Frequently Asked Questions

The app and subscriptions

Is there a subscription?

No. Species identification, unlimited viewing, motion alerts and saving your own clips are included for the life of the product. There is no premium tier, because nothing has been held back to sell you later.

Could that change later?

Species identification and unlimited viewing are included for the life of every Perchmont camera sold. This is not an introductory offer.

How accurate is the species identification?

Good on common garden birds in clear conditions. Less reliable in poor light, on partial views, and with species that look nearly identical to each other. Treat it as a very well-informed suggestion rather than a certainty — which is how experienced birders treat any automated ID.

WiFi and setup

What WiFi does it need?

2.4GHz. Most cameras of this type do not support 5GHz networks. If your router broadcasts both under one name, you may need to temporarily separate them during setup.

This is the single most common setup problem. Worth checking before you order.

How far from the router can it be?

Further than a phone would manage comfortably is asking for trouble. Walls, and especially exterior walls, cut the signal hard. If the far end of your garden already has weak WiFi, it will be weak at the feeder too.

How long does setup take?

About ten minutes if the WiFi cooperates. Mount it, connect, done.

Do I need to be technical?

No, but you do need a smartphone. If you are buying this as a gift for someone who does not use one, it will not work for them.

Power and solar

Does solar mean I never charge it?

In a sunny position, largely yes. In practice it depends entirely on where you mount it.

What if my best spot is shaded?

This is a real tension. Birds feel safest near cover, which is usually the shadiest part of the garden — the worst place for a solar panel.

The Solar Panel & Battery Kit solves it. A 10ft cable lets the panel sit where the sun is while the feeder stays where the birds are.

What about winter?

Short days and thin light mean the panel may not keep up. The backup battery covers those stretches.

Weather and durability

Can it stay outside all year?

Yes. Sealed housing, built for rain, snow and full summer sun.

What about extreme cold?

Battery performance drops in hard freezes — true of every battery, not just ours. Expect shorter runtime during a cold snap.

Birds and placement

How long until birds use it?

Two to three weeks before they treat a new feeder as reliable. Moving it because nothing came in five days resets that clock. Leave it, keep it filled.

Where should I put it?

Around ten feet from cover. Five to six feet high. Either within three feet of a window or more than thirty feet away — the middle distance is where collisions happen.

Will it stop squirrels?

Not on its own. Clearance matters more than any feeder design: squirrels rarely climb a pole, they jump to it. Ten feet of clear space in every direction does most of the work.

Will it show me hummingbirds?

Not a standard feeder camera. Hummingbirds hover a few inches away for a couple of seconds, and a normal lens cannot focus that close. The hummingbird feeder has a macro lens built for exactly that distance.

Orders

Where do you ship?

The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates.

What does shipping cost?

Nothing. Shipping is free on every order with no minimum. US delivery is typically 3–7 business days; international is typically 7–21.

Will I pay customs or duties?

On international orders you may. Import duties and taxes are set by your own country and are the recipient's responsibility. Your carrier usually collects them before delivery.

Returns?

30 days, full refund, no restocking fee. Contact us first for a return reference. If you have changed your mind rather than received a faulty product, return shipping is yours to arrange — worth knowing on international orders, where it can be costly.

Warranty?

One year from delivery against defects in materials and workmanship, covering cameras, nest boxes, poles and accessories. It does not cover misuse, accidental damage or animal damage. Contact us with your order number and a description of the fault; photographs help.

Still stuck?

Call +1 929 604 7180, weekdays 9–5 Eastern, or email hello@perchmont.com. A person answers.