Bird nest boxes and houses are a benevolent purchase that can greatly benefit the wild birds in your garden, offering them a warm and dry place to rest and roost, along with your beloved bird feeders. They come in a wide range of designs to suit both your outdoor space and the type of birds you're looking to attract.
With the sad loss of natural habitats in not just urban but also rural areas, you could be making a huge difference to the wild birds in your locale by taking the time to set up such a box. Here's our selection of top picks.
While it may take a while for any birds to move into your avian accommodation, once they do you'll enjoy hours of entertainment watching them in your garden. For this reason, bird nest boxes also make great gifts for any bird-lovers in your life.
Best bird nest boxes at a glance:
• Best wall-mounted bird nest box: Supa Wild Bird Multi-Purpose Nesting Box - View on Amazon UK
• Best hanging bird nest box: CKB LTD Bird Nesting Box - View on Amazon UK
• Best open-fronted bird nest box: WILDLIFE FRIEND Nest Box for Robins - View on Amazon UK
Setting up a bird nest box or house can be done at any time of the year. Birds are more likely to be attracted to them in the spring mating season but may also use them for cosy shelter in the colder months. If you're feeling particularly compassionate, you may want to also consider investing in a bird feeder or a bird table to offer a year-round source of food. Bird baths are also a great way to attract wildlife into your garden and can make for some very entertaining bird watching.
Best bird nest boxes and houses
Best wall-mounted bird nest box
AmazonSupa describes this option as "multi-purpose" as it's suitable for a wide range of birds commonly seen in British gardens. All kinds of tits, tree sparrows, and nuthatches may consider nesting in this in its original form. Alternatively, you could try and attract robins by converting into an open-fronted nesting box by removing the two screws which hold the front panel in place. This Supa Wild Bird Multi-Purpose Nesting Box is made from durable, treated wood and features a screw hole on the back so you can mount it on a wall, tree, or fence.
Customer review: "Excellent value for money and far cheaper than similar ones being sold in my local garden centre."
Pros
- Ventilation gap
- Pre-drilled screw hole
Cons
- Mounting hardware not included
Best hanging bird nest box
AmazonA bird nest box you can hang is a great option for anyone without the DIY skills to mount one or a spare wall or fence space to situate it. Hanging bird boxes also work well on porches or balconies for anyone with limited outdoor space. This charming bird nest box has rustic looks for a natural, rural feel. The 30mm hole is ideal for most small garden birds and the built-in perches give your feathered friends somewhere to pause and check the coast is clear of predators before they venture into the wider world.
Customer review: "Very well made. Looks lovely. Great value for money."
Pros
- Natural looks
- Built-in perching posts
Cons
- Twine hanger not weatherproof
Best open-fronted bird nest box
Amazon
Robins are notable for being Britain's favourite bird, so if you're a fan or know someone who is, opting for an open-fronted bird nest box is the way to go. Robins prefer this kind of design as do wagtails and wrens. You do need to carefully consider the placement of such a box as you don't want it to be too exposed. This WILDLIFE FRIEND nest box is made of 100 per cent untreated pine wood and features a zinc roof to protect the box from the elements. The pre-drilled hole allows this to be wall-mounted or hung.
Customer review: "Very sturdy well-made product"
Pros
- Zinc roof
- Wood is 100% pine
Cons
- Not suited for tits
Best rustic bird house
AmazonGarden Mile's bird box house boasts a traditional design and is made of all-natural materials. Birds are always more likely to nest where they feel safe, so this box's rustic construction makes it easy to camouflage amongst hedge foliage or when hung from suitably strong tree branches. This wooden box features a perch beneath the bird hole which some kinds of birds may use to feed their young. This box's roof is angled so all kinds of precipitation will easily run off.
Customer review: "This bird box is not only attractive to the human eye but it has attracted a pair of blue tits this year."
Pros
- Blends into foliage
- Angled roof
Cons
- Compact dimensions
Best bird house with feeder
AmazonThis charming choice boasts a whimsical, two-in-one design. As well as offering your bird buddies a bed, you can also feed them breakfast thanks to the built-in food hopper that you can fill with seed. Although it may prove too cutesy for some, there are some sweet design details such as faux windows and door, a miniature white picket fence, and a "Home Tweet [italics] Home" sign. This CKB LTD Blue Wooden Birdhouse is made from lightweight plywood, decorated with bird-friendly paint, and can be fixed to any flat surface.
Customer review: "The bird box is lovely. I am very pleased with it. I have attached it to my shed. I am putting food in the 'garden' which is being eaten."
Pros
- Integrated feeder
- Cute design
Cons
- Not suitable for hanging
Best bird box with camera kit
AmazonIt's one thing enjoying watching birds fly in and out of your bird box, but what if you could see inside the box? With a wireless video camera designed specially to not bother the birds, you can. This Green Feathers kit contains everything you need to create such a set-up, with a wooden bird box, wide-angle camera, and wireless receiver. This will allow you a literal bird's eye view on your television of the comings and goings of your bird box from the comfort of your couch.
Customer review: "Purchased for grandson. Bird box is very heavy and well made. He's delighted."
Pros
- Complete kit
- Wide-angle camera lens
Cons
- Requires power
Best for roosters
AmazonAnother one for the robin and wren lovers - this is an open-style nest box that offers your garden birds simple, affordable shelter. This strikes a balance between easy access and offering a safe space for birds to rest. Ticking the eco boxes, the pocket is crafted from sustainably sourced steel, rattan, and brushwood. This arrives ready to hang with wire included so you can find a safe, sheltered spot in a hedge, bush or tree to use the wire to fix it to a sturdy branch.
Customer review: "A very natural looking nest. A bit tricky to fix in place. I had to pass tying wire through the back to attach to branches. The robin moved in quickly so obviously attractive to them!"
Pros
- Affordable
- Tried and tested design
Cons
- Fixing can be fiddly
Best DIY bird box
AmazonEvanmore's build-your-own option is a fun little DIY project for you or to gift to a craft-loving friend. This set contains everything you need to make the house; wood panels, screws, a screwdriver, a nail or screw to hang the box, and there’s even a sheet of sandpaper so you can add some texture to the interior to help fledglings climb. This bird nest box has a very plain design, but if you wanted to go all-out getting crafty you could decorate it with some bird-friendly paint.
Customer review: "What an excellent idea this is, the DIY set contains everything you need to build a bird box for your garden, and it's a perfect project for children (with adult supervision, of course)."
Pros
- Includes tools
- Great craft gift
Cons
- Not decorative
What to consider when setting up your bird nest box
Where should I place a bird nest box?
Get your compass out because bird nest boxes should never be placed in a south-facing position in case of overheating in warm weather. West-facing is also a no-no as that's the most common direction for wind and rain. Between north and east is the ideal way for your box to face. How far above the ground you place your birdhouse depends on what kind of avians you're trying to attract. Boxes for robins and wrens should be 1.5 to two metres high, but sparrows and tits are happy up to four metres from the ground.
What are ideal nesting materials?
It's not essential to add nesting materials to a nest box as birds are pretty good at creating their own indoor decor. However, you may want to consider placing small sticks and straw in an accessible place for the birds to easily gather. If you have access to any untreated sheep's wool, hanging this close to the box may mean birds can tease out small amounts to make their nests super-cosy.
What's the best way to maintain a bird nest box?
Wooden boxes will need treating with a non-toxic protective coating usually once a year. The best time to take your bird nest box down to clean the inside and treat the outside is at the end of the breeding season, so from October. Never disturb a box that birds are actively nesting in, if unhatched eggs are inside, you could actually be breaking the law.
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Amy-Mae Turner is a Commerce Content Writer for Modern Gardens, Yours, Take A Break Pets, and A Modern Kitchen. When she's not pottering in the garden or mucking around in the kitchen, she can be found having doggy cuddles with her two beloved cockapoochis.