Bird feeder guard

Disclosed herein is a bird feeder with a guard protecting against contamination of the bird feed contained within the feeder. The feeder comprises a housing that defines a feed chamber. This housing includes a lid, wherein the lid has at least one opening. This opening can be used by birds to access food within the feeder. As mentioned above, the feeder includes a guard. This guard is formed integrally or it can be a separate part attached to the lid near or at an opening. In one aspect, the guard includes an occluding element, wherein this occluding element is in communication with a biasing element. The occluding element has a first position which occludes an opening sufficiently to prevent animals other than certain birds from gaining access to said feed chamber. This occluding element is capable of being movable to a second position by applied external pressure to the occluding element thus permitting access to said chamber. As the applied pressure is withdrawn, the occluding element substantially returns to its first position.