Bird Gawkers Rejoice: Birdbuddy’s New Video Bird Feeder Is Just $100

Two new camera feeders

The Birdbuddy Home and Nook replace the Birdbuddy Pro Solar, which had similar specifications and cost $339. Both new cameras record in 2K HDR, cover a 135-degree field of view—up from 122 degrees on the Pro—and support portrait and landscape video.

The feeders use cameras that activate when a bird lands on the perch, letting owners watch visits without actively birding. The Home has an open perch, an overhanging roof and two solar panels. It holds six cups of seed, compared with 3.8 cups in the Pro.

Home and Nook differ

The Home supports both 5GHz and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. Birdbuddy says it pairs with phones and wakes to record more quickly; 5GHz may improve responsiveness when the feeder is within range of a compatible router signal.

The Nook holds 3.8 cups and uses only 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. It also lacks the adjustable perch extender found on the Home, which allows the larger model to accommodate bigger birds.

AI identification and subscription

Both cameras include free AI bird identification, which Birdbuddy says can recognize 11,000 species. Users must start identification manually unless they subscribe to Birdbuddy Premium. The subscription begins at $70 per year. It includes automatic identification, the option to name individual birds, unlimited AI chat for bird facts and other features.

Trade-offs and availability

The Verge’s Jennifer Pattison Tuohy noted that recharging requires bringing in the entire device because the camera cannot be removed. She also found that vertical video is narrower despite the higher stated field of view, and that its colors were less vibrant than before.

Landscape recording can provide a wider view, but users must rotate the camera by hand; the Birdbuddy app does not change its orientation. The new feeders are available on Birdbuddy’s website. The older Pro is no longer sold there, but remains in stock on Amazon for $240 as of the article’s writing.