Anyone who wants to feed smaller birds should take a look at the Cling-A-Wing. Chickadees, House Finches and English Sparrows love it. I’m sure that wrens and nuthatches would probably find it attractive, too, but rarely do any pass through my urban backyard.
This globe-shaped clear plastic feeder has four seed ports. As the name suggests, the birds cling to the edge of the seed ports to reach the seed. The Cling-A-Wing has a top hatch that slides aside for easy filling. Inside, a clear plastic funnel directs seed to the seed ports. Because the ports face slightly downward, rather than sideways, the seed is kept away from the rain (except during the windiest of storms). As a result, I don’t need to clean the feeder as often as I would with a regular tube feeder.
The Cling-A-Wing needs refilling only once a week. I use black oil sunflower, although it would work well with any seed except Nyjer. I do stay away from straight white millet as well; I worry that the tiny seed might clog the drainage hole at the bottom.
One of the reasons little birds like the Cling-A-Wing is that the location of the seed ports makes it almost impossible for larger nuisance birds to feed. No pushy starlings or grackles, and no mourning doves. Other large songbirds cannot use the feeder, but I do have one male cardinal who, without clinging, flaps his wings vigorously to reach inside to pluck a seed. His mate hasn’t mastered this technique.
At a price under $20, the Cling-A-Wing is an incredibly good return on investment for those who like watching the antics of little birds.
Reviewed by Frank Baran, Bethlehem, Pa.
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