Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro Review

About the Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro

• Camera: 4K HDR, PDAF autofocus, 1080p slow motion, 132° view
• Power: 5,200mAh battery with built-in 5W solar roof
• Seed capacity: 1.7L (57.5 ounces)
• Wi-Fi: 2.4GHz and 5GHz
• Weather rating: IP65
• Warranty: 2 years

The Kiwibit 2 Pro is a bird feeder, outdoor camera, and birdwatching assistant rolled into one. It features a 4K autofocus camera, AI-powered bird identification (for a fee), solar charging, and two seed compartments. It's designed to let you watch backyard visitors from your phone, capture close-up videos, and learn more about who's stopping by for a snack.

It works with both Android and iOS devices and supports Alexa for live viewing and voice commands (a feature I didn't test for this review).

You can mount the 2 Pro on a pole (not included), a wall, or a tree strap, and its solar panel is built into the feeder's roof. The dual-chambered hopper lets you use two types of seeds, which disperse evenly via sliding mechanisms. It comes with a 30-day free trial of FeatherPal, Kiwibit's proprietary AI that identifies the species that visit your feeder.

How does the Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro compare to the Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2?

The Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro is an upgrade on the Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2, which we named the best overall in our roundup of best smart bird feeders. While features like the battery, camera resolution, and weather resistance are the same, the Pro version includes upgrades like a 5GHz Wi-Fi band, autofocus tracking, slow-motion video, a stronger solar panel, and a slightly larger, wider seed hopper designed to improve seed dispersal. It also includes a hummingbird feeder attachment that the base Bird Feeder 2 lacks.

On the flip side, unlike the original, it doesn't offer black-and-white infrared night vision.

How we tested

To evaluate the Kiwibit 2 Pro, I mounted it to a post on my backyard deck using the included template, anchors, and screws, knowing I could also catch visiting birds in real time from my sunroom windows. I filled both hoppers with black oil sunflower seeds, downloaded the app, then sat back and waited for the birds (and yes, squirrels... so many squirrels) to swing by.

What we like

Setup is simple and intuitive

I'd set up only one smart bird feeder before this, a Bilantan model, and though I don't remember the details, I do remember it was a hassle and took far longer than it should have. Not so with the Kiwibit 2 Pro.

It comes with a helpful Quick Start Guide that walks you through each step, from assembly and connection to app setup and installation. Aside from some hiccups during installation due to drill bit size (our fault, not the brand's), it took around 10 to 15 minutes to get the bird feeder up and running.

The image quality is fantastic

With 4K HDR video quality, a wide 132-degree view, and autofocus, I've captured some incredible bird images and videos with this thing. But I especially love the slow-motion capability. In the few days since I set it up, I've had visits from the red-breasted nuthatch and black-capped chickadee—both so quick to fly in and out that you can barely catch any detail. The ability to film in slo-mo or ultra-slo-mo changes that, letting me catch details I'd otherwise miss. For someone who loves birds as much as I do, this is a game-changer.

The hopper is well designed and versatile

I love that the two chambers of the hopper let you attract different species using more than one type of seed. But being able to slide the hopper off to refill it? I might love that even more. It's much easier to fill a hopper when you don't have to lean over a railing or stand on a chair to access it, and I suspect I'll appreciate it even more when temperatures plummet this winter and I can bring the hopper inside for refills. It also makes cleaning the hopper much easier.

The app is intuitive and feature-rich

We've all used gadget-connected apps that are a real pain to navigate or understand. The Kiwibit 2 Pro's app is not that. You can tell a lot of thought went into its design and capabilities. It integrates well with the feeder's features and offers so many options that I'm fairly sure I haven't accessed them all yet.

One highlight is the AI identification, which not only lets me know right away which species are getting a nibble but also connects me to a wiki that details far more about each (too much, to be honest—FeatherPal could benefit from a TL;DR section up top).

I also love that the app lets you share your live feed with up to three people and share recorded clips with up to 20. For a bird nerd like me, all these features are a lot of fun.

What we don't like

Some features require yet another subscription

Those AI capabilities I love? Unless you subscribe after your 30-day free trial, you'll lose them. It's $7.99 per month for individuals and $9.99 for families. You can buy the feeder with a lifetime AI subscription included, but it costs more—worth it, in my opinion, if you know you'll use it. Without the monthly fee, you can still access many of the feeder's features, including live streaming and playback, motion alerts, clip sharing, and more.

Without that add-on, you also lose cloud storage (video history disappears after one day) and the app's Collection feature, which is great for logging which species have bellied up to your bird feeder.

Notifications can get overwhelming

You're gonna get a lot of notifications from the Kiwibit 2 Pro. Birds? Exciting and worth the many interruptions, IMO. Visits from squirrels, other critters, and your son pranking you with an American crow that is actually Halloween decor (true story, and it fooled the AI, too)... not so much.

That said, the app lets you tamp down the notifications. You can, for instance, turn them off for nuisance animals or set bird notifications for select species.

The non-bird alarms are ineffective

OK, this is more of a quibble because I've found this to be true of all smart bird feeders. Squirrels are gonna squirrel, and many are either smarter than we give them credit for or willing to risk being dinner if it means a full belly heading into winter. I do appreciate that Kiwibit offers options here—siren, hawk cry, dog bark, and owl hoot—but the many voracious tree rodents roaming my neck of the woods have shrugged off every one of them.

Warranty

The 2 Pro comes with Kiwibit's Warranty+, which extends the typical one-year limited warranty to two years, covers manufacturing defects and quality issues, and adds priority technical support. Kiwibit's warranty page has the full details.

Should you buy the Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro?

Yes—this feeder has earned its wings

If you're a bird lover, the Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro (available at Amazon for $219.99) is the kind of gadget that can turn an already enjoyable hobby into an obsession (ask me, or any of my family members, how I know). Between the 4K image quality, slow-motion video, easy-to-use app, and AI-powered bird identification, there's a lot to love here.

It's not perfect. The subscription fee is annoying, the notifications get excessive, and you probably won't win any battles against determined squirrels. But those are minor gripes in an otherwise impressive piece of backyard tech. After being underwhelmed by my first smart bird feeder, the Kiwibit 2 Pro has been a welcome surprise. If you're ready to take your backyard birdwatching up a notch, this one is worth the investment.