Hopper bird feeders are a “traditional” style of bird feeder. This type of feeder is probably the most common and often the first feeder most people start out with when their bird feeding hobby begins.
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Hoppers consist of a floor, a roof and sides. The seed is contained and protected from the weather in the bin.
Chalet and gazebo bird feeders are types of hopper bird feeders.
The gazebo bird feeder being round, has one circular side. The chalet bird feeder on the other hand has four sides. The sides in both styles have a gap at the bottom to allow seed to be dispensed on the floor of the feeder for the birds to pick up.
Gazebo style feeders in particular, are often very decorative. This adds aesthetic value to a backyard for the human viewer.
But, beyond aesthetics, part of the attractiveness of hopper bird feeders is that they are very functional, efficiently maintained and are easily accessible to a large variety of bird species.
You can put any type of bird seed in this style of feeder, but I only use black-oil sunflower seed in my hopper bird feeders.
The reason is, a mixed seed blend will result in a mess. The birds will land on your feeder and toss the seed they do not want onto the ground until they reach one they want to eat.
You could put just shelled peanuts or shelled sunflower seeds in a seed bin holder feeder, but that would be quite costly. And thistle seed would blow away in short order.
Black-oil sunflower seed is liked by many types of wild birds therefore it will draw in a good variety of birds. So it is a good feeder to choose when first starting out.
This brush has a nice end for cleaning corners of chalet feeders.
Attaches to garden hose.
The "Shoveller"
We had a female Redbellied Woodpecker who visited our yard daily a few years ago. She loved to eat peanuts, as all Woodpeckers do.
I saw her on a few occasions at the platform feeder hanging on to the edge picking out peanuts.
But most of the time she would be at the chalet feeder shoveling out all the seed. She wouldn’t stop until she had the peanut she could see half way up the clear side of the feeder!
But we didn’t mind loosing seed on the ground this way, just having her visit our backyard was well worth it!
Many people view this as their “staple” bird feeder and start out with this style. Because of this, it becomes the “old standby” and most backyard bird watchers maintain this type and add other styles for variety.
Hopper, gazebo or chalet feeders are fashioned in an array of looks. That means lots of choice!
Chickadees
Nuthatches
Variety of Woodpeckers
Mourning Doves (if feeding ports are a tray)
Cardinals
Finches
Grosbeaks
Titmouse
Jays
Pine Siskin
Buntings
Sparrows
Starlings
Blackbirds
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