Bird tables come in a wide range of designs and prices and with all the choice available it can sometimes be hard to know what to pick. The best bird table needs to be long-lasting, easy to assemble, easy to refill and clean, and provide a secure place for birds to eat. It also needs to fit into the design of your garden without compromising on safety.
To help you decide, we’ve picked 10 of the best bird tables on the market in a variety of styles that will be certain to attract plenty of different birds to your garden.
01
Hanging bird table
This best-selling bird table is a popular choice and perfect for anyone who has a small garden and is looking for something decorative. The Bempton hanging bird table from Wildlife World is just 18 cm wide, 18 cm deep and 30 cm high and is designed to attract small birds such as tits, finches, and sparrows. It is made from FSC certified wood carved into an intricate lattice design, and painted pale green with a distressed finish. The Verdigris copper roof, which will only look better as it ages, will keep food fresh and dry and prevent larger birds from accessing it.
The base of the bird table includes a slide-out panel so it can easily be refilled and cleaned. It comes complete with a hanging hook and sturdy, natural rope cord. Hang it from the branch of a tree, sturdy bracket, or pergola. A practical and stylish bird table at a reasonable price.
02
Ground bird table with roof
Many birds prefer to feed from the ground, including wrens, blackbirds, and robins, and with this bird table from the RSPB they’ll be sheltered as they eat. The wooden bird table is made in the UK from FSC certified timber and comes complete with a gently, sloping roof that will keep rain off the food, preventing it from going soggy and spoiling. It includes a recycled plastic tray in the base which can be removed for cleaning and there are notches in the side for drainage.
The bird table including the roof measures 43 x 45 x 36 cm, so will attract small, as well as medium-sized birds. Alternatively, you could use it as a hedgehog feeder. Be aware that many ground feeder sanctuaries may not be large enough to cover the table so if you have cats that visit your garden this may not be the best table for you.
03
Classic wooden bird table
You can’t go wrong with a traditional, wooden bird table and this classic design from The Hutch Company ticks all the boxes. Made in the UK from timber from sustainable forests, it’s treated with an anti-bacterial marcide coating which helps prevent the spread of disease, mould, and fungi. The gazebo-style roof with feathered edges will keep birds sheltered and dry and there are drainage outlets on the feeding platform to prevent food from getting water-logged.
The bird table is sturdy with a heavy, wide base so it won’t blow over in the wind, and with a feeding platform that measures 35 cm x 35 cm there’s plenty of room for lots of species to feed. It’s delivered almost fully-assembled in two parts and with pre-drilled holes – you simply screw the top section onto the support pole with 4 screws. A well-constructed bird table that with regular maintenance will last for years in your garden.
04
Adjustable bird table
This cleverly designed bird table from the RSPB solves the problem of big birds taking all the food you leave out before smaller birds have their chance. The aptly named Adust-table incorporates a feeding platform that slides up and down the central pole allowing for 3 different roof heights. It’s made from FSC certified pine with a gently sloping roof and cut-out trefoil details. Wide legs, and a low centre of gravity means the bird table is stable and it’s treated with a water-based stain to protect it from the elements.
The bird table includes a recycled plastic tray that can easily be removed, and the roof also lifts off which takes the hassle out of cleaning and refilling. It comes flat-packed but is straightforward to put together. If you want to deter large birds such as pigeons and collared doves then the adjustable bird table is the ideal choice.
05
Deluxe bird table
Your garden birds will dine out in luxury on this beautifully designed wooden bird table. The Fordwich bird table from The Hutch Company is hand made in the UK and constructed from FSC certified Scandinavian softwood. It includes an attractive, thick log lap style roof that’s stained green, and 2 additional feeding platforms with built-in drainage gullies so you can offer your garden birds a variety of food.
The bird table has been coated in an anti-fungal coating to help prevent the spread of disease and it comes with 4 anchors to secure it to the ground. The feeding platform measures 45 cm x 48 cm and the total height of the bird table is 188 cm so you may struggle to reach the top if you’re not very tall. It’s supplied in 4 parts that are easy to put together. If you really want to treat your garden birds, then this is the bird table for you.
06
Open bird table
Birds are more than happy to feed from a bird table without a roof and if you live in an area with lots of cats and other predators an open bird table may be safer as birds have more visibility as they feed. This chunky bird table from the RSPB consists of a feeding platform mounted on a solid wooden post with extra supports underneath to hold it up.
It’s hand made in the UK from FSC certified timber that’s been treated with a stain to protect it in all weathers. It includes a recycled plastic tray that can be lifted off for easy cleaning and notches in the side so water can drain away. The tray measures 34 x 34 cm and the table is about 130 cm tall so the perfect height for children to help put out the food. Easy to assemble and all fixings are included.
07
Wall mounted bird table
If you’re short on space or worried about a traditional free-standing bird table tipping over then this mounted bird table is a brilliant alternative. Designed to fit to fences or walls, the bird table is made in the UK using wood from sustainable forests and twin-treated with an anti-bacterial marcide coating. The roof is covered in hand-folded felt which protects birds and food from the elements and extends the life of the bird table.
The feeding platform measures 26 cm x 25 cm and includes a protective parapet to catch loose seeds, and a drainage hole for any excess water. The extended bracket ensures the bird table is stable when fixed to the wall and can also be used for hanging bird suet blocks, fat balls, or coconut shells. The bird table comes fully-assembled and pre-drilled holes so all you need to do is find somewhere to put it and watch the birds come flocking.
08
Slate roof bird table
Slate roof tables can be expensive and heavy so this Buttermere bird table from Riverside Woodcraft is a great compromise. Made in the UK from sustainable timber, it has clean, modern lines and a clay mix hard roof that looks just like the real thing. The Ardesia slate-effect roof tiles are made from a mix of recycled plastics and kaolin which are lightweight and resistant to damage, with the classic beauty of natural slate.
The bird table is solid with an open construction that allows natural movement of the wood, and the sturdy stand has been designed to withstand high winds. The feeding platform measures 38 x 38 cm and is 130 cm from the floor. It includes a deep lip to prevent food falling off and drainage holes so food won’t become soggy in the rain. The bird table is partly assembled and simple to put together. A well-designed bird table that would look good in any garden.
09
Modern bird table
This stylish bird table has clean Scandinavian lines and will provide your garden birds with somewhere safe to feed. The modern bird table is strong and durable and features a galvanized metal dome-shaped roof which will withstand anything the weather has to throw at it. The base of the feeding station and roof supports are made from pre-treated wood and it includes a circular perch so birds have somewhere to stand as they feed. This can be removed so it’s easy to keep clean.
It comes with a 3-pronged stabilising stake so you can place it in the ground securely and it won’t blow over or sway in the wind. The feeding platform is 33 cm diameter and at just 130 cm high it would look great in a flower bed or rockery. Perfect for contemporary or urban gardens, or for anyone who’s looking for something a bit different.
10
Metal ground bird table
Sometimes the simplest things in life are the best. This budget bird table from the RSPB is idea for anyone who has just started out feeding birds or who only has a small space outdoors. It could also be used to supplement your main bird table by offering birds who prefer to feed on the ground their own place to dine. Made from powder-coated steel in an attractive green finish, it has drainage holes in the base so food won’t get soggy on wet days.
This great value bird table measures 19 cm x 17 cm and stands 6 cm off the ground. Fill the tray with seed mixes, mealworms, suet pellets, or kitchen scraps and your garden birds will enjoy tucking into to their tasty treats.
One Response
I have that ground table with a roof. Every day Mr & Mrs Blackbird comes and eats pieces of apple that I put out for it. Luckily we have no cats where I live. Otherwise i would have to get the water pistol out!