These Midwest-made birdhouses and bird feeders are all designed with both style and functionality in mind.
Kyle Miller, Thornville, Ohio This 19-inch, 22-gauge metal suite features a spacious nesting space and a feeding tray. Available in 13 colors, including copper, pictured. $45. uniquegardens.etsy.com
Randy Gurnicz, Crystal Lake, Illinois A geometric stack of hand-sawed cedar evokes a Japanese paper lantern. We love the copper detailing and sturdy cable. $80. designdredge.etsy.com
Heather Connors, Chesterton, Indiana Small birds like finches and chickadees can dine in peace inside these hand-thrown 6- to 7-inch pottery feeders, designed to deter pushy visitors. Available in three colors. From $39. purpleheatherpottery.etsy.com
Greg and Linda Halom, Cross Plains, Wisconsin A husband-wife team brushes on two top coats to protect their retro birdhouses’ groovy colors from fading and chipping. Colors and styles vary. $150. theretrocentrichome.etsy.com
Jason Russell, Marshalltown, Iowa The tiny-house movement goes to the birds: This industrial-chic concrete house has a bolt for a perch and measures just 4.5 inches at the base. $48. solidprocessing.etsy.com
Todd Herlitz, Chicago This ultramodern abode sports cedar on the front; the back is 3-D-printed from a plant-derived plastic made of cornstarch and sugar cane and unscrews easily for cleaning. $55. springmodern.com
Sue Capillo, Evanston, Illinois A master gardener crafts sturdy shelters from slabs of white stoneware clay. Drainage holes keep guests warm and dry. $90. botanic2ceramic.etsy.com
Kevin Lind Jordan, Minnesota How better to store seeds for the birds than in a mini aluminum and steel grain bin? Available in 7- or 10-inch sizes, plain or customized with a logo or decal. From $48. cornstalkllc.etsy.com
Joe Papendick, St. Louis This mod sunflower seed feeder disassembles for easy cleaning—and, cleverly, the rods that hold the pieces together double as perches. Available in four colors, including yellow, pictured. $96. www.joepapendick.com
Seed smarts
To attract the widest variety of birds, you have to appeal to their unique appetites, says Jason St. Sauver of Audubon Nebraska. Fill one feeder with thistle seeds for wrens, goldfinches and chickadees. Lure cardinals and blue jays with a mix of peanuts and sunflower seeds. Sprinkle seeds on the ground for sparrows; hang a suet cage for woodpeckers. Most important, he says: Avoid cheap blends with a lot of filler. Birds know it lacks nutrients and won’t eat it.