Where to Put a Bird Feeder: Distances That Actually Matter

Short answer: Put the feeder about 5 feet off the ground, at least 10 feet from anything a squirrel can jump from, about 10 to 12 feet from dense cover, and either within 3 feet of a window or more than 30 feet away. Then make sure you can see it from where you sit.

That’s where to put a bird feeder in most US yards. Each number comes from Cornell Lab’s Project FeederWatch, university extension services or a field study. The sources don’t always agree, so the table below shows the range and who says what. The rules also pull against each other, so this guide gives you an order of priority.

How this page was made: This is a researched guide. Distances come from the sources linked in each section. We haven’t measured anything in a yard of our own. See how we test.

The placement rules at a glance

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Where sources give different numbers, we show the range rather than pick one.

• A, window feeder: within 3 feet of the glass, where birds can't build up speed.
• B, baffled pole: more than 30 feet from the window, at least 10 feet from the tree's branches (and from fences, rails and roofs), about 10 feet from shrub cover.

How to pick your spot in 5 steps

Work through these in order. Earlier steps protect birds, so they win when two rules clash.

Step 1: Check your windows (3 ft / 30 ft)

Project FeederWatch says most window strikes happen when feeders are between 3 and 30 feet from the glass. Within 3 feet, birds can’t build up enough speed to hurt themselves; beyond 30 feet, they’re more likely to see the window or take a different route (FeederWatch). Tufts Wildlife Clinic gives the same rule: “either more than 30 feet from a window or closer than three feet” (Tufts).

The field evidence points the same way. In a study by Klem and colleagues (Wilson Bulletin, 2004), none of the collisions were fatal when platform feeders were 1 meter (about 3 feet) from the window, and the share of fatalities rose with feeders at 5 and 10 meters (Klem et al. 2004).

If the only good spot is in the 3–30 ft band, treat the glass. American Bird Conservancy says markers go on the outside of the window, with gaps of 2 inches or less (ABC).

Step 2: Map squirrel launch points

Walk the yard and mark every trunk, overhanging branch, fence top, deck rail and roof edge. Your feeder needs to be at least 10 feet from all of them (FeederWatch; UNH Extension). Nebraska Extension uses 7 to 8 feet (Nebraska); 10 feet covers both.

This page treats squirrels as a placement constraint only. For baffles, pole systems and seed tactics, see keep squirrels off your feeder and our squirrel-proof bird feeder picks.

Step 3: Find cover at a safe distance

Birds want a refuge nearby. Project FeederWatch suggests placing feeders near trees or shrubs, says evergreens are ideal because they hide birds and block winter wind, and calls about 10 feet “a good compromise” between cover and jump-off points for squirrels and cats (FeederWatch). Penn State Extension says within 10 feet of protective cover (Penn State). Tufts uses 12 feet from a brush pile, evergreen or bush: close enough for birds to reach cover, far enough that predators can’t hide within striking range (Tufts).

For ground-feeding birds such as Song Sparrows, FeederWatch suggests loosely stacked brush piles near feeders as escape cover.

When steps 2 and 3 collide: a shrub 10 feet away is fine as cover. A tree with strong branches 10 feet away is also a launch point. Keep the feeder 10+ feet from the tree and let a lower shrub be the cover.

Step 4: Pick the view

Among the spots that pass steps 1–3, choose the one you can see from your kitchen, desk or favorite chair. Near-window placement (under 3 feet) gives the closest view and also passes step 1. A spot 30+ feet out works with binoculars or a camera feeder.

Step 5: Make refills easy in winter

Think about January. Can you reach the feeder without wading through a snowdrift? Is the ground underneath well drained, so spilled seed doesn’t sit in puddles? A feeder you can reach in two minutes gets refilled; one at the back fence often doesn’t. (This is practical advice, not a sourced rule.)

How high should a bird feeder be?

About 5 feet. Nebraska Extension says to put feeders about 5 feet above the ground so squirrels can’t leap up to them (Nebraska), and at least 6 feet high where deer are a problem (Nebraska Extension). On a pole, the top of the baffle should be 4 to 5 feet up with the feeder above it (Wild Birds Unlimited).

Ground and platform feeders are the exception: they sit low by design, so the 10-foot distance from cat cover matters more. Tufts suggests chicken wire or thorny branches around ground-level feeders (Tufts).

Where to put each type of feeder

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Placing a smart camera feeder

A camera feeder adds three checks to the five steps.

• Wi-Fi at the spot. Birdfy’s Feeder 2 series and the Birdbuddy Pro Solar both connect over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (Birdfy specs; Bird Buddy). Stand at the spot with your phone and check the signal before you dig a pole hole.
• Sun on the panel. The Birdfy Feeder 2 Pro (opens in a new tab) ships with a 3 W panel. In the US, a panel facing south with as little shade as possible gets the most winter sun.
• Don’t aim the lens into the low winter sun. Backlit birds are harder for the AI to identify.

Smart feeders aren’t squirrel-proof, so the 10-foot rule still applies. More in our smart feeder rankings and Bird Buddy vs Birdfy.

Hanging vs pole-mounting

• Hanging from a tree branch keeps the feeder in the jump zone almost by definition. UNH Extension says tilting or large dome-shaped baffles are best for feeders hung from branches (UNH).
• A pole with a baffle lets you put the feeder exactly where steps 1–3 say. Wild Birds Unlimited notes that most basic shepherd’s hooks aren’t tall enough to squirrel-proof a feeder (WBU). A stovepipe baffle such as the Squirrel Stopper Metal Standard Baffle (opens in a new tab) (27 in. tall, fits ½–2 in. poles, $69.95; not available to order at Duncraft on October 8, 2026) goes under the feeder (Duncraft).

Full baffle method: how to keep squirrels off a bird feeder.

Seasonal placement tips

• Winter: evergreen cover blocks wind, per FeederWatch. Keep the refill path clear. For what to fill it with, see what to feed birds in winter.
• Spring and fall migration: American Bird Conservancy says birds collide with glass all year, “but the pace picks up during spring and fall migration” (ABC). Recheck your 3/30-foot spacing before migration.
• Water nearby: Penn State Extension suggests a bath near a tree with overhanging branches where birds can preen, and away from dense shrubs where cats can hide (Penn State). For winter water, see best heated bird baths and how to keep a bird bath from freezing.

When to take feeders down

• Bears. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says not to hang bird feeders from April 15 to November 15, or to keep them 10 feet off the ground and 10 feet from climbable structures (CPW). New Hampshire Fish and Game says to stop feeding birds by April 1, and south of the White Mountains to consider removing feeders by March 15 or at the first spring-like weather, whichever comes first (NH Fish and Game). Rules differ by state, so check yours.
• Sick or dead birds. During a 2021 Salmonella outbreak linked to songbirds, the CDC advised: “If you find a sick or dead bird in your yard, remove any bird feeders and baths for two weeks and clean them outdoors.” It also advised cleaning feeders and baths weekly or when visibly dirty (CDC). Follow any current advisory from your state wildlife agency.
• A hawk keeps hunting your yard. Nebraska Extension suggests not feeding for a week or two so the hawk moves on (Nebraska Extension).
• HOA or local rules. Some communities restrict feeders; check before you install a pole.

Common placement mistakes

1. Five to fifteen feet from a big window. That’s inside the 3–30 ft band.
2. Hanging from the tree that is also the squirrels’ launch pad.
3. Right next to a dense shrub, which gives cats an ambush spot. Leave about 10 feet.
4. A short shepherd’s hook with no baffle.
5. Out of sight from the house, so you never see the birds or notice the feeder is empty.
6. Under-feeder clutter. Spilled seed keeps rodents and squirrels coming back. Hulled seed helps; see our bird seed guide.

Gear that helps

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Sun or shade?

For seed feeders, we couldn’t find an authoritative rule either way. Two practical points: a smart feeder’s solar panel needs sun, and Nebraska Extension suggests keeping suet in shade so it doesn’t melt.

Related

• How to keep squirrels off your bird feeder
• Best squirrel-proof bird feeders
• Best smart bird feeders with cameras
• Types of bird seed