Review: Cardinals Love This Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder

If you’re having issues with squirrels gobbling up your bird seed, one of the best investments you can make is buying a squirrel-proof bird feeder. They’re usually a tad more expensive, but you’ll end up saving money on bird seed long term.

I’ve tried several of these feeders and I’ve had one in particular hanging from my apartment balcony for more than a year now: The Squirrel X X7 Squirrel-Resistant Feeder. I bought mine from Menards in Minnesota. You can also shop for a similar looking model on Amazon linked here.

Read on for my quick review on why I think this feeder is well-worth adding to your yard.

Also…if you’re looking for more information to keep squirrels off your bird feeders, click here.

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Things I Like About This Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder

-Most important: It does its job of keeping squirrels out. The feeder is long enough to prevent squirrels from hanging off the top of it to eat seed. The feeding perches are spring-loaded and weight sensitive. They give out if a squirrel tries grabbing it. There are also washers on the top cap to prevent critters from opening it.

It’s affordable: My local Menards had it for sale at a great price. It’s listed on the Squirrel-X brand website with a similar designed-model on Amazon. All prices right now are sound of $50. That’s really affordable for a squirrel-proof feeder.

It’s a big feeder, holding more than four pounds of bird seed at once. I don’t have to refill it often. It’s a secret weapon for me to keep feeding the birds if I’m leaving home for vacation.

-The perches are big enough to support Northern Cardinals and Blue Jays that visit my patio. In particular, it’s popular with the Northern Cardinals visiting me in the morning and evening. It’s also been well-used by Sparrows, Finches, Chickadees, Nuthatches and Woodpeckers.

Related Content: Review: A Cheap Bird Seed Cardinals Will Love

A picture of a squirrel proof feeder on a hanging pole
The Squirrel-X X7 Squirrel-Resistant Bird Feeder. The perches at the bottom are spring loaded and collapse when something heavy (like a squirrel) lands on them.

Things I Don’t Like About This Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder

-The tube is made of a relatively flimsy plastic. However, it’s lasted me more than a year. And that’s through tough Minnesota weather.

-It’s a little difficult to clean out the tube as it’s a big feeder. You might want to have a brush with a long handle to scrub out the entire thing.

-Two perches and feeding ports don’t allow a ton of birds to use it all at once.

The Final Rating: 9/10 (Great Investment)

This feeder gets a great score because it’s had a perfect track record (so far) with keeping squirrels out of my bird seed. I even saw a chipmunk hilariously try to scale down it…only to flop off onto the ground.

This feeder is also an affordable, low-maintenance option if you’re getting started with the hobby of bird feeding. Popular songbirds like Cardinals, Chickadees, Finches and more love it.

Let me know if you buy or have this feeder and your experience in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

Related Content: 5 Proven Ways to Attract Cardinals to a Feeder