Free interactive tools
Bird feeding tools
These bird feeding tools turn the rules on this site into quick answers: how many feeders to start with, how much sugar goes into a hummingbird feeder, and which birds to expect in your state this month.
Every tool applies published guidance — Project FeederWatch on feeders, foods and cleaning 12 — and the bird finder uses the same state-by-state seasonality behind the Birds by Location pages, which are checked against eBird records 6.
Backyard bird finder
Pick your state and month to see year-round residents, seasonal visitors and migrants — with who is arriving and leaving.
Open tool →Sugar-water recipeHummingbird nectar calculator
Exact sugar and water for any feeder size, in cups, ounces or milliliters — 1:4 for hummingbirds, 1:6 for orioles.
Open tool →Feeding station plannerBird feeder calculator
How many feeders to start with for your space and birds, which types, and where to put them.
Open tool →How to use these bird feeding tools
Start with the backyard bird finder to see who is actually around, then match food to those birds: black-oil sunflower for cardinals, chickadees, finches and sparrows, nyjer for goldfinches, suet for woodpeckers, and nectar for hummingbirds and orioles 1. The feeder calculator then sizes the station, and the nectar calculator gets the sugar-to-water ratio right. Whatever you set up, keep it clean: seed feeders every week or two, hummingbird feeders every couple of days 1.
Frequently asked questions
Are these bird feeding tools free?
Yes — they run in your browser, need no account and store nothing.