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 struggle of getting a good shot by snapping pictures of birds as they come to you.
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.
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 struggle of getting a good shot by snapping pictures of birds as they come to you.
The Birdhouse Spy Cam BCAMHEHD Hawk Eye HD Camera perfectly everything you want to look for in a bird feeding camera.
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
- High-definition 700 tvl camera
- Camera takes pictures and video footage
- PRICE RANGE: Under $100
- High-definition 700 tvl camera
- Camera takes pictures and video footage
- PRICE RANGE: Under $100
- Image sensor of 2.0 mega pixels
- Triggering distance up to 15 metres
- PRICE RANGE: Under $100
- Image sensor of 2.0 mega pixels
- Triggering distance up to 15 metres
- PRICE RANGE: Under $100
- 720P camera resolution
- Comes with 8 GB SD card
- PRICE RANGE: Under $500
- 720P camera resolution
- Comes with 8 GB SD card
- PRICE RANGE: Under $500
- Motion-activated infrared camera
- Comes with 2GB SD card
- PRICE RANGE: Under $75
- Motion-activated infrared camera
- Comes with 2GB SD card
- PRICE RANGE: Under $75
- 110 wide angle camera with 700 tvl
- Features six LED nightlights
- PRICE RANGE: Under $50
- 110 wide angle camera with 700 tvl
- Features six LED nightlights
- PRICE RANGE: Under $50
The Birdhouse Spy Cam BCAMHEHD Hawk Eye HD Camera perfectly everything you want to look for in a bird feeding camera.
Best Bird Feeder Cameras Under $50
Green Feathers Wireless Bird House Camera with Night Vision
There are actually two different types of cameras on this list, although both of them are geared toward watching birds. Some of these cameras are meant to be situated in bird houses or bird nesting areas, and other are meant to accompany bird feeders.
The Green Feathers wireless Bird House Camera is in the former category. This simple starter pack provides everything you need to get a bird’s-eye view (if you will) of the exciting comings-and-goings of your avian associates. This can be especially exciting for nesting birds, as you’ll experience baby chicks like you’ve never seen them before.
The kit includes a 110-degree wide angle camera and a small 2.4 GHz wireless router that allows you to connect with your internet service at home and transmit the pictures to your computer or phone. The kit includes a ten-foot power extension cable, and the camera is outfitted with six LED lights to help you enjoy evening footage as well. This isn’t the best bird watching camera, but it is the best deal.
Best Bird Feeder Cameras Under $75
Moultrie Feeders WildlifeCam Camera
If you’re looking for a camera with better picture quality than the Green Feathers camera, you may be interested in the Moultrie Feeders WildlifeCam. This 8 megapixel provides detailed, up-close footage of birds for you to enjoy.
One of the best features of this camera is its zoom setting. The camera has an effective focus range of about 40 feet, and includes a zoom feature as well, which gives you more control over where you should set the camera up in the first place. The WildlifeCam doesn’t include night vision, but it does have a flash feature.
The WildlifeCam stores all of its pictures on an SD card, and it’s compatible with cards up to 32GB. The biggest problem with this camera are those typically inherent of flash photography: the quality of nighttime imagines are not really up to par. It does take excellent day time photos, however, making it at least very good at one task.
Brinno MAC100 Motion Activated HomeWatchCam
Strictly speaking, the Brinno MAC100 Motion-Activated HomeWatchCam is not a dedicated bird-watching camera. However, its motion-activated technology make it easy to use this camera for that purpose rather than exterior surveillance.
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 that are rated for 10,000 photographs. The camera also comes with a 2GB SD card to store the images.
The HomeWatchCam is compatible with all Windows operating Systems since Windows 98, not that anyone really uses Windows 98 anymore. Unfortunately, its software is not compatible with Apple computers. This isn’t the absolute best camera out there, but its motion capture technology and weatherproof frame make it a strong candidate.
Best Bird Feeder Cameras Under $100
Birdhouse Spy Cam BCAMHEW Hawk-Eye Wireless Spy Camera
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.
Moultrie Wingscapes BirdCam PRO Bird Watching Camera
The Moultrie Wingscapes BirdCam PRO Bird Watching Camera is a lot like the previous Moultrie camera reviewed above, but this particular model is bigger and better, although its effective flash range isn’t as wide. There are a number of things which distinguish the Moultrie Wingscapes with the with a 20.0 MP camera, a focus range as wide as six feet, and 1080P HD streaming capabilities.
Like its predecessor, it stores all of the pictures on an SD card, making it easy for you to transfer the video files and pictures from one place to another. The video footage especially is a huge step up from the 480p on the first camera. Of all the cameras reviewed thus far, this one by far has the best video quality.
The camera can use SD cards up to 32 GB and requires 8 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-second lag between the motion detection and taking the picture.
Wildlife Trail Surveillance Digital Camera
The Wildlife Trail Surveillance Camera is one of those cameras that seems to get everything right. It has a high-quality camera and a variety of features that let you decide how your camera is going to work. The camera has less than a half-second of delay, letting you capture more pictures.
The camera is equipped with a 12-megapixel camera which, while not as good as the camera on the Moultrie Wingscapes, is still pretty good. Like the last camera, it can also record – with audio – in 1080p resolution.
The camera has five different modes, including a photo, video, motion capture and time-lapse, which lets you take the kinds of videos or photos you want to take. Additional functions include password protection and time stamps on your photographs, as well as an alarm for when the battery is low.
Like the Moultrie Wingscapes camera, the Wildlife Trail runs on eight AA batteries, and the camera can run 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. The chassis is both waterproof and dust-proof, and the camera is backed by a one-year warranty.
Birdhouse Spy Cam BCAMHEHD Hawk Eye HD Camera
The main problem with the last two cameras is that they’re both rather bulky and won’t fit in tight spaces. If you need something a little smaller, you might consider the Birdhouse Hawk Eye HD camera. The camera measures less than two inches across, making it a perfect fit for tight areas.
This camera is outfitted with 700 television lines (TVL), which is roughly equivalent to 720p resolution. The camera is a perfect nighttime camera, as it is powered by 10 infrared LED lights. And it has a 100-foot AV adapter cable, giving you plenty of space to connect it with your television.
This main problem with this camera is that the setup process can be a little difficult to work with. But if you’re looking for a camera small enough to fit inside your birdhouse, this is one of the best options there is.
Best Bird Feeder Cameras Under $150
Bird Photo Booth 2.0 4k Motion-Activated wireless Wi-Fi Bird Camera
If you’re looking for a wildlife camera that takes truly outstanding footage, then the Bird Photo Booth 2.0 is just the thing for you. Powered by a 16 MP camera and capable of recording 4K video footage, 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.
The camera 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 an illustrated user manual, an extra battery, an AC charger and USB cord and a lens cloth to keep the camera clean. 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.
Hawk Eye High Definition Nature Cam Bird Watching Spy Video Camera
The Hawk Eye High Definition Nature Cam is quite a bit similar to the Hawk Eye Birdhouse spy cam, but this one is designed to be used outside rather than in a birdhouse.
Like the other Hawk Eye camera, this bird cam has 700 television lines (TVL), 10 infrared LED lights for taking nighttime photos and a 100-foot AV adapter cable, giving you plenty of space to connect it with your television. It also has a microphone, allowing you to hear as well as see the birds outside
Like the other Hawk eye camera, connecting this to your television requires a bit of a setup issue, and the 100-foot cable puts a strict limit on how far from the home you can set up the camera. But it is still a great bird camera.
Best Bird Feeder Cameras Under $500
Xtreme Life 720P Bird Feeder DVR Night Vision Weather Resistant
The Xtreme Life 720P Bird Feeder camera is a little bit different from all the other bird cameras out there. Instead of mounting it near a bird feeder or bird house, this camera actually is a bird feeder. There is room and space to store bird seed, and a camera that captures their footage as they settle on the chassis to dine. It even has the look of a small log cabin, making it an attractive bird feeder at that.
The camera itself isn’t nearly as powerful as some of the other cameras. It only has 720p resolution, which is less than a couple of the cameras on this list. However, it has a wide-angle lens that allows you to capture 140 degrees of vision, far more than the average.
The camera is water resistant, and the battery lasts for up to eight hours of continuous footage or 30 days on standby. The camera comes with a time and date stamp on its video footage, includes a remote controller, AV output cable and an 8 GB SD card. The biggest problem is that it’s fairly expensive, but it does take good pictures.
Conclusion
Trying to find the perfect camera for bird watching can be a challenge because all of the available options have a different set of strengths and weaknesses.
Hopefully, this list has given you the information you need to make an intelligent, informed shopping decision.
