Choosing The Best Bird Table in 2020

Nature can be amazing; on a fresh, spring morning, there are few things that top watching birds and squirrels run around your back garden.

In the UK, we Brits take feeding our wild birds seriously, and often hang multiple types of feeder to attract everything from collared doves to wrens. Everything from fat ball feeders to nyjer seed, as a nation, we spend an exorbitant amount on feeders and get a good laugh out of watching our robin chase away a mischievous crow!

But while there is usually some common guidance on what to look for in a bird feeder (avoid plastic, make sure it is squirrel and rat proof), it seems that when it comes to choosing the much beloved classic bird table, many people seem confused at what to look for; surely all bird tables are the same?

Between the months of October to April, natural food for birds is scarce and so, when setting up a bird table in your back garden, it is advisable to do so at this time of year. Don’t worry; even though food is available throughout the summer, once the birds have become accustomed to your bird table, they will frequent it often, so you won’t miss them during those warmer summer months.

However, in relation to choosing the right bird table, it is important to consider the following factors and, of course, take your gardens size and location into consideration.

Height

If you want to discourage wild rats or squirrels from stealing your bird food, you will want to aim for a taller bird feeder. Similarly, if you own a cat or know that one visits your garden often, you will want to deter them from getting near to the birds as they are eating. However, if you have no cats in the garden and don’t find a visit from a breed of bird that has brown fur and a pink tail off putting, then of course, a lower or even a ground table would be ideal.

It is also worth noting that some British birds, like blackbirds, prefer scurrying along the ground to find their food; if you want to hear the beautiful song of a blackbird or a song thrush, then a ground table is one way to attract them.

If you have a medium to large tree in your garden, you could even try a bird table that does not have a pole and attaches to a tree branch instead; just makes sure that you and any of the other people in your home can view the feeding frenzy from your chosen window.

Material

Most bird tables are made of wood, but you can also purchase bird tables made from metal, plastic or even glass. When choosing your bird table, pick one that is a more natural hue; birds rarely approach feeders that are red or purple, so aim for the traditional wood and green colour scheme for your bird table.

Wooden bird tables are usually the cheapest to buy but, it is worth noting, that they require maintenance from the elements and so, you may have to invest in a varnish but it is well worth it! Metal feeders avoid this problem, but can become difficult to land on after a frost and, in the summer, can become overheated.

Plastic tables can break if knocked over by squabbling birds and of course, glass is far from hardy either when it comes to our feuding feathered friends.

Size

This may sound obvious but when you purchase a bird table, you will want to watch your singing visitors come and go as they please, without causing a territory war over your back garden.

Have a look for the most commonly sighted birds in your back garden and aim to attract them with a size specific table; if your garden attracts long tailed tits and nothing else, then you can choose a smaller table.

Do you have crows, collared doves or woodpigeons in your back garden? Then choose a larger table to accommodate their size and weight; these larger birds are prone to being extremely territorial and so, it may be worth investing in more than one table.

But, if you are lucky enough to live out in the country or near a wood, chances are your table is going to attract everything from wrens to magpies and so, you may want to aim for a medium sized bird table or, if you have the money, a myriad of bird tables that are different sizes and designs. A small bird table in your tree near any hanging feeders can provide food for your smaller garden visitors, while a larger, standing heavy duty table can feed your resident woodpeckers, crows and collared doves without causing any tension or damaging the tables.

In this review, we purchased the 5 bird tables below and tested them to see how they fared in the changeable British weather, if they could handle multiple sized birds feeding from them and, of course, if they were easy to clean from bird droppings.

Our Final Conclusion

Overall, this was an enjoyable product review.

But, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for and, it goes without saying that our favourite feeding table was the Hutch Company XL Table; it withstood winds, did not rot and even came with an antibacterial coating.

Although such additional features do not justify the price, they certainly make the table easier to manage; cleaning it was easier and of course, it never fell over! It accommodated a wider range of bird sizes, allowing us to see a broader range of our feathered friends, which is the entire point!

If you are not willing to spend over £50 on a bird table (and I can’t say I blame you), then a close runner up would be the Natures Market table. Although it is flat-pack and the wood seemed prone to splitting, such issues are minor compared to high-end this table looks and, of course, split wood can be sanded down and varnished, to give it extra strength. Just make sure that, if you live on a particularly windy island and you choose the Natures Market table, that you buy some metal pegs to attach it firmly to the ground.