Tube feeders are long, slender containers, usually suspended from a tree or hung from a pole.  They may have either tiny openings to dispense thistle (nyjer), finch mix or fine sunflower chips, or larger holes for sunflower, safflower, or a seed mix.  Upside-down feeders, which are tubes with perches above the feeding holes, are made specifically for the acrobatic goldfinches that have no problem eating head down.  Most tube feeders have separate perches far enough apart to reduce some of the competition that often occurs around the feeding station.  Small perches and portals make it difficult for the larger birds to use these feeders, which can be an advantage if you're trying to be selective.  Most tube feeders allow for a tray to be added at the bottom to reduce spillage and allow room for the larger birds to eat.  Many can also be mounted to the top of a pole, if you prefer not to hang the feeder.

 Fitted with sunflower seeds or a mix, tube feeders will attract chickadees, titmice and nutchatches that generally take one seed at a time and fly off to eat it elsewhere. Goldfinches, purple and house finches and pine siskens, on the other hand, will stay on a perch and continue to feed for several minutes at a time.

Tube feeders can sometimes be difficult to clean.  We have several models that have overcome that issue and are made with ease-of-cleaning in mind.