Top 10 Best Heated Bird Baths – Reviews and Buying Guide
Are you longing to see birds flocking in your garden or on your balcony? Get the best heated bird bath.
A good bird bath with a heater is one of the most effective ways of attracting these beautiful creatures to your home, especially during the cold days.
When the water is too cold or freezing, birds have few options in their quest for water. You see, they need to drink and stay hydrated, and to preen and remove pests and dirt. As the waters in the rivers and natural ponds grows too cold, your heated bird bath offers an excellent opportunity to the birds.
Whether you want a heated bird bath for your domestic birds or for the wild birds near your home, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve been researching and we’re going to present to you some of the most useful and top rated heated birdbaths.
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What to Look for When Buying Heated Bird Bath ?
It can be overwhelming to go to Amazon or any other store and see all those hundreds of results pop up when you search for “bird baths”. When deciding which one to buy, making these considerations will help you narrow down your options and arrive at the correct choice:
- Size – look at the diameter of the basin and the height of the pedestal if it has one. If you intend to shift its position from time to time, go for a size you can carry, such as around 20 inches height and 10 to 20 inches basin diameter.
- Weight – a good unit should be lightweight enough (not more than 30 pounds). Ideally, the capacity of the basin should be around 1 gallon.
- Aesthetics – you don’t want an outdoor birdbath that is an eye sore, do you? Look at the overall design and the decorations and ensure they match your style. An antiquity-style unit is particularly attractive.
- Texture – the texture of the basin matters as it determines how comfortable the birds will be perching and standing on it. A textured one is good for the traction and stability it provides.
- Energy usage – you don’t want a unit with a heater that ends up ramping up your energy bill, right? The lower the wattage, the better the energy efficiency.
Without any more delay, let us dive right into our heated bird bath reviews.
Our Top 10 Picks For Best Heated Bird Baths
1. Allied Precision Industries (API) Heated Bird Bath
For a small no-fuss, and inexpensive but effective heated water reservoir for your feathered friends, the API Heated Bird bath would be a perfect selection.
The product is a plastic bowl with a thermostat built into it to prevent the water from freezing in cold weather.
Okay when considering the material, you have to keep two things in mind. Firstly, the material will determine how the bath holds out to the temperatures. Secondly, it determines whether the birds will enjoy stability when perching and playing or preening in it.
This unit gets it right with both factors.
The material is BPA-free plastic with a textured surface. The fact that it is BPA-free means the material is able to effectively contend with the temperatures.
And as it is textured, your feathered buddies will have an easy time when perching on the bath. They’ll also be able to play comfortably in there without stressing to keep stable.
The thermostat attached at the bottom of the bowl needs a current of 120 volts, denoting you can use your home’s wall outlets. As it’s a 150-watt heater, you also have the peace of mind of knowing that it won’t take a toll on your energy bill.
Installation and removal are easy, in that you don’t have to drill any holes. The bath is held in place by a bracket attached at the bottom. On the side brackets, there are screws, which are used to clamp the setup onto wood railings rather than screw into them. 2×4 and 2×6 railings can be used.
There are two main issues. First, the plastic seems to wear relatively quickly, in about 4 years. But for the price, it’s not that bad, is it?
Secondly, the bowl isn’t warm to the touch. But, it keeps the water from freezing at temperatures as low as -20 °F.
Check it out.
Highlighted Features:
- Built-in thermostat
- BPA free plastic material
- 120-v heater with a wattage of 150 for power efficiency
- Tilt to clean mounting bracket
2. SmartSolar 20633R01 Solar Birdbath
If you’re looking for high aesthetic value and energy efficiency, then the SmartSolar 20633R01 Solar Birdbath should be at the top of your options.
Curved from glass fiber reinforced concrete, the unit is super strong. It’s a birdbath you can count on to last many years. The carving also looks immensely attractive. That olive green finish is so appealing.
It has a stand, so the basin is elevated from the ground by about 20 inches. The basin is 3 inches deep and has a capacity of one gallon.
You might think that since this item is made of concrete, it has to be super heavy. While it’s not really lightweight, the unit is not all that heavy. It weighs in at 26.4 pounds.
Inside the basin is where the solar panel is located. The unit needs to be in direct sunlight for the panel to get the energy needed to warm up the water and pump it through the fountain.
Two fountain heads are included in the package. This gives you options. You can either choose the bubbling version or the umbrella spray version.
If you’re looking for something that is easy to set up and maintain, this would be a great choice. You only need to find a good spot on your patio, deck, garden or balcony to place it.
And then, you just fill it with water. There’s no wiring or connections needed.
Maintenance only involves draining, wiping down, rinsing, and refilling.
As said, the unit uses a solar panel to warm up the water. If there’s no sunshine, the water will not be warmed up and the pump will not work. That’s one of the shortcomings.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if the water runs out and the birdbath remains in direct sunlight for more than a few hours, the solar panel will burn out.
Aside from these issues, it’s a great birdbath. Check it out.
Highlighted Features:
- Durable – made of glass reinforced concrete
- Two fountain head options – bubbling or spray umbrella
- Power-efficient – uses solar energy
- Elegant design with an attractive olive green finish
- 1-gallon basin with a depth of 3 inches
3. Vivohome Polyresin Antique Bird Bath
Metal birdbaths are great, but they’re also susceptible to rust. If you hate rust, a polyresin birdbath like the Vivohome Polyresin Antique Bird Bath suits you better.
Weighing in at only 5.82 pounds, this is one of the lightest birdbaths available. You can move it easily around your garden or from one point to the other without much effort.
Even though it is lightweight, the bath is of high quality. It is polyresin, which happens to be resistant to damage by the water or weather changes. You never have to deal with rust.
As the unit is resilient, it will last many years without a sign of deterioration just as long as you protect it from impact.
The polyresin material is also non-toxic to critters.
If the Vivohome bath has one thing going for, it is beauty. The unit’s antique-style sculpture gives it a great look in your garden. It’s the perfect garden ornament.
The bath is made of a basin and a pedestal going from the top to the bottom.
With its wide outline (15-inch diameter), the one-gallon basin makes it easy for the birds to perch, play and preen. It also happens to be just about 3 inches deep, so the small birds can use it comfortably.
The pillar elevates the basin by around 25 inches, with the overall height being 28 inches. At the bottom is a wide base that is supposed to offer support and keep the unit from falling over.
However, because of the unit’s light weight, that support doesn’t seem to work. You have to use stones or the included stakes to secure the base to the ground and boost the support. This requires a bit of work, but it’s nothing fatiguing.
Another thing you want to keep in mind is that this bath doesn’t come with a heater.
Highlighted Features:
- Beautiful with an antique-style sculpture
- Durable and rust resistant – made of polyresin
- Lightweight – 5.82 pounds
- Removable bowl for ease of cleaning
- Inexpensive – about 30 bucks
4. API 600 Heated Bird Bath Bowl
Is the weather too cold and you’re seeking a good heated water birdbath to provide your feathered buddies with a reliable source of water? Try the API 600 Heated Bird Bath Bowl.
This is a wide water basin with a diameter of 20 inches and a depth of 2 inches. The wide diameter and small depth make certain the birds have adequate water to drink and play in while ensuring the small birds can get in the water without getting totally submerged.
The shape and design of the basin matters as it determines how comfortable the birds are using it. This model has a rim design optimized for talon grasping.
Hence, birds have an easy time perching and they enjoy some good stability standing on the edges of the bowl.
Weighing in at only 4.5 pounds, this birdbath is easy to move around your home. You can place it anywhere as long as there’s a wall outlet nearby so you can connect the power.
Built into the bowl is a thermostat. It senses temperature changes and when the water gets too cold, it switches on the heater, preventing the water from freezing. You can count on the heater to keep the water in the liquid form even in temperatures below -20 °F.
The heater has a wattage of 150 but it is able to keep the water warm in the cold. The facts that the wattage is 150 and there’s a thermostat to regulate it means you get to save power.
There’s something you have to keep in mind when getting this bowl. It has no stand or pedestal. It, however, comes with a clamp for securing to stands as well as different surfaces like wood railings.
Another problem is that the power cord is short, about 3 to 4 feet long.
Other than that, it’s a great little heated birdbath that works.
Highlighted Features:
- 20 inches diameter bowl – can hold 1 gallon of water
- 2-inch depth – suitable even for the small birds
- Textured surface for stability of the birds
- Rim designed for easy grasping by talons
- Thermostatically-controlled 150-watt heater
5. Best Choice Products Bird Bath
For a nice antique-style birdbath with enough beauty to be ornamental to your garden or patio, we’d recommend the Best Choice Products Bird Bath.
This is bath is made up of a pedestal and bowl on top, and it is available in both green and copper colors.
The stunning design of this unit is perhaps the most amazing thing about it. As said, the bath has a pedestal and a bowl on top.
Both of these parts look like they’re carved out of a rock by a talented sculptor.
The bowl has a diameter of 20 inches, creating enough surface area for the water and for the birds to occupy. To make it possible for the birds to enjoy the water without getting submerged, the depth of the basin is just 2.5 inches. The basin has a capacity of 0.8 gallons.
If you want a birdbath that you can move with ease around your home, this model would be a good selection as it weighs only 4.4 pounds.
While being lightweight is one of good for portability, it is also one of the issues that people complain about. Because you see, it makes the unit a little unstable. Getting knocked over isn’t difficult.
That being said, the pedestal is hollow. By filling the space with about one gallon of water or sand, you give more weight to the unit, preventing it from falling over.
Alternatively, you can bolt down the base.
Another drawback is the immense plastic/paint smell that the item has when it arrives. Fortunately, this fades away within a few days.
And finally, before buying it, remember it doesn’t come with a heater.
Highlighted Features:
- 20-inch diameter bowl
- Bowl depth of 2.5 inches
- 0.8 gallons bowl capacity
- Pedestal of 25 inches height
- Beautiful antiquity appearance
6. Farm Innovators Model GBD-75
If you want the best heated bird bath for your critters without having to spend hundreds of thousands, you might want to check out the Farm Innovators Model GBD-75. This is a no-fuss unit that goes for less than 50 bucks.
We cannot say the bowl is an exceptional birdbath, but it is pretty good and it works. With a diameter of 14 inches, the bowl is able to hold about 0.25 gallons of water. That’s not much, and it means you’ll have to refill frequently, but the wide surface provides an ample surface area for the birds to play.
The depth of the bowl is 2.8 inches, providing enough space for the water without making the water level too high for your birds.
One nice feature of the bowl is the slightly rough surface, which provides a stable perching surface for the birds. Your birds will love standing on the slim edges of the bowl.
A small heater is attached to the basin. Although small, it’s effective when it comes to keeping the water from freezing. Even in temperatures lower that -20 °F, you can rest assured that the heater will supply enough heat to prevent the formation of ice.
The heater is thermostatically controlled, so it only turns on when the water gets too cold. Again, the heater’s wattage is 75 units, meaning it doesn’t consume much energy.
These features make the bath very appropriate if you want to minimize energy usage.
What negative factors to think about before buying? The construction is sloppy. The plastic material the unit is made from is weak and certainly won’t last. Give it just a few years at best.
Other than that, the bath keeps the water from freezing.
Highlighted Features:
- Comes with hardware for 3 mounting options – deck, ground, railings
- Green and terra cotta color options
- 75-watt energy-saving heater
7. World Source East GP0110ES Bird Bath
With 75 percent of the almost 200 reviewers rating this unit 5/5 stars at the time of writing this article, we couldn’t resist listing it here. Upon further examination, we found the World Source East GP0110ES Bird Bath to have a set of great features you might be interested in.
Firstly, the bath looks pretty strong and durable, and it is. Being constructed from ceramic, the unit isn’t affected by issues like rusting or weather-related deterioration.
The only thing you should worry about is impact, but even then, then material is tough and only yields to heavy impact.
This unit is comprised of a pedestal and a bowl on top. The total height and weight are 25 inches and 24.9 pounds respectively.
The weight might seem like much, but it comes in helpful as it provides stability, preventing your bath from tipping over. No need to use stones or add sand to create stability.
If you need something of high aesthetic value to go with your garden, don’t look any further. This one will do. The overall design as well that beautiful glossy finish look quite attractive.
You have the option of choosing between different colors – light green, light blue, and ivory.
The green one goes well with grass.
As the material is ceramic, can withstand moderately cold temperatures. But as the temperatures drop to the freezing point, the unit becomes prone to cracking, so you have to store it during winter.
The bowl has a depth of 4 inches, and hence you can install a solar fountain and still leave space for the water.
Highlighted Features:
- 3 color options
- Sturdy-made
- Elegant design
- 4-inch deep bowl and 20-inch tall pedestal
- Very stable
8. Best Choice Products Antique Gold Outdoor Bird Bath
As the brand’s name suggests, Best Choice Products sells some of the best goods on the market. When it comes to quality, their Antique Gold Outdoor Bird Bath, is without a doubt one of the finest birdbaths ever.
This unit is composed of a tall pedestal and a wide bowl on top.
Even just by looking at its pictures, you can see the bath is a work of art. That brushed gold finish is stunning. The bath looks like a carving from antiquity and set outdoors, it will be an ornament for everyone to admire.
The two bird statues at the top serve as inviting gestures for your birds. They encourage your birds to go over there and play, preen, and drink.
Your featured friends are going to love the unit’s surface. Unlike other units that have a slippery surface that makes birds struggle to stay stable, this unit has a rough surface that offers the needed traction.
Thus, birds can perch and play there without much effort.
The unit arrived detached, so you’re going to have to do some assembly but it’s nothing complicated. There’s an instructional manual but without it, the process is super easy.
You just have to connect a couple of bolts and you’re done.
The fact that you can detach it also makes the cleaning process easy.
Made of plastic, this is a lightweight bath, weighing just 5.28 pounds. It is, therefore, easy to move but that also means it’s not very stable. Not to worry; anchors are included to secure it to the ground and they work great.
Highlighted Features:
- Two bird statues at the top to welcome the real birds
- Lightweight and easy to move
- Detachable and easy to assemble
- Nice brushed gold finish
9. Songbird Essentials SE995 Spa
Do you want an inexpensive heated bath for your birds? The Songbird Essentials SE995 goes for less than 50 bucks and as its heater has a super low wattage of just 75 units, the running costs are almost negligible.
The product includes a basin and mounting gear. Be advised that there’s no pedestal, but the included mounting gear offer you a few mounting options.
There’s deck mounting gear, clamp mounting gear, and legs for setting it on the ground.
The basin has a diameter of 14.8 inches and a depth of 1.5 inches.
You can put as much as 0.2 gallons of water in it and as the bowl is very shallow, the little birds will not have any trouble drinking or playing.
Want to provide your birds with a water during the winter months? A heater is built into the bath to keep the water from freezing. Many users say that the heater is effective at preventing ice formation in temperatures as low as -10 °F.
As said earlier, it is a 75-watt heater. Moreover, the heater is thermostatically controlled, so it works only when needed to keep the water from freezing. Consequently, you expect that the bath will not have a notable effect on your energy bill.
For someone looking for the lightest bath unit, this model is very suitable. It weighs just 3.04 pounds, making it super easy to move from one spot to the other.
There are two main complaints. First, the power cord is too short. What is the users supposed to do with a 12-inch cord? You will likely have to get an extension cord.
Secondly, many people have said that keeping the unit stable is a bit of a hassle.
Highlighted Features:
- Wide basin – 14.8-inch diameter
- Energy-efficient 75-watt heater
- Lightweight
10. Best Choice Products Lily Leaf Bird Bath
The Best Choice Products Lily Leaf Bird Bath takes the aesthetic value aspect a step further with its exceptional design.
This unit is made up of a pedestal and a bird bath sitting on top of it. The top/bowl is designed like a lily leaf, giving it a unique appearance which many users have acknowledged as immensely attractive.
The whole design looks like something from antiquity. If you love items that feel like they’re from the ancient times, then this unit is for you.
There are two options for it. You can either get the bath with a copper finish or a green finish.
The shape of basin is not just for aesthetic value; it optimizes the comfort of the birds. With its wide, leaf-like handles, the basin provides the birds with an ample surface area where they can perch.
And as the surface is somewhat rough, the birds can land comfortably and drink and play merrily without worrying about stability.
The unit arrives detached, and you have to put it together to use appear as in the pictures. Luckily, assembly is not complicated at all, and even the included manual isn’t necessary. You just have to connect the screws.
When driving the screws, be careful as you might drive them in a crooked position and end up thinking the unit is defective. Moreover, you might mess up the threads in they’re not properly aligned with the screws.
Some users say they use Vaseline on the screws to make it easier to put them in position properly, and they say it works great.
This unit is made of plastic, and as many users have pointed out, it’s not heavy duty. So, don’t expect it to last more than 5 years.
Apart from that, it works great and birds love it. And, it’s cheap, costing less than 30 bucks.
Highlighted Features:
- Beautiful antiquity design and finish
- Lily-leaf-like basin with a 0.78-gallon capacity
- Textured surface for traction
- Inexpensive
Benefits of Using Heated Bird Bath
Nobody can resist a free spa during winter – definitely not the birds. If you love wild animals, especially wild birds those lives in the bat houses, a birdbath is a wild fantasy of all birds.
During winter, the water sources for birds become minimal, as most of the surface water freezes. At such a time, a supply of warm water becomes dear to birds.
Here’s why you might want to consider getting a best rated heated bird bath.
Year-round water supply for the birds
Most of the water that is normally accessible to birds during the other seasons becomes frozen. That means birds will flock your home trying to stay hydrated and get a chance to enjoy that free spa.
During the warmer months, you can turn off the heater but your birdbath will still be a source of water for the birds.
Protection for the bird bath
Freezing temperatures cause birdbaths, especially those made of concrete, to crack. Having a heating element in it ensures the water stays above the freezing point and thereby keeps the birdbath from cracking.
Unlike traditional birdbaths, heated ones don’t need to be winterized/stored away during winter.
Here Are Some Of The Most Frequently Asked Questions
Is a heated bird bath essential?
When the temperatures drop to freezing levels, there’s very little water for wild birds as surface waters turn to ice. If you love birds and other small animals and you want to see them in your yard or around your home, a heated bird bath is what you need. It’s a source of water for the birds.
Why are birds attracted to heated bird baths?
There are two main reasons. Firstly, to drink and avoid dehydration. Secondly, to preen and bathe. The water helps them remove parasites and dirt.
What’s the best material for a birdbath?
Steel might seem like a good option due to its resilience, but it’s not a good option if you want something portable. The most ideal options are plastic and ceramic because they keep the weight at a good, portable level.
How can I keep my birdbath clean?
Some of the dirt you have to deal with includes bird droppings, leaves and twigs, feathers, dust, and seeds. After removing this dirt, use a solution of water and vinegar to clean the birdbath, scrubbing with a brush.
How deep should a birdbath be?
Try keeping the basin shallow, ideally with a depth of not more than 4 inches, as birds not like deep waters. If it’s more than 4 inches deep, try adding pebbles in there to reduce the depth and show the birds its shallow.
What can I do to attract birds to my birdbath?
Keep the basin shallow because birds hate drowning. Other than that, keep it in an open spot where they can spot it from the air and keep the bath clean.
What’s the ideal spot for a bird bath?
Most people love to keep their bird baths in the garden. Other spots for keeping a bird bath include the patio and the balcony. The ideal place is where the birds can spot it with ease.
You might also want to keep it near a hose for easy refilling.
How can I stop algae growth in my birdbath?
Algae grows where the water is too stagnant and dirty with dead leaves, so if you can solve the two problems, then you needn’t worry about algae. Try cleaning your birdbath on a regular basis and refill it frequently, maybe after two to three days.
Are bird baths attraction sites for mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes love still waters as they provide a good breeding ground. So, yes, birdbaths can attract these terrible pests. But if you refill frequently or use an agitator like a small fountain or pump to keep the water in motion, your birdbath will not attract mosquitoes.
Final Words
We’re positive that our review of the best heated bird baths has pointed you in the right direction. As we discussed earlier, some of the factors to consider include size, weight, energy efficiency, and aesthetic value.
If you settle for a model that doesn’t come with a heater, like one of those Best Choice Products models we’ve talked about in the review, that’s okay; you only have to get a heater separately.
So, what model are you looking to get? Is there a good one you’ve used that is not in our review? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
