Different types of birds are comfortable feeding at different heights but the ideal height for a standard bird feeder to be from the ground is about 5 feet. Additionally it should be about 10 feet from any trees, shrubs or structures.
How high can you hang a bird feeder?
There is no limit to the height that you can hang a bird feeder but you need to keep in mind the types of birds that frequent your yard or what kinds of birds you would like to feed. Different species of birds are comfortable feeding at different heights. Cardinals for instance like to feed off of shrubbery so hang a cardinal feeder at about eye level or around that 5 feet mark. Woodpeckers though are tree feeders so you may consider hanging a woodpecker feeder a bit higher.
Before you buy your feeder and hang it you should consider what types of birds you are going to be feeding and what types of animals you have around that may try and steal the seed or even catch the birds.
How high should a window bird feeder be hung?
Most window feeders are attached to the window with suction cups. I would suggest hanging a window feeder in the middle to upper portion of the window so that squirrels can’t easily sit on the window sill and eat all of the food. You should also make it easy to reach so that you can refill and clean it.
You may have to experiment with the height a little to see what works best for you. Our article on attracting birds to window feeders will give you all our tips for using a window feeder successfully.
Window feeders will generally cost a bit less than regular feeders. If you rent your home and have to worry about a landlord or just want a super simple option, you can find nice window feeders on Amazon for around $25 or less. We list our favorites here.
How high should a hummingbird feeder be hung?
Just like a standard bird feeder, hang your hummingbird feeders about 5 feet from the ground. This height is not a rule that is carved in stone but you want to keep it at a height that makes it fairly easy for you to change out the nectar regularly. You will again want to keep your feeder about 10-12 feet from any trees or other obstructions.
Do not put hummingbird feeders in direct sunlight, keep them in the shade or at least in a partially shaded area if possible. The main reason for this is to keep your hummingbird nectar from spoiling too quickly. Read here for more tips on where and how to hang your hummingbird feeders.
What is the best way to hang a bird feeder?
You have several different options here and no one option is really the best. It depends on your goals and the environment the feeder will be placed in, but here are some different ways you can hang your bird feeder:
- From a tree. Hanging your bird feeder is not the best option in my opinion but can certainly be done if you keep a few things in mind. You still need to keep the feeder about 10-15 feet away from the base of the tree. If you choose to go this route I would suggest going with the squirrel buster that I linked to below, especially if you live in an area where there are many squirrels.
- On a pole. This is a great way to hang a bird feeder and probably our favorite. The pole length is completely up to you and provided you don’t have extremely rocky soil, the poles themselves usually go right into the ground with a little effort. You can hang them right out in the middle of your yard away from trees and buildings that squirrels can use to leap onto your feeder. Here’s a post I wrote on some great