Gardeners urged to move bird feeders to 1 simple spot to attract more birds

Crucial advice on the best bird feeder placement to help them safely.

Angela Patrone Senior Lifestyle Reporter

04:23, 04 Mar 2026

Blue Tit and Robin Birds on bird feeder

Gardeners are urged to move bird feeders to one simple spot to attract more birds(Image: Gary Mayes via Getty Images)

With spring on the horizon and nesting season commencing in March, nature enthusiasts will be getting ready to support their neighbourhood bird populations. Installing bird feeders is one effective method to help our feathered friends during this period.

At this time of year, naturally occurring food is scarce, making provisions such as nuts, seeds and suet an invaluable energy source for birds.

Once you’ve acquired a bird feeder, determining the optimal location can be somewhat puzzling. The placement not only influences its effectiveness in attracting garden birds but also determines which species will visit.

To ensure birds remain protected whilst feeding, specialists at retailer Really Wild Bird Food suggest positioning your feeder close to natural cover, such as trees or shrubs, within a reasonable distance of a window.

They explained: “This will keep them hidden from predators and sheltered from direct sunlight and harsh weather conditions.”

The hand of a senior man holding a suet, fat ball which is food for wild birds. He is next to the handing dispenser he has been filling.

Place bird feeders near a natural shelter, such as trees or bushes, that isn’t too far from a window(Image: CBCK-Christine via Getty Images)

However, avoid placing feeders immediately adjacent to trees. This provides squirrels and other local creatures with easy access to pilfer your bird food.

You might think that situating your bird feeder near a window is ill-advised; naturally, you’d want to prevent birds from accidentally colliding with the glass and harming themselves.

But positioning bird feeders at a distance from your windows can prove more hazardous, as this allows birds to build up momentum before striking the glass. The experts explained: “For this reason, we recommend positioning your bird feeder a couple of feet away from the window at most. That way, if a bird takes off in the direction of your windows or glass doors, it won’t be flying fast enough to cause serious injury. Better still, place your feeder directly on the window or windowsill.”

Few black-capped or carolina chickadee birds feeding from plastic glass window feeder at winter.

Position your bird feeder a couple of feet away from the window at most (Image: Evgeniia Siiankovskaia via Getty Images)

It’s advisable to position your bird feeder roughly five feet from ground level. This height ensures convenient access for refilling and maintenance whilst preventing pets and other creatures from raiding your bird food supply.

Should you find that particular species aren’t appearing at your feeder, consider adjusting the height or installing extra feeders at various elevations.

For instance, woodpeckers favour feeding elevated in the canopy, so positioning a feeder between six and 10 feet up could attract them. Meanwhile, other birds, including blackbirds, robins and chaffinches, are more inclined towards ground-level feeding stations.