Flower Shaped Metal Garden Bird Feeder

This feeder is built as an oversized metal flower: a ring of long petals curving out below a domed mesh seed head, mounted on a tall stake that pushes into a lawn, a border or a large planter. Standing rather than hanging, it puts food at a height small garden birds will use while staying visible from the house, and it still looks like a garden ornament when it is empty, which is more than most feeders manage.

The mesh dome holds seed and releases it slowly as birds work at it from the outside, so the petals below double as a perching ring. That suits clinging and perching feeders such as finches, tits and sparrows, and the open form makes it easy to see how much food is left without taking anything apart. Several colours are available if you want it to disappear into planting or stand out against it.

Metal construction handles rain and sun better than plastic, though the stake should be pushed into firm ground so wind does not tip it. Clean it regularly with a suitable disinfectant and rinse thoroughly before refilling, because dirty feeders spread disease between wild birds, and tip out seed that has become wet or mouldy rather than topping up over it. Site the stake clear of paths and play areas where someone could walk into it.

• Product type: Garden stake bird feeder
• Brand: Cozy Crest
• Material: Metal, flower form with mesh seed dome
• Mounting: Ground stake for lawns, borders and large planters
• Suits: Seed mixes for finches, tits, sparrows and other small birds
• Colours: Several options available
• Care: Clean and disinfect regularly; discard wet or mouldy seed
• Siting: Push into firm ground and keep clear of walkways and play areas