Having sights on your favorite feathered friends is a popular hobby for tens of thousands of people around the world but you don’t have to be professional photographers to get the perfect shot. Two of my best friends are amateur photographers, and while they aren’t bird photographers exclusively, both of them have managed to capture some beautiful footage while photographing wildlife.
Birds truly are majestic creatures, but photographing birds isn’t always easy. That’s why some people enjoy using a bird feeder camera for their bird photography. A bird feeder camera gives you the ability to record the activities around your bird feeder frame by frame while eliminating some of the struggles of getting a good photo by shooting pictures of birds as they come to you.
In this review, we gathered the best cameras for bird photography featured in independent media outlets and in a dozen articles to make your choice easier. Check these DSLR cameras for amateurs and pros. The best DSLR camera and mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses for shooting birds are just a few clicks away.
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 the equipment for a bird feeder camera. You don’t need to purchase a specific camera for bird photography and can certainly jury-rig a makeshift camera yourself; however, if you’re not the ingenious type, you may consider getting a birdwatching camera installed into your bird feeder so you can get gorgeous, sharp images of the birds and other critters who visit your property.
Things to Consider
If you want to get good, quality nature photos of your feathery little friends, there are a few important points you should take into account. Obviously, you want to try to find a bird camera with high resolution and excellent performance, but there are some other things (besides the actual digital camera) you should keep in mind as well. From technical stuff like the CMOS sensor to the most exciting telephoto lenses, and the frame sensor, check the following too:
1. Camera Placement
Where exactly should you place the camera? Your choice of ideal placement will vary dramatically depending on the model 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 bird species 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 of these beautiful creatures in flight. You’ll want to be sure that your camera can handle low-light photography. Aside from the night vision, a crisp zoom lens is essential too. Why? Because a lens with enough sensor size has light sensitivity. Therefore, it can capture as much light as needed.
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 photos from very close range, and you’ll need better resolution if you want to get a good image quality. Great pixels and a full frame sensor would be perfect. Like Canon EOS, it provides a dual pixel cmos sensor.
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. Point and shoot cameras are fast and easy to use.
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. For example, cameras with an APS C sensor, full frame sensors, and intelligent viewfinder are more expensive than those who don’t. Is your love of bird pictures a casual hobby or a fiery passion? Buy a new camera according to your needs but be sure you are getting a good value.
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A Comparison of Our Top Contenders
| Products | Features |
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EDITOR’S PICK
4.3 1,685+ 1685+
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MOST REVIEWED
4.2 3,880+ 3880+
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TOP PICK
4.5 585+ 585+
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BUDGET PICK
4.4 725+ 725+
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BUDGET PICK
4.4 1,195+ 1195+
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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.
Feathered Friend Camera Under $50
Toguard Mini Trail
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 is compact and light in weight. In fact, it’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. It 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″ liquid crystal display. Therefore, it can capture full frame with lens options in manual focus. The camera can use SD cards up to 32 GB but the 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 motion detection and taking the picture.
Victure Trail Game
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 image stabilization will help you in capturing these moments.
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. They also have full frame cmos sensor.
Moreover, it has a trigger speed of 0.5 seconds with continuous shooting for 3 images, meaning no bird will pass by without being filmed. The 2.4″ screen offers user-friendly navigation to easily customize your DSLR 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
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 camera features on this one is its wide-angle lens. Nikon camera is well-known for its telephoto lens. However, this camera has similar features. It will detect birds when they enter the 120-degree range, while the 0.5-second trigger speed gives you more control over what you will film. The Mini Trail has night vision capabilities, 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 a memory card, and it’s compatible with cards up to 32GB. The biggest problem with this DSLR 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 connect it to the battery charger again.
Apeman Mini Trail
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 in the woods and the outside of your house. Its motion-activated technology makes it easy to use this camera for both of those. This HD camera’s sensor uses infrared motion activation for capturing images in rapid succession, which it then time-lapses into a coherent video file. The full frame sensor guarantees a tighter field of view.
The camera body is weatherproof, which makes it ideal to hang outside to make your bird and wildlife photography easier, 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.
Camera Under $75
Campark Upgrade T70 Trail Game
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 frames per second, which means more pictures of your feathered friends.
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 for capturing birds and other animals in low light settings. Don’t miss the auto focus points in your shots. The camera sensors have 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.
Camera Under $100
BZK WiFi Trail Game
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 high quality images, 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 smartphone, this camera is a bird watcher’s dream. Now you can experience the no zoom lens capture.
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 so you don’t miss any of the action. Great image stabilization feature. It has built-in Wi-Fi 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 a card is not included.
Feathered Friend Camera Under $150
Campark WiFi Bluetooth Trail
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 a video recording or bird images with higher resolution. Plus, it has auto focus points too.
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 for low light performance. 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 image sensor distance of up to 20 meters. The biggest upgrade on this one is the Bluetooth connection. You now have the convenience of turning it on and off with your smartphones instead of using the remote. Along with the night vision and the adjustable mount, what more could you wish for?
3G Bigfoot Trail
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.
Camera Under $200
Spypoint Link Micro 4G Cellular Trail 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
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 wirelessly to your computer system 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. Therefore, you’ll get a frame digital SLR camera and a spy cam too.
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 a memory 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 pictures and shoot video, and it has a microphone as well, so it’s a pretty good setup in spite of its lackluster video quality.
Conclusion
Sure, you can use your android or iOS device in bird photography. However, your cellular digital cameras have limited functionality. Most of those don’t have a crop sensor, shutter speed, ISO range, zoom lenses, focal length settings, and maximum aperture. You will get an entire frame of image noise.
On the other hand, this point and shoot digital single lens reflex camera is the best camera for bird. The right camera always provides the best image quality. Bird photography cameras have a large sensor and good shutter speed for crips and brighter image.
For wildlife photographers trying to find the best birding camera can be a challenge because all of the available options have particular features. This is especially so for beginners who don’t know much about DSLR cameras. You don’t need to buy the absolute best bird photography camera on the market, you just need the one that best suits your needs and your budget.
Whether you are new to bird watching or you’re experienced birders, this list has something for everyone so, hopefully, we have given you the details you need to make informed shopping choices. However, it’s always a good idea to read lots of reviews on different camera brands and models before you make your purchase.
