--- title: "How We Research" url: https://thebirdfeederguide.com/how-we-research/ type: page date: 2026-10-13 modified: 2026-10-15 markdown_url: https://thebirdfeederguide.com/how-we-research.md author: "admin" --- # How We Research Independent, research-based buying guides for backyard birders Reader-supported · we earn from qualifying Amazon purchases [Affiliate Disclosure](/affiliate-disclosure/) [How We Research](/how-we-research/) [![The Bird Feeder Guide](https://thebirdfeederguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/tbfg-logo-header-1200w.png)](/) [Smart Feeders](/smart-bird-feeders/) [Feeder Types](/best-tube-bird-feeders/) [Bird Food](/best-bird-seed/) [Squirrel-Proofing](/best-squirrel-proof-bird-feeders/) [Hummingbirds](/best-hummingbird-feeders/) [Attract Birds](/how-to-attract-birds-to-your-yard/) [Deals](/smart-bird-feeder-black-friday-deals-2026/) Home › How We Research Our process Our process # How We Research The Bird Feeder Guide publishes research-based buying guides for backyard birders. This page explains how we choose topics, which sources we rely on, how we handle specs and prices, and what we do not do. By The Bird Feeder Guide Editorial Team Updated October 2026 **In short:** we compile guides from expert sources, we do not test products ourselves, and anything we cannot trace to a source is shown as “Not stated”. Affiliate links are explained on our [Affiliate Disclosure](/affiliate-disclosure/) page. ![Small songbird perched near a flowering plant in a garden](https://thebirdfeederguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Songbird-in-a-garden-Payal-Sanghavi-Unsplash.jpg) Quick Answer We do not test products ourselves. Each guide is compiled from expert and editorial sources we have read, such as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon, Birds & Blooms, Project FeederWatch and university extension services, and every guide lists its sources with the dates shown on those pages. Guides are compiled with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team. A product appears only if an expert source recommends it, and any spec we cannot trace to a source is shown as “Not stated”. ## Our five-step process The same steps apply to every guide on the site. ### 1. One question per page Each page answers one reader question, such as which feeder suits a bird or how to fix a problem. We merge overlapping topics instead of publishing near-duplicate pages. ### 2. Read current sources We read several expert sources for each topic and note the date each page shows. Where a page shows no date, we say so. ### 3. Recommend only what experts recommend For roundups, we list a product only if an expert source we read recommends it, and we say which source. ### 4. Record specs from sources Specs come only from the sources cited. If a source does not state a spec, we write “Not stated”, and each guide shows the month its specs were verified. ### 5. Write, link and review Guides are compiled with AI assistance, checked against the sources by our editorial team, and linked into related guides so readers can find them. ## What we do not do These limits apply to every guide. ### We do not test products Our guides are research-based. Each carries a note that we have not tested the products ourselves, and we never describe hands-on testing we did not do. ### We do not invent numbers We do not publish made-up prices, ratings or statistics. We usually leave prices out because they change. ### We do not publish fake reviews We do not show star ratings or customer-style reviews that we wrote. Structured data on a page matches what readers can see on it. ### We do not hide affiliate links As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate links are disclosed on each page and explained on the Affiliate Disclosure page. Limits of this guide Corrections: if you spot an error, a broken link or an out-of-date spec, email [corrections@thebirdfeederguide.com](mailto:corrections@thebirdfeederguide.com). We update the guide and the “last verified” month when we confirm a change. Research is only as current as its sources. Manufacturers change models, and advice from experts is updated over time, so check the product listing before you buy. ## Questions about our research Do you test the feeders and products you write about? No. Our guides are research-based and compiled from expert sources. Each guide says that we have not tested the products ourselves. Do you use AI to write your guides? Yes. Guides are compiled with AI assistance from cited expert sources and reviewed by our editorial team, and each guide says so in its “How this guide was made” note. Why do some specs say “Not stated”? Because none of the sources we read gave that detail. We would rather show a gap than guess. How do I report a mistake? Email corrections@thebirdfeederguide.com with the page address and what looks wrong. ## Related guides ### Affiliate Disclosure How we earn from qualifying Amazon purchases. [Read the guide →](https://thebirdfeederguide.com/affiliate-disclosure/) ### About The Bird Feeder Guide Who we are and what we publish. [Read the guide →](https://thebirdfeederguide.com/about/) ### Best Hummingbird Feeders An example of a research-based roundup. [Read the guide →](https://thebirdfeederguide.com/best-hummingbird-feeders/) ### How to Attract Birds to Your Yard Our guide to getting started. [Read the guide →](https://thebirdfeederguide.com/how-to-attract-birds-to-your-yard/) ### Sources and method **How this guide was made:** This page was written by the editorial team with AI assistance and describes our standing process. Last reviewed October 2026. Photo: small songbird near a flowering plant by Payal Sanghavi on Unsplash. Last reviewed October 2026. ![](https://thebirdfeederguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/tbfg-logo-dark-1200w.png) The Bird Feeder Guide publishes research-based buying guides to help backyard birders choose durable, safe feeders. We compare manufacturer specs and published reviews and say clearly when we have not tested a product ourselves. #### Feeder Categories [Smart AI Feeders](/smart-bird-feeders/) [Squirrel-Proof Feeders](/best-squirrel-proof-bird-feeders/) [Best Tube Feeders](/best-tube-bird-feeders/) [Best Hopper Feeders](/best-hopper-bird-feeders/) #### Research [How We Research](/how-we-research/) [Editorial Standards](/about/) [How to Keep Squirrels Off Feeders](/how-to-keep-squirrels-off-bird-feeders/) [Contact Us](mailto:questions@thebirdfeederguide.com) #### Policies & Legal [Affiliate Disclosure](/affiliate-disclosure/) [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy/) [Corrections](mailto:corrections@thebirdfeederguide.com) **Affiliate notice:** As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. When you buy through links on our site we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commissions never decide what we recommend. Prices and availability change — check the current details on Amazon. © 2026 The Bird Feeder Guide · thebirdfeederguide.com Reader-supported outdoor gear journalism.