audio, motion detection, and full night camera mode, this is another find that's offering a vast discount right now. Generally, the reviews for set up and connectivity are all positive, and reviewers also love these Naipo cameras as there's no monthly fee to use or store video for less than 30 days.
$100-$200
Average rating: 4.5 stars
Instant notifications? Check. Bee and ant-proof? Check. There's a lot going for this camera. Reviewers love it for its camera quality and ease of set up and use. Check out the Amazon reviews for real footage from the camera to see what you'll be getting. The drawback? You can only store videos free for 3 days - but that may be enough for you to download what you want, and not to have to worry about extending with a subscription for longer storage.
Average rating: 4.2 stars
This feeder has some extra smart features that set it apart from lower price competitors — namely integrated AI that not only detects the birds visiting your feeder, but also helping to identify the species. However, some reviewers say its accuracy can be a little patchy, and it's only free for a limited time — after that you'll need a subscription. It can be set up for hummingbirds or filled with seeds (and designed to keep squirrels out, too). While it has majority good reviews, it's the one feeder with a good number of 1 stars, too.
Average rating: 4.4 stars
If solar isn't for you, this camera comes with rechargeable batteries (two, in fact!) and offers low battery alerts and real time tracking so you can limit downtime. It has positive reviews apart from individual cases where items were missing or video recording wasn't set up, for an unknown reason. It has a lot of the same features as the feeders above, so a nice alternative to a solar set-up if you have a shady backyard.
$200+
Average rating: 4.8 stars
When it comes to smart hummingbird feeders, the Birdfy is king. As well as great camera quality, it has a dual camera set-up, which can easily be combined into shareable videos from both angles. It's by far the most expensive we can find right now, but if you want the best, it's the one to invest in for now. You can opt for rechargeable or solar panel, and it comes with a clever ant trap for the wiring, to stop ants using this as a way to get at your feeder. It's AI recognition is better than other models too, with an average success rate of 70%.
Can I connect my smart hummingbird feeder to WiFi?
Most smart hummingbird feeders can only connect to 2.4 GHz WiFi bands, where most standard WiFi routers are set to 5.0 GHz. It's generally possible to change your router to both bands so that you can connect, but some people find their set-ups won't allow them to do so for a variety of reasons.
Check before you buy that you can do this to avoid disappointment.
How should I set up a smart hummingbird feeder?
Though you'll often see this smart feeders hanging from the likes of a shepherd's hook or branch, when it comes to feeders with motion notifications, a fixed position attached to a stand, or fixed to a tree, is generally best. Otherwise you might find yourself getting lots of notifications of motion on a windy day.
With that in mind, opting for designs that have ants guards is important, and it's very easy for them to climb up trees and stands to help themselves to your sugar water supply.
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