The feeling of being close to nature is grounding. Even if it's noisy on the other side of the garden fence, we can still make the space we have a tranquil haven that inspires. Waking up to birdsong and watching wildlife from your window is one of life's small joys. A simple bird table can have tremendous therapeutic benefits, and along with a bird feeding station it's doing an essential job of providing a year-round food source to small wild birds.
It's important to provide food in winter when natural sources of food are scarce. But, it's also essential at other times of the year too, when birds are laying their eggs, feeding their young and growing feathers. According to the RHS, more than 140 species of birds have been recorded in British gardens. As part of the food cycle, birds do their bit by keeping aphids and caterpillar populations under control.
Best bird tables at a glance:
The RSPB has useful information on what to feed garden birds in different seasons, including high-fat food during autumn/winter and high protein during the spring/summer. By providing food in a variety of forms - and in several places - you will attract different bird species. For example, ground-feeding platforms will attract robins, blackbirds and dunnocks. And hanging feeders are preferred by birds that naturally feed on the branches of trees, such as finches and tits. In this guide, we've included some bird tables that have integrated hanging feeders and ground-level bird tables.
Best bird tables
Best traditional bird table
The Hutch Company It's easy to get immersed in nature with this large traditional bird table from The Hutch Company. It features a lovely hexagonal design and is adorned with an acorn detail. The base is cleverly designed so that the feet twist out - to increase the bird table's stability in windy conditions.
Reviewers describe this table as being solid, sturdy, and praise the attractive slate roof. The wood has been treated with an anti-bacterial coating and comes from a sustainable source.
Pros
- Easy three-part assembly with screws provided
- Artisan design that looks handmade
- Has been given an anti-bacterial coating
Cons
- Some reviewers have commented that the wood has not been treated against rot
| Dimensions: | D42 x W42 x H52cm |
| Material: | Siga slate, wood |
- Handmade in the UK
- Two trees planted for everyone that's cut down
Best wall-mounted bird table
Home & Roost If you don't have the space for a free-standing bird table, you can consider a wall-mounted option. We love this Home & Roost bird table for its clean and contemporary design. This can be hung on a wall, a fence post, or even on the side of a wooden shed.
This bird table is a high quality choice, hand built in the UK from construction-grade timber and twin treated with an anti-bacterial coating to prevent disease spreading among your garden birds. The felt roof protects the table from precipitation while the tabletop platform has run-off points for rain.
Pros
- Hand built in the UK from high quality timber
- Flexible positioning options to suit your needs
Cons
- Will require some DIY action to get it mounted
| Dimensions: | 25.5cm x 26cm x 25.5cm |
| Material: | Wood and felt |
- Twin treated with an anti-bacterial coating
- Protected by a felt roof
Best high-end bird table
Rowlinson www.wayfair.co.uk
Rowlinson offers the 'Laverton,' an elegant freestanding bird table with a tray bird feeder tabletop station that comes preassembled. The four-sided slate hip roof makes it a good option for year-round use in a large garden.
Currently enjoying a 4.7-star review rating on Wayfair, this is sturdy, stable, and made from quality, FSC-certified materials - it's a beautiful bird table at a higher price point.
Pros
- Minimal assembly required as tabletop comes preassembled
- Attractive design with a decorative finial
Cons
- Some reviewers suggest the roof could be larger
| Dimensions: | H172 x W59 x D59cm |
| Material: | FSC softwood, slate |
- Comes in two parts
- Made in Poland
Best rustic hanging bird table
Selections If you prefer a more homely feel in your outdoor space, Selections has you covered. These come as a set of two rustic-style hanging bird table feeders, which are excellent value for money, and also provide feeding spots for birds who prefer to be in the higher tree branches.
Sparrows will enjoy pecking seeds out of sunflower heads on these treetop perches. Additionally, there is a hook to hang a fat ball from the inside roof of the bird table offering your garden birds a high-energy snack spot to keep their strength up.
Pros
- Value for money set of two hanging bird tables
- Ideal for small birds to hop into from a tree branch
Cons
- The soft wood could be difficult to clean
| Dimensions: | L17 x W15 x H19cm |
| Material: | Wood |
| Mounting type: | Hanging mount |
- Set of two
- Hook for mounting a fat ball
Best contemporary bird table
Fineway If your garden style is more rad than trad, this Scandi-chic bird table from FiNeWaY might appeal. The attractive domed roof is supported by four wooden pillars that have been pre-treated to make them weather-resistant.
As well as looking good, this roof shelters your garden birds as they feed, and helps protect the food from rain. As this has a stabilising three-prong spike this needs to be placed in a lawn or flower bed, this is not suited for use on patios or decking.
Pros
- Scandi-chic good looks with a domed roof
- Made from pre-treated wood and galvanised metal
Cons
- Has a spiked base rather than a stand
| Dimensions: | 129cm x 33.5cm |
| Material: | Metal and wood |
- Attractive Nordic design
- Galvanised metal domed roof
Best bird table for a balcony
AmazonIf you're limited on outdoor space but still want to feed the birds, a hanging bird table could be the answer for anyone fortunate enough to have a balcony, or simply outdoor wall space near a window. This comes complete with a thick hanging rope and could be suspended from a hanging basket bracket.
This versatile bird table could be mounted in a number of ways including fixing it to a wall with a wall mount if you had no place to hang it. Be aware that it requires assembly to put it together and is supplied untreated.
Pros
- Plenty of room on the table platform for small birds
- A good budget choice for a simple bird feeding solution
Cons
- Wood needs to be weatherproofed
| Dimensions: | H20 x W24 x D24cm |
| Material: | Wood |
- Comes with a complete set of instructions
Best ground-feeding bird table
GardmanGardman offers a specialist bird table alternative - a metal micro mesh tray that's perfect for birds that prefer to feed on the ground, such as blackbirds, thrushes, and robins. This tray can hold dry seed mix and nuts, wet food such as mealworms, and is big enough to fit around nine fat balls.
Reviewers state this tray is stable enough for blackbirds to perch on the sides to feed. Its potential longevity also gets top marks with happy customers reporting no rust or corrosion after a winter of exposure.
Pros
- Easy to clean with a simple rinse under water
- Neat, compact design that takes up very little space
Cons
- Easily accessible to other small animals
| Dimensions: | L19 x W18.5 x H5.5cm |
| Material: | Metal |
Best novelty bird table
Garden MileThis whimsical bird table is an ideal choice for anyone who tends towards the quirky for home and garden décor. It will add some shabby chic charm to a corner of your outdoor space, or even balcony.
Shaped like a garden bench, the 'seat' of the bench is divided into two mesh-bottomed sections for you to fill with bird food, nuts, seeds, or even kitchen scraps. The bench measures in at 38cm wide and comes with string to hang it as well as a metal ring to hook over a branch or similar.
Pros
- Quirky and unusual garden bench design
- Two separate trays for different types of food
Cons
- Comes flatpacked so does require some assembly
| Dimensions: | 38cm x 21cm |
| Material: | Wood and string |
- Compact design ideal for small spaces
- Quirky garden bench-style design
How we chose the best bird tables
All of these bird tables have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered the design, style, and practicalities in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching all types of bird tables to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News, and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.
Where should a bird table go in the garden?
Position bird tables and feeding stations in a sheltered spot. Bird tables with waterproof roofing provide small birds with a covered place to feed in any weather. Additionally, look for bird tables that are designed with a slope so that they drain and have access so they can be cleaned.
Garden Wildlife Health have advice on maintaining hygiene to prevent the build-up of harmful bacteria. In short, the best practice is to only put enough food out for a day or two, change the position of feeders regularly and clean feeding stations often.
The issue of keeping bigger birds, squirrels, foxes and cats at bay is a battle. Some bird tables have smaller access points so pigeons can't get inside. To reduce the risk of cats attacking bird tables and feeding stations position them in plain sight, away from vegetation where a cat could hide.
Some birds prefer to feed on the ground. A ground-based bird table is a neat way of providing overripe fruit for thrushes and blackbirds. Also, mealworms or fat blocks in wire cages are an especially nutritious food in winter and ground-feeding birds, such as robins, will appreciate if you position them low.
Install a variety of hanging feeders, feeding stations, ground feeders and, of course, a bird table to attract several bird species. Positioning feeders in several places prevents food waste and bird droppings from building up in any one place. Additionally, opting for a hanging bird table or feeder is the perfect way to enjoy wildlife in the smallest of outdoor spaces. For instance, a hanging bird table could be hung from a balcony.
How do I maintain my bird table to look after wildlife?
Make bird food available all year round. Have several feeding stations and reposition them throughout the year to prevent bacteria from building up. Additionally, remove old or wet food to prevent mould and bacterial build-up. Regularly clean your bird table and/or feeding station with disinfectant and warm water. Always wear protective gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after handling wild bird food products.
Some birds prefer to hang from bird feeders and some prefer ground or table feeding. It's a good idea to only put out enough food for a day or two to prevent pests. Plus, it's essential to provide fresh drinking water. You can go all-out with a standalone bird bath, or something as simple as a shallow plastic container.
What not to feed wild garden birds
There are common foods which could be deliciously tempting to our feathered friends, but also devastating - so are you feeding your birds the right stuff?
Many of our bird-feeding habits have been passed down from generation to generation. But whereas the 1970s may have seen your dad scattering a mini mountain of bread onto the lawn to attract the local starlings, recent research suggests we have to think more carefully before throwing our Sunday leftovers into the yard.
Chips/crisps
The stomachs of most garden birds can simply not process salt and so these should be avoided. Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust animal health officer Martin Brown says, "Birds, especially seagulls will eat chips; and most things left on the street. Potatoes are often fed to geese, but chips should definitely be avoided, as salty, fried foods don't offer much nutritional value, and birds are not used to digesting such heavily processed fatty foods."
Bacon rind
Meat such as bacon often comes highly processed or smoked, with extra salt which garden birds cannot process. Martin says: "It would be better to give birds specially made fat balls. These have a mixture of nutrients and protein as well as the fat birds need in winter."
Desiccated coconut
While half-shelled coconuts are a tremendous source of protein for birds. The process of desiccating a coconut sees nut meat shredded or flaked and then dried to remove as much moisture as possible. While fine for humans, this powdery food has been found to expand in the stomach of birds and can lead to death.
Bread
Martin says, "It's a common misconception that birds should eat bread. Problems can occur when people feed leftover or stale bread to birds; as any mould could cause respiratory tract infections in the birds." Bread has also been found to leave birds bloated and lethargic, again leaving them vulnerable to predators and too 'lazy' to forage for more nutritious foods.
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Natalie Knowles is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Modern Gardens, specialising in garden trends. When she's not flexing her mow-how, Natalie is a successful artist and illustrator.