Are you struggling to find the best dove-proof bird feeder? Then, you’re in the right place!
If you’re passionate about small bird species like finches, sparrows, cardinals, and goldfinches, then you’d surely like to draw them to your backyard.
The best way to attract small birds is to install a top-quality bird feeder in your garden.
However, a bird feeder will not only draw finches, chickadees, and pine siskins but particular bird species with voracious appetites like crows, ravens, doves, and finches.
Mourning doves and rock pigeons that feed ravenously on herbs, wild grasses, weeds, and cultivated grains can gobble up large quantities of bird feed in no time. So if you wish to attract only goldcrests, hummingbirds, and willow tits but keep out doves and pigeons, then you need to choose an appropriate bird feeder. But, at the same time, you’d have to take some measures to discourage the ravenous birds.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the best dove proof bird feeders available on the market at the moment:
Best Dove Proof Bird Feeders – Comparison Table
| Image | Model | |
|---|---|---|
| Stokes Select 38002 Tube Feeder (Top Pick) | Check Price |
 | Woodlink Absolute II Bird Feeder (Close Runner-Up) | Check Price |
 | Aspects 278 Vista Dome Feeder | Check Price |
 | Twinkle Star Wild Bird Feeder | Check Price |
1. Stokes Select 38002 Tube Feeder (Editor’s Choice)
If you’re looking for a performance-oriented and affordable bird feeder that allows only small birds to perch, then the Stokes Select Tube Feeder is your best bet. This tube feeder has four feeding slots or openings that allow multiple finches, cardinals, and orioles to alight simultaneously. Alternatively, the feeder can hold up to 1lb of bird seeds, thereby sparing you from having to refill the cage frequently.
The innovative metal cage design easily allows small and medium-sized birds to alight but keeps out squirrels, pigeons, and doves. In addition, the ergonomic structure of the Stoke Select 38002 makes it companionable with an 18-inch or 15-inch baffle, making the feeder perfectly suitable and safe for small birds.
Pros
- They are intelligently designed to drain water and rainwater, keeping bird seeds dry.
- They are ergonomically designed for enabling sparrows, hummingbirds, and finches to perch and feed comfortably.
- No tools are needed for mounting the feeder onto the Stokes Select 38002
- You need to raise the cover for topping the feeder with bird seeds.
- Four ports or openings around the tube feeder offer instant and direct access to small and medium-sized birds.
- This bird feeder has a storage capacity of 1 pound of bird seeds: relieves you from the hassle of having to refill now and then.
- Metal construction: withstands wear and tear and inclement weather.
- Cleaning the feeder is a breeze.
Cons
- The seed container made of plastic is prone to sticking up, making it accessible to doves and pigeons.
- Squirrels can easily pull up the green lid/cap at the top.
2. Woodlink Absolute II Bird Feeder (Close Runner-Up)
The squirrel- and dove-resistant Absolute II Bird Feeder by Woodlink is extraordinarily hardy as it boasts a powder-coated steel frame. The moment a large bird or squirrel attempts to roost, the perch blocks access to bird seeds. This bird feeder has openings or ports on both sides to attract many birds.
The Absolute II can hold up to a whopping 12 lbs (2 gallons) of birdfeed that frees you from the hassle of refilling occasionally. In addition, you can modify the perches’ weight for allowing only those birds you wish to roost and feed.
Pros
- The squirrel-proof bird feeder discourages mourning doves and rock pigeons but draws smaller birds.
- Extremely durable and resilient: Made from die-cast metal with aluminum finish and quality powder finish
- The aesthetic appeal of the feeder attracts finches, cardinals, and blue jays.
- Can hold up to 12lbs of blended seeds
- You can adjust the heft of the perches for offering access to birds of your choice.
- Compatible for hanging atop a shaft or on the zinc-plated steel hanger included with the feeder
Cons
- Indentations in the brackets could injure birds. You’ll need to fill the notches with silicone to fix this issue.
3. Aspects 278 Vista Dome Feeder (Best on a Budget)
The Aspects 278 Vista Dome Feeder sports a minimalist design yet attracts birds with aplomb. The USP of this bird feeder is its 12-inch (diameter) dome, which keeps out large birds but allows small birds to roost. In addition, the feeding tray has a diameter of 8.5 inches, letting you place the right amount of bird seeds on it.
This bird feeder features a robust shaft with a looped end extending from the tray to the dome, letting you suspend it firmly. In addition, the tray and dome are made of UV-resistant polycarbonate that imparts extraordinary durability to the feeder.
Pros
- Made from hardy materials that keep the feeder functional for years
- That dome serves as an effective dove guard.
- Can hold up to 1.25 quarts of birdfeed
- Brass and stainless steel hardware facilitate easy adjustment of the distance between tray and dome.
Cons
- The tray is somewhat flimsy and could fall to the ground and break.
- The bird seeds in the tray could pick up moisture.
4. Twinkle Star Wild Bird Feeder
The Wild Bird Feeder from Twinkle Star has a rigid plastic body that makes the contraption hardy. Also, the transparent frame means you can keep an eye on the seed level and refill the feeder. The feeder comes assembled, so you need to hang it straight away to allow birds to roost on it.
The feeder has a sloping roof that shelters the birds from the sun’s rain and harsh rays. This wild bird feeder can take up to 2.15 lb of bird seeds. Twist-Lock lets you open the feeder for filling seeds and cleaning comfortably.
Pros
- Hardy construction
- Easily refillable
- Convenient to clean
- You can hang it easily from poles or branches of trees.
Cons
- Securing or closing the top could take some effort.
5. Squirrel–X5 Bird Feeder
You can bet you’ll get more than what you pay for when you choose the Squirrel–X5 bird feeder. This squirrel-resistant bird feeder comes with six spring-loaded perches that automatically subside when a rock pigeon tries to alight. In addition, there are six feeding ports with a hooded top for preventing moisture incursion, ultimately keeping the seeds dry.
This dove-proof bird feeder can hold up to 3 pounds of sunflower, black oil sunflower hearts, and wild bird seeds blend. You can easily disassemble the feeder into three distinct components, thereby helping you clean it comfortably. This bird feeder is made from the die-cast metallic frame with bronze finishing for years.
Pros
- Simply pressing down on the lid and turning it anticlockwise opens the feeder: easy to refill and clean.
- The spring-loaded metallic perches drop automatically under the weight of a pigeon or squirrel.
- Adaptable perches for attracting a variety of small birds
- You can adjust the spring tension to allow small birds to perch.
- The bird feeder can hold up to 3.5lbs of bird seeds: relieves you from refilling more often.
- Robust construction: stays functional for a long time to come.
Cons
- Some parts or sections are plastic that squirrels (not doves!) could chew to access the feed.
What Makes Bird Feeders Dove Proof?
A mourning dove is a variety of doves with a tiny head and slim short tail, graceful appearance. Mourning doves thrive across Europe and North America, perching on the telephone and electrical grid wires and feeding greedily on redundant food and bird seeds. Rock pigeons, also known as pigeons, are found extensively worldwide and have similar feeding habits as mourning doves.
Since pigeons and doves devour almost any kind of birdseed you place in your bird feeder, they consume the entire amount reasonably quickly. In addition, these birds perch on bird feeders in large numbers and discourage the smaller orioles and finches from feeding.
How to Pick the Best Dove Proof Bird Feeder?
As an enthusiast of small birds, you’d prefer to feed only woodpeckers, cardinals, and hummingbirds but deny their larger brethren. There are several essential principles to do so:
Buy a bird feeder that can hold only the tiny birds
Due to their relatively large size compared to the smaller birds, Pigeons and doves need sufficient roosting space. Therefore you should not opt for a tray feeder or a hopper feeder that can easily accommodate doves or pigeons.
Instead, you’d be better off choosing a cylinder, suet, oriole, mealworm, seed tube, squirrel-proof, peanut, hummingbird feeder, or any other specialty bird feeder. Seed tubes or suet feeders are designed to do not enable large birds to alight.
Attach a cage to your bird feeder
Attaching or affixing a cage to the feeder could greatly help prevent doves from perching or descending on the feeder.
If you have a hopper or tube feeder, affix a dove guard to it –If you’re thinking of buying a tube or hopper feeder, then purchase a dove guard compatible with the feeder.
Use birdfeed that pigeons and doves dislike
Mourning doves and rock pigeons have a penchant for seeds and grains. However, they cannot feed on suet, mealworm, shelled peanuts, nectar, and fruits due to their beaks’ shape.
Feed bird seeds that do not contain fillers
Feed seed blends with ‘filler ingredients like wheat, oat, corn, and millet. Doves and pigeons avoid feeds that are free of filler ingredients.
How to Make Your Bird Feeder Dove-Proof?
Using a retractable dove guard comes in perfectly handy for thwarting pesky doves and other large birds from perching on the bird feeder. The dove guard, constructed from processed steel, comes with strip locks, allowing you to fasten it to the feeding tray. Follow these guidelines for tethering the dove guard to your bird feeder:-
- Position the meshed guard atop the feeding tray keeping the wider end upwards
- Coil the strap locks via the outer edge of every opening or slit of the tray and about the guard’s base wire
- Link the locks to themselves in the form of a loop, and then pull on each spiral to make them taut
So, What’s the Best Dove Proof Bird Feeder?
So, there you have it-the five best dove-proof bird feeders. All the five bird feeder models reviewed above have been designed ergonomically to attract small birds but not the larger ones.
In our opinion, the Absolute II Bird Feeder by Woodlink is the best dove-proof bird feeder available on the market at the moment.