10 of the best bird tables for 2023

But with prices varying from £20 to over £100, it can be difficult to know which bird tables are worth the money. The best bird table has to be easy to assemble, easy to clean and most importantly, provide a safe place for birds to feed when food is scarce.

The colder months are when food is hardest to come by and birds will benefit the most from a bird table with a regular food supply. High-fat foods help birds maintain their fat reserves during this time, whereas high-protein seeds such as black sunflower seeds are more beneficial for moulting birds during warmer summers.

All the bird tables below have been picked by our experts and include a variety of ground feeding trays, stylish hanging bird tables, and mounted metal designs to prevent squirrels reaching the food.

The style and size of bird table you buy will depend on the birds you're hoping to attract. For example, blackbirds, wrens and robins prefer to feed on the ground so require a ground bird table. Other designs may have low or adjustable roofs to deter bigger birds like wood pigeons while allowing smaller birds to visit.

For more ways to encourage wildlife in your garden, take a look at our selection of the best hedgehog houses and bat boxes. For help watching birds, check out our guides to the best wildlife cameras and bird box cameras, or be inspired by our guide to wildlife gifts.

Find our selection of the 10 best bird tables, below.

How to choose the best bird table

Bird feeders of different shapes and sizes will attract different birds. For example, the classic hanging bird feeders often suit small birds such as finches and sparrows which prefer to perch while feeding. In comparison, ground bird tables will attract blackbirds and wrens.

The RSPB recommend buying a bird table that's at least 3-4 square feet, as a table any smaller is likely to cause fighting between birds.

The material it's made out of should also be a consideration. Most bird tables are made from wood, which looks the most natural, but they can also be metal, plastic and polycarbonate. Metal poles can also deter predators because cats and squirrels find them difficult to climb. Read more tips on deterring cats from your garden.

There are four main types of bird table to consider.

• Mounted: Typically mounted on a wooden or metal post, the bird table should be between 4-6 feet off the ground. Many have a cross-shaped base to reduce the chance of it falling over.
• Hanging: Wire or a light metal chain should be attached to each corner of the table and hung from a washing line or tree branch. To avoid the table spinning, the wire needs to be hung from more than one point.
• Ground Tray: Birds such as blackbirds, robins and wrens prefer food at ground level. This should be mounted a small way above the ground to prevent damage to the grass below.
• Window Ledge: A little more unusual but some bird tables can be attached to window ledges with angle brackets.

How to secure a bird table to the ground

A mounted bird table has two options for securing it to the ground. It can simply be driven into the grass itself, or it comes with a cross-shaped base that needs pegging down.

Any post without a base should be driven into the ground by at least a foot to make it sturdy. For cross-shaped bases, the bird tables should be pegged into the ground or secured with rocks (or other heavy objects) to prevent it falling over in the wind.

Make sure to place your bird table somewhere quiet and sheltered, away from wind and out of direct sunlight. If possible, it should be close to a lookout point, such as a small bush, so that the birds have somewhere nearby to escape to if they're disturbed.

10 of the best bird tables to buy

Want to encourage a wider variety of birds to visit your garden? Browse our list of the best bird tables, below.

Designed to attract small tits and finches, the Bempton Hanging Bird Table is only 30cm tall, 18cm wide and 18cm deep. With intricate woodwork in a distressed green finish and a Verdigris copper roof, the bird table is stylish and best hung from a tree branch.

Price: £36.99

Buy Bempton Hanging Bird Table at GardenBird

The RSPB Adjus-table Bird Table ensures that only smaller birds can fit into this feeding station. The table slides up and down the central pole to allow for three different roof heights. This enables you to deter larger birds such as wood pigeons if you so wish, and the roof is removable for easy cleaning.

Price: £120

Buy Adjus-table bird table at RSPB

Made from FSC certified wood, this bird table has a wide 35cm tray to allow plenty of room for birds to feed and rest if needed. A recycled plastic tray is removable for easy cleaning and the base is wide to support the impressive country barn design.

Price: £110

Buy Country Barn Bird Table at RSPB

The Open Bird Table is a simple design made from FSC certified timber in the UK. The table has a removable tray on top for easy cleaning and is supported by a solid wood post with additional supports beneath the feeding platform for extra stability.

Price: £50

Buy Open Bird Table at RSPB

Designed to be mounted onto a wall or fence, this bird table has been treated with anti-bacterial coating to help prevent diseases spreading between birds. The felt roof and food tray have been constructed to allow water run-off and it's hand-built in the UK.

Price: £32.99

Buy Hove Wall Mounted Bird Table at Amazon

The contemporary design of the Fineway Nordic Bird Table Feeder comes fitted with a three-pronged stabiliser that will pierce the ground and should prevent it from falling over in adverse weather. It's made from pre-treated wood and galvanised metal for additional weatherproofing.

Price: £29.99

Buy Fineway Nordic Bird Table Feeder at Amazon

For birds like blackbirds, thrushes and wrens that prefer feeding at ground level try this simple wooden ground feeder from the RSPB. It has four sections for different bird foods, and each one has drainage to prevent the feed getting soggy. This table also comes with 1kg of insects and 900g of no-grow ground mix, so you can start feeding your feathered friends as soon as it arrives.

Price: £27.23

Buy the RSPB Ground feeding table & food offer from the RSPB

We love this attractive bird table made of FSC-certified, eco-friendly wood. The simple design suits both contemporary as well as more traditional gardens. As it can be hung up anywhere in the garden it's great if you lack space or need to keep it tucked out of the way, and it comes at a great price point.

Price: £14.99

Buy the National Trust Hanging Bird Table from CJ Wildlife

If you have a lot of birds nesting nearby, the Astoria Bird table is a good bet. The generous split-level design helps prevent overcrowding while keeping a large surface area for birds to feed from, and the roof will keep visitors and food dry.

Price: £89.99

Buy the Astoria Bird Table from CJ Wildlife

This Product Guide was last updated in June 2022 and we apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.