11 Best Bird Baths That Will Bring All the Birds to Your Yard (2024)

When it comes to store-bought bird baths, Freeney recommends this option. She says that of the three bird baths she has in her small yard, two are similar to this pedestal variety. It's no wonder that pedestal baths tend to be popular with birds and bird watchers alike; The elevated height (this one stands 28 inches high) allows you to see feathered friends better from a distance while also keeping them off the ground and away from potential predators.

This antique-style, polyresin pedestal bird bath from VivioHome is a best-seller on Amazon with almost 10,000 five-star reviews. It comes in five colors, and the brand claims it is water- and rust-proof. Plus, the parts are detachable for easier cleaning. "This is my second VivoHome bird bath, and I’m staying with this brand because it’s rugged but pretty, easy to clean, and holds a gallon of water," wrote one reviewer. "Highly recommend it!"

"If you have an outlet outside or close enough to allow for a heated bird bath, these are great in winter," Feeney says of this heated option. This 120V 75W bird bath has a deep bowl and thermostatic control, which will help keep the water accessible, even as temperatures drop. Not only is this Feemiyo pick affordable, but it also has a planter base you can use to pot flowers or display decorative rocks.

If you already have a bird bath you love but want to make it usable all year round, Feeney says you can purchase a heater separately, too.

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If you want to give birds a freshwater source during winter but need the bird bath to be on your patio for easier access to an outlet, Feeney suggests purchasing a deck-mounted option, like this 120V 75W one on Amazon. The adjustable clamp mount is 3.7 inches in size, meaning it will fit most posts and railings.

Amazon reviewers say that while it's not very deep, it is easy to set up and clean. "I saw some folks complained [that] it’s shallow, and they have to fill a lot. But that’s great, as you don’t want them too deep," wrote one reviewer. "I let it get low, wipe it out, spray with a 1/1 formula of white vinegar and water, wipe, rinse, and refill. The birds love it. The squirrels love it. I do clean it regularly, and it is much easier [to] clean than any other I’ve had. It attaches to my deck rail easily. I live in the Arctic with negative temperatures throughout the winter months, and it has not frozen over."

For those with small outdoor spaces, opt for a hanging bird bath. These can be placed on low-hanging tree branches or hung from a covered patio. With brass chains and a hammered-copper finish, designed to hold up well in all kinds of weather, this stylish pick from Pottery Barn will offer up year-round enjoyment for your feathered friends. The decorative lip gives small- and medium-sized birds a place to perch while sipping.

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If you're looking for something that blends into the natural landscape, Freeney recommends this heavy-duty fiberglass pick. While she says "birds aren't fussy" about where they drink from, this upscale option will definitely please their human counterparts, especially those who may be trying to capture a cool action shot.

"[I] have two of these in my yard... all the birds, even the larger ones, regularly use these baths and really like them," wrote one Amazon reviewer. "Cannot recommend them more highly — plus, they last and last, really hold[ing] up during all seasons."

If there's one thing that birds especially like, it's running water. "Some birds are more attracted to moving water or the sound of water," Feeney says. This stunning bird bath, handmade from a cast stone mix, is sure to entice water lovers, such as Orioles, to stop by while also giving humans a chance to enjoy the relaxing ambiance.

Just note: It needs to be plugged in to function and brought indoors during the winter to avoid freezing. If the price tag on this fountain-style bird bath is out of your budget, Feeney says you can add an affordable solar panel to any traditional bird bath for a similar effect.

Birds will have three different levels to choose from with this multi-tiered option from Alpine Corporation. That's good news for bird enthusiasts, as the tiered option will attract a variety of different-sized avian to their yards. Smaller birds can enjoy the shallower options towards the top of the fountain while larger birds can take advantage of the deeper basin at the bottom.

Note that this fountain-style bath uses an electric pump to circulate the water, which means you'll need to keep it near an outlet. With over two thousand five-star ratings on Amazon, reviewers say they love the size, design, and value. "After assembling, I filled [it] full of water before turning [it] on, and once [I] plugged in, it was just as advertised, and water was cascading down from the top tier into the bottom bowl," wrote one reviewer. "It looked and sounded great!"

Welcome birds to your porch or patio with this cute resin bath. It features two statues on either side to entice birds to visit and has a whitewashed, textured stone finish that looks visually appealing.

This lightweight and affordable pick is small enough that it can also be placed on the railing of your deck, giving you the option to place it wherever you need to maximize its use.

If you're looking to splurge on a bird bath that you'll enjoy almost as much as the birds will, consider this stunning, glazed ceramic option.

This design is 20.5 inches tall and can hold up to a gallon of water, thanks to its wide bowl. Hand-painted in a deep blue, the bath ships fast and also comes with a one-year manufacturer's warranty.

If you're looking for a bird bath that doubles as a work of art, this enchanting garden fountain design definitely qualifies. The anti-rust metal sculpture features three unique areas, all stacked on top of one another, starting with a planter, bird feeder/garden light, and lastly, a bird bath.

This fountain sculpture stands just under 3 feet, with many reviewers noting it's smaller than they anticipated. Because of the bird feeder's built-in solar light, the sculpture stand is best suited in the yard, further away from the home. That way, you can witness the pattern the light casts on the area around it.

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When shopping for a bird bath, you may be inclined to focus on the aesthetics, but Feeney says there are several other important factors to take into consideration when it comes to the health and safety of the birds who will be using it.

✔️ Depth: "Bird baths should be shallow — no more than 3 inches at their deepest point — and with a gentle slope," explains Feeney, who adds that diameter is a less important factor (that will depend more on how much space you want to dedicate to your bird bath).

"Ideally, you want a bird bath that mimics the way a bird would access water in the wild, which means something like a puddle," she says.

Despite the name, you're inevitably going to be getting non-bird visitors to your bird bath. To make things a bit safer for them (and to help smaller birds stopping by for a drink), Feeney says you can make some adjustments to deeper basins, like adding rocks that can serve as perches for big birds while allowing smaller birds a way out if they get in too deep.

✔️ Design: There are lots of different types of bird baths, including pedestal bird baths, hanging bird baths, ground bird baths, and bird baths you can mount on a deck or other structure.

• Pedestal bird baths can be used by most varieties of birds, according to Feeney. She calls this style "decorative as well as functional" and recommends looking for something lightweight, stable, and easy to clean.

• Hanging bird baths typically come with a shallow dish that can hang from a feeder pole or tree. "These can also be used as a bird feeder for holding seed when it's not being used as a bird bath," she says.
• Ground bird baths are exactly what they sound like: They sit level with the soil or grass. "These can be as basic as a plastic tub or other dish that you set out, or you can buy a decorative version," she explains. "This most closely mimics the way birds would bathe and get water in the wild, and they are a great option." If you have the space, Feeney recommends purchasing a ground bath in addition to another style, such as a pedestal bird bath. You can add them directly into your ground-level garden, or use them as a feature in your raised garden bed.
• Deck-mounted bird baths attach to a deck or banister, and Feeney says they are "a good option to allow for bird watching, and also good for apartment dwellers who don’t have a yard."

✔️ Material: Bird baths come in a variety of different materials. Feeney says you can find options made from glass, pottery, copper, and more.

"I generally go for good old plastic or polyresin, for the most part," she says, adding that these materials can be more durable in cold Northeastern winters and are less likely to crack with freezing temperatures.

✔️ Cleanliness: Feeney says the ability to keep your bird bath clean should also be a top consideration when deciding which type to buy. "The most important feature to look for in a bird bath is that it’s one you’ll maintain and clean regularly," she says, confirming that the type of bird bath you purchase is less important than whether or not you can reliably fill it with fresh water. "You must regularly change the water — for me, that can mean twice a day (or more) in summer when there are many birds using the bird baths for drinking and bathing, and it heats up quickly."

Of course, some of your avian visitors may be messier than others, which is why you'll also have to consider what types of birds will be stopping by. "Some birds, like grackles, also like to wash their food before eating it," she continues. "All of that means that bird baths can quickly accumulate debris and dirt."

To stay on top of maintenance, Feeney recommends replacing the water at least every two days and more often in hot weather, "and scrubbing it out well once a week using a solution of nine parts water to one part white vinegar."

If you're someone who doesn't have the desire or ability to empty a heavy concrete bird bath or take a hanging bath down from a tree with a degree of regularity, Feeney suggests opting for a lighter and easier-to-access option.

• Which types of birds use bird baths?

"Pretty much all of them, including many birds that won’t come to feeders at all," she says. "A bird bath is really the best way to attract uncommon birds to your yard and it’s also something that provides great benefit to birds."

As an added bonus, Feeney says that adding a bird bath to your backyard is an economical way to bring more birds to your outdoor space. "It’s much cheaper than regularly refilling a bird feeder!"

• How often does water need to be during winter?

Water needs to be changed frequently in the summer, but according to Feeney, you need to be just as diligent when the mercury drops as well. "The water needs to be replaced regularly in cold weather, too, even if it’s being used less," she says, adding that clean water attracts more birds.

"In warm weather, algae grows, and the water becomes unappetizing and unhealthy if it’s not changed regularly," she continues. "If you’re going to the trouble of putting out a bird bath, make sure to keep the water clean and algae-free."

• How do you keep mosquitos from breeding in a bird bath?

If you’re changing the water regularly (every couple of days) mosquitos won’t be an issue, according to Feeney. "There are products you can buy to deter mosquitoes in bird baths, like Mosquito Dunks," she says, which should not harm birds. "But frankly, if you’re changing your bird bath water frequently enough, then you don’t need any other products to prevent mosquitos."