Bird watching is a popular hobby for tens of thousands of people. Two of my best friends are amateur photographers, and while they don’t focus exclusively on birds, both of them have managed to capture some beautiful footage of them.
Birds truly are majestic creatures, but it can be difficult to get a good picture of them. That’s why some people enjoy using a bird feeder camera. A bird feeder camera eliminates some of the struggles of getting a good shot by snapping pictures of birds as they come to you.
In this review, we gathered the best cameras featured in independent media outlets and in a dozen articles to make your job easier.
Although we found quite a lot of cameras with which you can spy on the animals near your bird feeder, the Campark Upgrade T70 Trail Game Camera stands out.
There are different ways of going about setting up a bird feeder camera. You can certainly jury-rig a makeshift camera yourself, but if you’re not the ingenious type, you may consider getting a bird-watching camera installed into your bird feeder.
Things to Consider
If you want to get good, quality photos of your feathery little friends, there are a few things you should look out for. Obviously you want to try to find a camera with high resolution, but there are some other things you should keep in mind as well.
1. Camera Placement
Where exactly should you place the camera? The ideal placement will vary dramatically depending on the type of bird feeder camera you have the bird feeder itself, where you hang it, different lighting conditions and a variety of other factors.
2. Night Vision
A lot of birds are nocturnal, and if your camera isn’t set up to take pictures or footage of these nocturnal birds, you could end up missing out on some attractive footage.
3. Megapixels
This is a big deal for any camera, obviously, but it’s especially important for a bird feeder camera. There’s a good chance you’ll be taking pictures from very close range, and you’ll need better resolution if you want to get a clear shot of what you’re seeing.
4. Ease of Installation
Is your bird feeder hanging from a tree in a bit of a precarious position? You don’t want to spend two hours on a ladder trying to get the camera set up. The easier it is to install, the happier you’ll be in the long run.
5. Price
There isn’t an overabundance of bird feeder cameras on the market in the first place, but what is there can vary in price dramatically. Is your love of bird pictures a casual hobby or a fiery passion? Buy accordingly.
QUICK OVERVIEW
The Best Bird Watching Cameras
- 1080p resolution
- Night vision
- PRICE RANGE: Under $75
- 1080p resolution
- Night vision
- PRICE RANGE: Under $75
- 1080p resolution
- 2.4″ LCD screen
- PRICE RANGE: Under $50
- 1080p resolution
- 2.4″ LCD screen
- PRICE RANGE: Under $50
- 1080p resolution
- TF card
- PRICE RANGE: Under $50
- 1080p resolution
- TF card
- PRICE RANGE: Under $50
- 1080p resolution
- 120-degree wide-angle lens
- PRICE RANGE: Under $50
- 1080p resolution
- 120-degree wide-angle lens
- PRICE RANGE: Under $50
- 1080p resolution
- 120-degree wide-angle lens
- PRICE RANGE: Under $50
- 1080p resolution
- 120-degree wide-angle lens
- PRICE RANGE: Under $50
Although we found quite a lot of cameras with which you can spy on the animals near your bird feeder, the Campark Upgrade T70 Trail Game Camera stands out.
Best Bird Feeder Cameras Under $50
Toguard Mini Trail Camera
Features
- 1080p resolution
- 120-degree wide-angle lens
- 3.2 x 4.2 x 2.2 inches
The Toguard Mini Trail Camera is a budget bird feeder camera that boasts a 120-degree wide-angle lens, 20-meter night vision, and a 16-megapixel camera to catch the animals near your bird feeder. The Mini Trail cam has a 0.8 trigger speed and lets you control every setting on a 2″ LCD screen. The camera can use SD cards up to 32 GB but the SD cards aren’t included in the package.
It requires 4 AA batteries. Because it runs on batteries, it doesn’t need a wire to connect to a power source, making it easier to place this camera in a good location. The main problem I have with this camera is that there is a couple of second lag between the motion detection and taking the picture.
Victure Trail Game Camera
Features
- 1080p resolution
- 2.4″ LCD screen
- 5.3 x 3.8 x 2.8 inches
The Victure Trail Game Camera provides everything you need to get a bird’s-eye view (if you will) of the exciting comings-and-goings of your aviate friends. This can be especially exciting for nesting birds, as you’ll experience baby chicks as you’ve never seen them before.
The kit includes a battery-powered 1080p camera which is outfitted with low-glow infrared LED technology and a superior motion-activated sensor that will give you the night vision B&W footage.
Moreover, it has a trigger speed of 0.5 seconds with 3 continuous shots, meaning no bird will pass by without being filmed. The 2.4″ LCD screen offers user-friendly navigation to easily customize your camera settings. Also, it’s compatible with SD cards of up to 32GB. This isn’t the best bird feeder camera on the market, but it is the best deal.
Campark Mini Trail Camera
Features
- 1080p resolution
- 120-degree wide-angle lens
- 6 x 4.3 x 3.4 inches
If you’re looking for a camera with better features than the previous camera, you may be interested in the waterproof Mini Trail Camera from Campark. This 16 megapixel provides detailed, up-close footage of birds for you to enjoy.
One of the best features of this camera is its wide-angle lens. It will detect birds when they enter the 120-degree range, while the 0.5-second trigger speed which gives you more control over what you will film. The Mini Trail has night vision, as well, so you can rest assured that you will catch all the birds that are active during the night.
The camera stores all of its pictures on an SD card, and it’s compatible with cards up to 32GB. The biggest problem with this camera is that the battery doesn’t last very long once you charge it – it goes as long as three days and then you have to recharge it.
Apeman Mini Trail Camera
Features
- 1080p resolution
- TF card
- 6.4 x 5.1 x 2.9 inches
The Apeman Mini Trail Camera is not a dedicated bird-watching camera. You can use it for filming the wildlife and the outside of your house. Its motion-activated technology makes it easy to use this camera for both of those. This HD camera uses infrared motion activation to take images in rapid succession, which it then time-lapses into a coherent video file.
The camera is weatherproof, which makes it ideal to hang outside and capture wildlife footage, and it runs on 4 AA batteries. The camera also comes with a 16GB TF card to store the images. Note that the batteries aren’t included in the package.
This isn’t the absolute best camera out there due to the 1-second or more trigger time, but its motion capture technology and the included TF card make it a strong candidate.
Best Bird Feeder Cameras Under $75
Campark Upgrade T70 Trail Game Camera
Features
- 1080p resolution
- Night vision
- 1.97 x 1.97 x 5.12 inches
The T70 Trail Game Camera is one of those cameras that seems to get everything right. It has a variety of features that let you decide how it is going to work. The camera has a half-second trigger speed, letting you capture more pictures.
The T70 has 16 megapixels which is pretty good considering its size. It is equipped with infrared flash illumination technology and no glow night vision to capture animals by night. It has a trigger distance of up to 65 feet. Like the last camera, it can also record in 1080p resolution.
The camera has features like Date/Moon Phase/Temperature, Timer, Realtime Replay, Hybrid Mode, and Interval Recording. Additional functions include timestamps on your photographs, as well as a sturdy case that protects the camera from the elements.
This one runs on 8 AA batteries, and it runs for up to six months, depending on usage. It does not come with an SD card, but it is compatible with cards up to 32 GB.
Best Bird Feeder Cameras Under $100
BZK WiFi Trail Game Camera
Features
- 1080p resolution
- WiFi connection and app control
- 8.07 x 4.84 x 3.27 inches
If you’re looking for a wildlife camera that takes truly outstanding footage, then the BZK WiFi Trail Game Camera is just the thing for you. Powered by 24 megapixels and the option to control it via your phone, this camera is a bird watcher’s dream.
High resolution is important, but you need more than just that to take good pictures of a bird. The camera has motion detection software that captures birds in movement. It has built-in WiFi and comes with a free app, allowing you to change your camera settings and review photos anytime from the comfort of your home.
The camera comes with a user manual, a remote control, a USB cable, a mounting belt, a wall-mount and 3 screws. It also comes with a waterproof housing to protect your hardware. The camera is compatible with most SD cards, but an SD card is not included.
Best Bird Feeder Cameras Under $150
Campark WiFi Bluetooth Trail Camera
Features
- 1296p resolution
- WiFi connection and app control
- 7.2 x 4.9 x 4 inches
The WiFi Bluetooth Trail Camera is similar to the previous one on the list. This one, however, boasts a better image resolution. The 20-megapixel cam is equipped with 1296p, making it easy to catch videos and bird images with higher resolution.
It has a built-in WiFi and you can control it via an app. This one captures sounds when motion is detected, while the 940nm no-glow Infrared technology makes it suitable to film during the night. Since it supports SD cards of up to 128GB, you don’t have to worry about running out of storage.
This waterproof bird feeder camera has a 2.3″ color TFT LCD and trigger distance of up to 20 meters. The biggest upgrade on this one is the Bluetooth connection. You can now turn it on and off with your phone instead of using the remote. Along with the night vision and the adjustable mount, what more could you wish for?
3G Bigfoot Trail Camera
Features
- 1080p resolution
- Cellular
- 10 x 8 x 5 inches
With the 3G Bigfoot Trail Camera, we’re entering the cellular camera domain. You can set it up quickly and then get 30 days’ worth of data with the SimHero card.
This camera has a 1080p resolution and infrared LEDs for night vision. It has a trigger speed of 0.4 seconds. It automatically connects to the AT&T network and will send photos to any cellular provider by email. Note that it won’t work perfectly if you have a slow signal.
You will also have to purchase the annual plan if you want to keep getting the shots. This is a major downside to most people, so decide whether you want to cash out additional bucks on a subscription or instead opt for a memory card-based camera.
Best Bird Feeder Cameras Under $200
Spypoint Link Micro 4G Cellular Trail Camera with Mount
Features
- 10 MP
- WiFi connection and app control
- 8.1 x 6.3 x 5.2 inches
The Spypoint Link Micro 4G Cellular Trail Camera with Mount is one of the smallest cameras on this list. It boasts 10 megapixels and it is, in fact, a cellular 4G camera. The SIM card is included in the package.
This trail camera has a half-second trigger speed like most on this list and an added feature of GPS geotags in case it gets stolen. It requires 8 AA batteries and you won’t get it with the SD card. Make sure to purchase it separately. The Micro has the night vision option but it isn’t exactly the best one out there. The device comes with a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Birdhouse Spy Cam BCAMHEW Hawk-Eye Wireless Spy Camera
Features
- HD
- Transmits the videos to a receive
- 1.25 x 1 x 1.25 inches
Despite its name, the Birdhouse Hawk-Eye Spy Cam isn’t truly entirely wireless: it has to be plugged into a power source of some kind, as it is too small to carry its own battery pack. That said, it does transmit the photographs wireless to your computer or television. The camera is very small, which makes it a perfect fit for a small birdhouse or to situate it on or near a bird feeder.
However, you will have to find some way to get the camera cable to a power source of some kind.The wireless signal is convenient, and it makes it easy to get your pictures on your computer without worrying about transferring files from an SD card or anything. That said, the picture quality isn’t all that great. It’s not terrible, but it’s definitely not HD.
Also, if the camera is too far away from your wireless router or range extender, you might have a hard time connecting to the wireless signal. That said, this is a nice, convenient birdhouse camera, and it’s relatively affordable. It can take both pictures and videos, and it has a microphone as well, so it’s a pretty good setup in spite of its lackluster video quality.
Conclusion
Trying to find the perfect camera for bird watching can be a challenge because all of the available options have particular features.
Hopefully, this list has given you the information you need to make an informed shopping decision.
