Is The Harymor Bird Feeder With A Camera Worth Buying? Here's What Reviews Say

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Bird watchers know the pain of waiting for hours just to spot a fleeting flurry of feathers. While you can't guarantee you'll be able to draw in the more rare finds with a standard bird feeder, it is still a great way to observe birds in a relatively up-close and personal environment. Unfortunately, you can't really anticipate when it will be feeding time for the birds, so sometimes you may need a little assistance to get the best viewing experience. Luckily, there is a product that could help you attract a variety of birds to your yard, and even help you identify them. 

The Harymor Bird Feeder with Camera on Amazon is a popular buy that has acquired a total of over 1,400 ratings and maintained a 4.3-star average score. It's not only customers who praised this feeder. When reviewed by other publications and compared to similar products, it was also given notable marks, especially for the price. But are good reviews reason enough to buy? Well, it depends on what you are looking for. To help you decide, however, we scoured the internet to learn what customers had to say, so you can spend less time staring at a screen and more time watching birds preen. If you really want to up your chances of attracting birds, avoid this simple mistake when refilling your bird feeder. 

At $100, it may seem steep for a bird-feeder, but this is no ordinary seed holder. Though it does function as a typical feeder, it also has a unique addition — a motion sensor camera. The camera connects to your phone, letting you watch birds in real time and capture high-quality photos and videos. It can even pick up fine feather details and features a 3x zoom for closer viewing. It features 1080p resolution and has a 120° wide-angle lens. The combination of the above allows you to get a clear view of birds both during the day and at night. "The video quality is outstanding—crystal clear and detailed," wrote one reviewer. "Whether you're watching birds, chipmunks, or even those pesky squirrels, the high-definition footage makes it easy to enjoy and appreciate the wildlife in your yard."

Besides the tech features, it's also a solid bird feeder. It has a 2L capacity, which is large enough that you won't have to refill it often — even if you have a lot of heavy snackers. It also has a waterproof top that helps to keep the bird seed dry and fresh in any weather. In order to keep the tech powered, it comes with two solar panels — one that is attached to the roof and an additional externally mounted model, which you can place in direct sunlight, even if the feeder sits in the shade.

Though there are quite a few benefits to this design, there are also some areas where it is lacking. One area that most disappointed customers was in regards to the AI bird recognition feature. Customers found the recognition feature inaccurate and were frustrated that it required an additional subscription instead of being included in the purchase price. One customer described the recognition technology as "incredibly poor", and later wrote that it identified plain local birds as exotic ones exclusive to other countries. Another reviewer noted that accessing saved photos and videos required a $5 monthly fee. Some reviewers felt that requiring a subscription to something that is essentially a physical part of the product — as well as one of the main features — was too much to ask. 

Another common issue was that the feeder cannot be hung like a typical model, but must instead be mounted on a flat surface. Though this isn't the end of the world, it can limit your options when it comes to choosing the best place to hang a bird feeder in your yard.