The 5 BEST Heated Bird Baths To Try This Winter (2023)
Below you are going to find a list of some of the BEST heated bird baths that are available to purchase online.
But before we dive in, I want to first talk about three things you should consider when shopping for a new heated birdbath:
1. Price
And because the cost is important to so many people, I have organized the bird bath reviews below by price. (Click each link to jump to that section!)
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Under $80 (2 baths)
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$80 – $120 (2 baths)
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$120+ (1 bath)
2. Thermostat Controlled
Many heated bird baths only turn on when the temperature drops below freezing, which helps save electricity. I feel it’s important to mention that heated bird baths don’t require much electricity to run, typically just pennies per day. So please don’t worry about your electric bill increasing because of this purchase!
3. Style
In general, when considering the best heated bird baths, there are three different styles you can choose.
- Classic: This is your traditional bird bath look and typically features a water basin supported by a pedestal.
- Deck-mounted: These bird baths attach directly to your deck railing. They are accessible during the winter months since they are typically placed near your back door. They also provide excellent views of the birds while they use the bath.
- Ground: Probably the best choice if you want other animals to be able to drink (squirrels, deer, etc.). Also, drinking and bathing from the ground are where birds feel most comfortable.
*For more in-depth information about what you should look for when buying a bird bath, check out this article.*
Best Heated Bird Baths
#1. K&H Pet Products Birdbath De-Icer
WARNING: This is NOT a bird bath.
The reason that I included this external de-icer is simple. It can be placed inside the basin of any non-heated bird bath to heat the water instantly.
With a de-icer, you can make ANY bath a heated bird bath. Then once the weather gets warmer, you can pack up the de-icer and store it until next winter!
This specific de-icer from K&H Pet Products has the following features:Â
- Maintains open water up to -20 degrees F.
- Thermostatically controlled and uses only 50 watts. The heater kicks on at around 34 degrees.
- It can be spray painted any color to match your bird bath.
- It will not rust, leave stains, or calcify.
#2. API Deck Mounted Heated Bird Bath
Since heated birdbaths that attach to your deck are typically close to your home, they offer extraordinary views of birds drinking and bathing.
This specific bath made by Allied Precision Industries provides many benefits (listed below!) for the inexpensive price of under $75.
- Constructed of plastic, so it’s not going to shatter when it freezes or falls.
- Includes a mounting bracket that also features a hinge, which makes the bath easy to tip to the side to empty old water.
- The power cord can be stored underneath the basin and out of sight during warmer months.
- Maintains open water up to -20 degrees F and utilizes a 150-watt heater.
#3. Heated Ground Bath
As far as functionality is concerned, a heated ground bird bath may be the best option.
Here’s why:
- Birds feel the most comfortable drinking and bathing from the ground because this is how they do it in their natural environment.
- Ground baths are easy to clean and move around your yard.
- They provide water to animals other than just birds, such as deer, squirrels, raccoons, etc.
This 70-watt heated ground bird bath should function effectively and will keep open water even on the coldest nights.
The entire bath is coated in rough plastic so birds don’t slip when they land and can comfortably perch on the sides. Many users LOVE this feature, but unfortunately, many people have also complained this coating starts to peel and come apart after a while.
Check out this heated bath in action!
This bird bath. It has been a popular spot for many different birds and mammals, but I thought this hawk coming down for a drink was the best!
#4. API Heated Bird Bath with Metal Stand
This is one of the best-heated bird baths available, especially if you want an inexpensive price and aren’t overly concerned with aesthetics. Not that this bird bath from Allied Precision Industries looks bad, but the pedestal is a simple design, featuring a basic metal stand that supports the heated basin.
Here are some other notable features:
- Thermostatically controlled (150 watts of power) that should keep the water between 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The bowl has a textured surface and rim that is specially designed to help birds talons grasp and land.
- Here is a link to a PDF of the instructions that come with the bird bath. It also mentions a 3-year warranty!
#5. Farm Innovators Heated Birdbath
- For the size, it is lightweight (under 10 pounds), which makes it easy to move and clean.
- The top basin easily removes from the pedestal for cleaning.
- A built-in extension cord runs up the middle of the pedestal.
- Thermostatically controlled and the heater is 120 watts.
- The design is intended to mimic the look of a typical concrete bird bath.
- Farm Innovators includes a 3-year warranty on this heated birdbath! Please click here to read more details.
Do you need additional help trying to select a heated bird bath?
If so, try this article:
Why are heated bird baths important?
Providing fresh water all year in your backyard is one of the BEST ways to reliably attract birds, and you can reasonably expect a greater diversity of birds to visit a birdbath than your feeders.
This is because ALL birds need a place to drink and bathe, where only a certain number of species are considered “feeder” birds that will come to visit to eat your food.
Lastly, by supplying a heated open water source, you are helping birds survive. Birds expend a lot of energy in winter while looking for fresh water. As you can imagine, when the weather drops below freezing, it can become extremely hard to find water that isn’t frozen.
So there you have it:
Buying a heated bath is beneficial for both you and your backyard birds!
It’s obvious this is good information. But information that can be sourced here on the internet or a local library.
Please read the following that says it all.
ADSADSADSADSADSADSADSADSADSADS
FREEKIN ANNOYING ADS!
ADS that BLOCK CONTENT are particularly classy and a pain in the ass! Safe to say you didn’t post all this infomation from the kindness of your heart. Tacky, very tacky!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge! Do you have any suggestions for a solar-powered heater/water mover?
#6. API Heated Birdbath – does NOT come with the pedestal nor does it recommend a pedestal (which would be mighty helpful!) . The picture is misleading to say the least. Is there a recommended/suggested pedestal to work with this birdbath?
I have heated bath, deck mounted, allied precision. Birds love it but doves find it slippery to stand on when sides get icy. I keep a rock in the middle that they can land on and drink. I like the tilt feature as you can easily change the water. Bowl gets dirty but eady to wipe clean. Works great. On winter #2 and still working. I do not use it in the summer. I also have the style that sits inside bath. It only keeps about 1 cup thawed in winter and the freezing damaged concrete bird bath.
I recommend the allied precision. Mine came with deck mount and stand but I only use mount. I have to fill every day in the winter due to evaporation. Stray cats and squirrels also use it. I have had a few sparrows bath which is bad. Rock keeps dove out as not enough room for them. I live in Manitoba. Temp minus 40 now and bath still thawed.
Great idea! they can perch ok on the rim? the plastic isn’t too slippery for them?
Thanks for all the info. I am new to birding and interesting in getting my wild birds a de-icer or bath that works to -40C. Although I live in the land of Chinooks, it’s been getting down to where I don’t even want to go outside! Stephen, having it additionally remotely controlled via Bluetooth to my iPhone would be ideal!
Hint put a few rocks in the bowl so birds can tell how deep it is. They will be most likely to bathe and not be afraid to drink
I plan on putting mine on a metal plant stand.
How do you keep the ground bird bath clear of snow? I live in Connecticut and some of our snowstorms would easily bury a ground bath. I currently have one on my deck rail – had it for 10 years or more – and it still works well. Just thinking that another one/type might be a good idea.
Oh my gosh, Susan! Thank you so much for ALL of that information!!!!! VERY appreciated!!!!!
I tried several of these heated bird baths and they all failed after a season or two. One year I noticed the birds weren’t using it even tho it had the only non-frozen water in the area. I discovered it was giving the birds (and me) an electric shock! SOLUTION—- I now use HEATED DOG BOWLS! Some are a little deep for some birds to bathe in but I’ve not seen any bird that had trouble perching on the edge and drinking. So, far the dog bowls have lasted 4 or 5 years and they are much CHEAPER than the heated bird baths!
Thank you, Andy. I guess when the real cold sets in (colder than -20) the birds are on their own. Thanks for the link!
This one is rated down to -20 F
https://www.amazon.com/Erva-BA5HSL-Heated-Bird-Bath/dp/B074MLJ98P/ref=sr_1_14?m=A13AFFPYINO8U8&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&qid=1573546070&s=merchant-items&sr=1-14
I’m looking for a heated bird bath that would be good down to -30*F. I’ve only found those rated down to -10*F.
Purchased 2 K&H Pet Products Birdbath De-Icers from Amazon, per your website. Thanks so much for vetting these products and making it simple for me.
You’re welcome!
I like option #6 and would also like to install a recycling pump and run a line to the bird bath to provide a constant slow drip to keep the basin full and keep the water moving to discourage mosquitos.
Just like humans have body parts that are more prone to damage from the cold, so do our pets. Take care to make sure paws, tips of tails, ears, and noses are not getting too cold.Â
So, from what I’ve read in various places, the ideal bird bath would have:
a) heated when temperature is <~ freezing and only when there is water
b) pump to drip or circulate the water for sound and prevent algae/mosquitoes (+ auto shutoff when no water)
c) multiple depth areas so that the water is not too deep for small birds
d) sturdy so that ground animals don't cause it to fall over (including dogs)
e) at least 2ft diameter
f) holds at least 1 gallon of water
g) aesthetically pleasing (subjective)
Anyone think of anything else that would be part of an ideal bird – water feature?
Steven, that sounds like a great list to me. 🙂 I would also consider how much you want to spend, construction material, and if you want a bath that sits on the ground, on a pedestal, mounts to your deck, or hangs.
Do any of your reviewed heated birdbaths automatically shut off when water is depleted?
Hello! That’s a great question. I’m not sure. I don’t believe so. I am currently using the farm innovators ground bath and it doesn’t shut off when there is no water. I could be wrong but I don’t think it affects the small heater inside these baths if there is no water to heat.
Scott (and others),
I am an electrician and I can tell you that these bath heaters work very similar to a baseboard heater or electric stove top. It won’t be inherently harmful, but it could potentially harm the bird bath itself. I myself would not leave it without any water for any length of time.
Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday!
Jason, thanks for the expertise and responding. Sounds like great advice to me!