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The best suet feeders bring woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees to your yard at the time of year they need fat the most. Suet is pure energy, and once insects disappear in late fall, clinging birds go looking for it. Hang a cake in the right feeder and a downy woodpecker can find it within days.
The feeder matters more than people expect. Some styles let woodpeckers brace their tails and feed comfortably, some keep starlings off, and some shut squirrels out completely. Below are six suet feeders that each solve one of those problems, checked for stock, rating and what the listing actually says. For the bigger picture, our winter bird feeding guide explains what to put out as the weather turns, and our best bird feeders list covers seed feeders to pair with them.
Table of Contents
What Separates the Best Suet Feeders
Bird fit comes first. Woodpeckers feed by clinging and bracing their stiff tails against a surface. A feeder with a tail prop, a panel below the cage, lets larger woodpeckers like the red-bellied and even the pileated feed the way they do on a tree trunk.
Then pest control. Squirrels, raccoons and flocks of European starlings can empty a suet cake in an afternoon. An upside down feeder makes starlings struggle while woodpeckers and nuthatches feed happily, and a weight activated feeder closes when a squirrel climbs on.
Then protection from weather. A roof keeps rain off the cake and shades it on warm days so it does not go soft and rancid. That is more important in fall and spring than in deep winter.
Last, capacity and cleaning. Single cake feeders are fine for a quiet yard. Busy yards empty a double feeder quickly enough that the extra cake is worth it. Every feeder should come apart easily for a scrub.
The Best Suet Feeders at a Glance
| Feeder | Style | Cakes | Reviews | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsyard All Metal Double with Perch | Roofed double cage | 2 | 4.8 stars, 1,671 | Best overall |
| Birds Choice Tail Prop with Roof | Tail prop, recycled poly | 1 | 4.6 stars, 361 | Large woodpeckers |
| Kingsyard Upside Down Double | Upside down, roofed | 2 | 4.5 stars, 319 | Deterring starlings |
| Squirrel Buster Suet | Weight activated shroud | 2 | 4.5 stars, 1,382 | Squirrel problems |
| Audubon Going Green | Recycled plastic, roofed cage | 1 | 4.5 stars, 319 | Recycled materials |
| winemana Single Suet Cage | Roofed metal cage | 1 | 4.2 stars, 1,597 | Budget |
The Six Best Suet Feeders in Detail
Kingsyard All Metal Double Suet Feeder: Best Overall
A 4.8 star average across more than sixteen hundred reviews puts this Kingsyard ahead of every other suet feeder we checked. It holds two standard cakes in an all metal, powder coated cage under a sheltering roof, so it serves a busy yard without daily refills.
Two metal perches give birds that do not cling well, like titmice and some finches, a place to stand, while woodpeckers and nuthatches grip the cage itself. The roof lifts off for refilling and cleaning.
Metal cages with a perch are easy for starlings to use too. If they find it, move to the upside down feeder below. For most yards, though, this is the feeder to start with.
Specs That Matter
- Capacity: 2 standard suet cakes
- Build: all metal, powder coated
- Roof: removable weather roof
- Perches: two metal perches
- Use: suet in winter, fruit or nesting material in summer
Who It Is For
Most backyards, especially busy ones that empty a single cake fast.
Birds Choice Tail Prop Suet Feeder: Best for Large Woodpeckers
This is the feeder to buy if you want big woodpeckers. The tall panel under the cage gives a red-bellied, hairy or even a pileated woodpecker something to brace its tail against, the way it would on a tree, and the listing names it a pileated suet feeder.
It is made in Wisconsin from recycled poly lumber, which resists cracking, splitting and fading, with aluminum hinges and stainless steel screws. It measures 8 by 3 by 12 inches and hangs from a 19.5 inch cable under a green roof.
It holds one cake, so plan on more frequent refills in a busy yard. The listing recommends hot pepper suet if squirrels are a problem.
Specs That Matter
- Capacity: 1 suet cake
- Build: recycled poly lumber, made in the USA
- Tail prop: yes, full panel
- Size: 8 x 3 x 12 inches
- Hardware: aluminum hinges, stainless screws
Who It Is For
Yards near woods where hairy, red-bellied or pileated woodpeckers live.
Kingsyard Upside Down Double Suet Feeder: Best for Deterring Starlings
Woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees feed upside down naturally. Starlings and grackles do not like to. An upside down feeder offers the suet only from below, which makes it hard work for the birds you want to discourage and easy for the ones you want to see.
This 2.0 version adds a metal seal on the bottom to stop squirrels chewing the plastic body, which is made mostly from recycled plastic. The housing is 5.5 by 5.5 by 3.2 inches and holds two cakes, and the roof covers the cake from sun and rain.
The listing is honest that birds can take a while to find a new upside down feeder. Hang it at a slight angle at first so the suet is visible, then level it once birds are using it.
Specs That Matter
- Capacity: 2 suet cakes
- Feeding: from below only
- Build: recycled plastic body, metal bottom seal
- Housing: 5.5 x 5.5 x 3.2 inches
- Refill: lift off roof
Who It Is For
Yards where starlings or grackles clean out every suet cake.
Squirrel Buster Suet: Best for Squirrel Problems
If squirrels are winning, this is the fix. The outer shroud lines up with the feeding ports for birds, but when a squirrel climbs on, its weight pushes the shroud down and closes access. Squirrels are foiled, not harmed, according to the listing.
The spring mechanism is adjustable, so you can set how much weight the shroud supports. It holds two 5 by 5 inch cakes, has a crumb port that catches falling suet so birds can finish it, and comes apart by hand for cleaning.
It costs more than a simple cage. With more than thirteen hundred reviews at 4.5 stars, though, it has a strong record, and it pairs well with the Squirrel Buster Plus seed feeder that tops our bird feeder round-up.
Specs That Matter
- Capacity: 2 suet cakes, 5 x 5 inch
- Squirrel proofing: weight activated shroud
- Adjustment: spring tension
- Extras: crumb port, mess free loading
- Cleaning: tool free disassembly
Who It Is For
Anyone whose suet disappears to squirrels within a day.
Audubon Going Green Suet Feeder: Best Recycled Option
The Going Green line from Woodlink and Audubon is built from recycled plas