Best bird feeders for blue tits

Blue tits are agile enough to cling to rigid peanut mesh, hang beneath a compact feeder and use a short perch on a seed tube. That makes a small, easily dismantled feeder a better starting point than a wide platform. Choose the food first: whole peanuts need rigid mesh, while seed needs a tube with ports designed for the seed size.

No feeder can admit every blue tit while excluding every larger bird. A guardian can favour smaller visitors, but cage spacing, the distance from cage to port and individual bird behaviour all affect the result.

Three useful approaches

RSPB Premium peanut feeder: best for clinging access

The 15-inch RSPB Premium peanut feeder uses stainless-steel mesh with powder-coated metal fittings and holds about 630g. The mesh gives blue tits a broad area to grip rather than asking them to balance on one short perch. It is made for whole peanuts or suet nibbles, not loose seed.

Its strongest feature is also its drawback. A long mesh body offers many feeding positions, but every opening and the inside face of the mesh need brushing. The stated capacity is much more than many gardens need for one or two days, so there is no reason to fill it simply because space is available. See the RSPB feeder information.

RSPB Classic easy-clean seed feeder: best simple seed tube

The small RSPB Classic has a 500ml clear polycarbonate tube, two ports and plastic fittings. It comes apart without tools, which makes it a practical conventional seed feeder for blue tits during the November-to-April seed season. The short body is easier to empty fully than a tall multi-port tube, and the clear wall makes damp or clumped food visible.

Its drawback is the exposed plastic construction. RSPB warns that squirrels and parakeets may damage the fittings, and the two ordinary ports do not prevent larger birds from trying to reach the food. Choose it for simple seed access and straightforward cleaning, not for exclusion. Part-fill it if local birds will not clear 500ml within a day or two. See the RSPB specifications.

RSPB Ultimate seed feeder and guardian: best when larger birds dominate

This design puts a metal guardian around a removable seed feeder. It is the most direct option here when the problem is physical access by larger birds rather than squirrels reaching an exposed port.

A guardian is not a species detector. Some blue tits may approach cautiously, slim larger birds may pass through, and birds outside the cage may still reach or collect spilled food. The cage also adds bars and junctions to the weekly clean. Make sure the inner tube comes out without forcing your hand through the guard. See the RSPB product details.

Seeds, peanuts and the 2026 feeding season

Current RSPB advice is not to offer seeds or peanuts from May to November, when the risk of disease transmission is higher. From November to April, put out only what is likely to be eaten in one or two days. A half-filled feeder is sensible; a full reservoir is not a measure of good care.

Whole peanuts must be held behind suitable rigid mesh so birds cannot remove large pieces. Do not push chopped food into a mesh or enlarge an aperture. For a seed tube, use the food specified by the maker: very fine seed can leak from an ordinary port, while oversized pieces can bridge and leave stale food below.

Mealworms and suitable fat foods need their own compatible holders and should not be treated as a way to keep using a seed tube outside the seed season. Check the live guidance for what is appropriate at the time, and remove any moist or uneaten food promptly.

Will small ports keep starlings and pigeons away?

Short perches and guarded access can favour blue tits, but they cannot guarantee exclusion. A starling may cling, reach through a cage or wait beneath the feeder. A pigeon may be unable to land at the port yet still take seed from the ground. Adding a seed-catching tray makes matters worse: it supplies a broad landing surface and lets food mix with droppings.

Start by identifying the actual route. If larger birds are landing directly on a conventional port, a guardian may help. If pigeons are feeding below, reduce spill, use a better-matched seed and clear the ground. If squirrels are the issue, a weight mechanism and proper clearance are more relevant than a small-bird cage; compare the squirrel-resistant feeders.

Positioning a blue-tit feeder

Hang the feeder where birds have a clear view and can retreat towards nearby cover, without placing it beside dense foliage where a cat can wait unseen. Leave enough room to lift the lid and remove the feeder safely. A difficult-to-reach position soon turns weekly cleaning into an occasional job.

Watch the approaches from fences, walls, branches and roofs. A guardian works only if a squirrel cannot hang from an adjacent support, while a hanging feeder should not swing into masonry in the wind. Several small, separated feeding points are preferable to one crowded station.

Blue tits may take time to accept a new cage or unfamiliar body shape. Offer a very small amount, keep the position stable for a while and observe from indoors. If visits remain quiet, check food freshness, safe cover and disturbance before buying another product. Our guide to birds not visiting a feeder sets out a practical check.

Cleaning mesh, tubes and guardians

Clean at least weekly, and more often when use or conditions demand. Wear gloves, work outside with dedicated utensils, remove old food, dismantle the feeder and brush debris away before washing and disinfecting in line with current guidance. Rinse thoroughly and let every part dry. Keep bird-feeding equipment out of kitchens.

For peanut mesh, brush both faces and inspect the lid and base seams. For a tube, remove the ports and base so nothing remains trapped behind them. With a guardian, take out the inner feeder and clean the cage intersections separately. Check for sharp wire, flaking coating, cracked plastic and loose hanging parts before reassembly.

Stop feeding if birds appear unwell or dead birds are found. Empty and clean the equipment, clear food from below and follow current RSPB/BTO advice before restarting. Move feeding positions regularly even when no problem is visible.

Which should you choose?

Choose the Premium peanut feeder if rigid mesh and clinging access are the priorities and you are prepared to brush a long mesh body. Choose the Classic for a compact, uncomplicated seed tube, accepting that its exposed plastic fittings can be damaged and provide no exclusion mechanism. Choose the Ultimate guardian where larger birds repeatedly control a seed tube, provided you are comfortable with the added cleaning.

For broader comparisons, see feeders for small birds, the tube-feeder guide and the complete weekly cleaning method.

Questions people ask

Do blue tits need a special feeder?

Not necessarily. They can use a sound peanut mesh or seed tube. A specialised clinging feeder or guardian is useful only when its food format or access control solves a real need.

Can I feed peanuts throughout summer?

No. Current RSPB guidance places seed and peanut feeding in November to April. Check the live advice rather than relying on an old year-round routine.

Should I add a tray to catch seed?

No. Flat trays create a shared feeding surface and can give larger birds a place to land. Correct the spill instead and clear the ground below.