hoangbre@gmail.com
Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo Camera: one-minute review
It seems something of an oxymoron that bird feeder cameras are another way that technology is helping us become one with nature, but that is what the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo does. The previous generation Netvue Birdfy Feeder AI camera already features in our round-up of the best bird feeder cameras, but the latest Birdfy camera takes the technology to a whole new level.
The premise of the device is simple; it is a bird feeder with a weatherproof Wi-Fi-enabled camera in the centre. Think of the camera in much the same way as a smart security camera, like a Amazon Blink or Ring Camera, in that it sends you an alert every time it detects motion. In this case that motion comes in the form of a bird (or squirrel, or possibly even a bear depending on your location). Using AI technology, the Birdfy app will even identify the bird for you and create a list of visitors to your feeder that day.
The new version of the Birdfy Feeder brings enhanced cameras. The primary camera now houses two camera units. The first is a wide-angle camera that shows the entire perch, whilst the second offers a closer view and is motorized to pan and track any detected bird. You can even view the footage from either camera through a live feed in the app.
In addition to the primary dual-camera unit, the Feeder 2 Duo has a second camera unit, which mounts onto the side of the feeder and offers a wide angle side view of whatever bird has landed. This second camera is great for larger birds, or if you simply want to edit between two different camera angles.
The image quality of the secondary Feeder 2 Duo camera isn’t quite as good as the main one, and if you don’t need it then the main camera alone can be purchased as the Birdfy Feeder 2 Pro instead. The second camera suffers a little from chromatic aberration, which can affect the quality, but this is all relative to the fact it is really a camera meant for monitoring rather than providing photographic excellence.
Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo: price and availability
- $419.99 / £379.99 / AU$665 – but regularly on offer
- There are also Birdfy Feeder 2 and Feeder 2 Pro options
The Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo is the most advanced bird feeder camera system on the market, with two camera units hosting three cameras. However, it’s also the priciest at $419.99 / £379.99 / AU$665 on the Birdfy site, prohibitively so for some people. Thankfully, there are different options using the same feeder but with different camera combinations.
The first is the Birdfy Feeder 2 which costs $259.99 / £204.99. Its one camera is the secondary camera mentioned throughout the Feeder 2 Duo on test. This kit doesn’t include the solar panel, which can be purchased separately for $29.99 /£22.99. It also doesn’t include AI recognition, which can be purchased separately, if wanted, through the Birdfy app.
Then there is the Birdfy Feeder 2 Pro. This uses the same improved main dual-camera unit as the Feeder 2 Duo on test, which includes the tracking camera. It also includes a solar panel and can be purchased without the AI subscription (which can be added in the app) for $279.99 / £249.99, or with a lifetime AI subscription for $299.99 / £279.99.
Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo: specs
| Sensor | Unknown |
| Photo | 2MP – Front Camera, 3MP – Front Portrait Camera, 2MP – Side camera |
| Video | Full HD – Front Camera, 2k – Front Portrait Camera, Full HD – Side camera |
| Memory | MicroSD (not included) Free Unlimted online storage for 30 days (rolling) |
| Dimensions | 267mm(W) x 300mm(H) x 300mm(D) |
| Weight | Approx. 1,460g |
| Battery | 9000 mAh (main unit) + 9000 mAh (secondary camera) |
Birdfy Feeder 2 Pro: design
- Two camera units, with the main unit being an improved dual-camera setup
- Multiple ways to mount
- Wi-Fi connection, plus solid battery life further expanded with a solar panel
Setting up the whole unit took me less than 10 minutes. The only construction needed was mounting the cameras, including screwing on a small arm for the secondary camera. The cameras themselves can be fixed in to position using thumb screws.
My only disappointment with the design is that the new secondary side camera can only be positioned on one side because the mounting arm is set at an angle. Try mounting it on the other side, where there are mounting threads and the camera isn’t angled at the perch correctly. Hopefully, Birdfy will come up with a solution, as it seems like an easy fix.
The feeder is mounted to a quick-release plate, which can be screwed to a wall or fence, or it can be fixed to a strap and fixed around a tree trunk or post. I opted to put it around a tree trunk (see below), with the whole installation taking a matter of minutes. As I write this, the feeder has securely been fixed in the tree for over two months in all sorts of weather and with birds and squirrels using it almost hourly.
The camera connection is simple, and via the app, the cameras can connect to your home Wi-Fi system. My feeder is around 20ft / 6m from the rear of my house and probably another 5ft / 2m from where the nearest Wi-Fi router is connected , and both cameras maintained a stable connection without any dropouts.
Both cameras feature an internal battery that can be charged via a USB-C port, and the battery life is respectable. How long the battery lasts depends on how active the cameras, for example, how many birds land on the feeder, whether you use the built-in light at nighttime and whether you try to scare off unwanted visitors using the alarm. Generally, though, I have found that a couple of weeks passes before the battery dies, at which point they need to be taken down and charged.
Additionally to solid battery life, the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo also comes with a solar panel which has two USB-C ports on it, enabling you to power both cameras continuously, hopefully without the need to ever bring them in for charging.
The solar panel has a screw-on mount to attach to a wall or fence or a flexible mount to wrap around a tree branch or similar. Wherever you position it, you will of course want to maximize the amount of light reaching it for the best possible performance.
I have used a similar solar panel with the original Birdy feeder camera, and in over 18 months I haven’t once had to charge the camera, and its battery rarely drops below 80%. Depending on where you live, you’ll need to be smart where you position the feeder and panel in the garden during winter when sunlight hours can significantly drop, assuming you don’t want to have to charge the batteries manually.
As I have found with every bird feeder camera I have tested, none of them are particularly squirrel-proof, and where there is birdseed, a squirrel will try and get to the last of it, even if that means breaking the feeder.
After a couple of weeks of use, squirrels broke some of the plastic in the feeder to get to the last few remaining seeds (see above). The damage doesn’t affect its use at all, and to be honest, it is just something you have to accept will happen if you have larger mammals trying to get to a food source.
Sadly, the lights and alarm did little to deter the squirrels. However, screaming into my phone, which then played the audio through the Birdfy camera’s built-in microphone, was successful, albeit not a permanent solution. I also got some funny looks when doing this out in public!
Overall, I have enjoyed having the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo in my garden and seeing various birds visiting. The new camera system is a great way to see the birds up close, and the primary camera’s image quality seems to be an improvement over the predecessor, particularly the addition of the close-up camera. The secondary camera is a nice add-on, but I wish it could be mounted on the opposite side; for me, it would produce a nicer image where it isn’t directly in the sun’s light.
Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo: performance
The Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo is a two-camera unit setup with three individual cameras. I couldn’t find the exact specifications for the camera sensor. However, based on the still images and video resolution, it is fairly safe to say that the sensor is a generic smartphone sensor, most likely the same as used in security cameras made by Birdfy’s parent brand, Netvue.
Although the resolution may not be huge, the cameras are designed for observation and sharing images on social media, not for creating large prints, so the size and quality of the images are perfectly acceptable.
The large-capacity batteries in each unit last for a week or two, but the solar panel included should always keep them charged.
The cameras are also IP65-rated for weatherproofing, and I can attest to this, having had the cameras outside in the pouring rain. I’ve also had the previous generation of the camera outside in hot and freezing conditions for over a year, and it is still fully working, and the battery is still holding its charge.
Video and photo samples
Image 1 of 3
Should you buy the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
How I tested the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo
- Mounted the feeder in a tree for 3 months
- Connected to my home Wi-Fi
- Monitored the birds visiting daily via the Birdfy app
I tested the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo by mounting it in a tree that garden birds (and squirrels) regularly visit. The feeder was strapped to the tree, and the camera was set up using an iPhone and the Birdfy app.
I left the feeder up there for three months through all weather conditions. During that time, I monitored the birds visiting via the app in real-time and reviewed photos and videos that had been captured.
I have also looked at AI recognition and have seen and corrected a few mistakes. Hopefully, this will help improve bird recognition accuracy in the future.
- First reviewed December 2024
