{"id":286,"date":"2019-10-11T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-11T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whatbirdsareinmybackyard.com\/bird-bath-ground-to-hanging-how-high-should-it-be\/"},"modified":"2024-01-19T00:39:14","modified_gmt":"2024-01-19T00:39:14","slug":"how-tall-should-a-bird-bath-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whatbirdsareinmybackyard.com\/how-tall-should-a-bird-bath-be\/","title":{"rendered":"Bird bath: Ground to Hanging: How high should it be?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Birds need water every day for drinking and bathing. One easy way to provide water is with a bird bath. One question that comes up frequently is how high off the ground that the bird bath should be placed.<\/p>\n

Bird baths can be placed at any height: on the ground, on pedestals 2-3 feet high, or even hung quite high. <\/b><\/p>\n

Each height has advantages. Each height has some drawbacks. This article discusses the pros and cons of placing bird baths at various heights above the ground. <\/p>\n

I also talk about things to keep in mind that may be more important for positioning your bird bath than just the height.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Why do birds need water?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Birds don’t need to drink as much water as most mammals. This is because they don’t have sweat glands so they don’t perspire. They can get moisture from eating insects and plant buds. Still, birds may need to drink water at least twice a day.<\/b> (source<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Birds also need to bathe regularly to keep their plumage clean.<\/b> Clean plumage is necessary for warmth in winter. But clean feathers are especially necessary for flight. Birds fly to travel from place-to-place, of course. But even more necessary, birds fly to escape danger and predators.<\/p>\n

Even birds that would not normally come to your bird feeder will still come to your bird bath to drink and bathe. <\/p>\n

The best bird baths have rough texture that birds can grip firmly without slipping. They are 1-2 inches deep at most. They may perhaps have an added rock or branch leading to the water, so birds can get a drink without actually getting in the water if they so wish. <\/p>\n

Many birds may not want to fly directly to a bird bath. Instead, they may want a staging perch<\/b> where they land first, then walk or hop to the water’s edge.<\/p>\n

But how high should your bird bath be? To answer that, let’s next think about how birds find water without our help.<\/p>\n

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            Bird bath by mark-timberlake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/span>Natural bird baths<\/span><\/h2>\n

Birds drink and bathe in rain puddles. They also do so at the shallow edges of streams, lakes and ponds.<\/p>\n

Birds may drink droplets of dew, or raindrops on vegetation.<\/p>\n

But think about this. These methods and locations are primarily all on the ground. Most birds know naturally to seek water for drinking and bathing on the ground.<\/b> Of course, they are capable of learning from experience to find water in other situations. But their first instinct is to seek water near the ground.<\/p>\n

<\/span>How high off the ground can bird baths be placed?<\/span><\/h2>\n

A bird bath is an excellent way to provide birds with the water they need daily. Bird baths may be easily purchased and can be added attractively to your landscaping. Alternatively, bird baths can be a fun do-it-yourself (DIY) project as simple or as complicated as you can design.<\/p>\n

In this section we’ll look at where bird baths can be placed–how far off the ground they can be. We’ll also consider both the pros and cons of each elevation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Photo<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Evening Grosbeak getting a drink from a ground-level bird bath.
\nPhoto by Greg Gillson<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/span>Bird baths on the ground<\/span><\/h2>\n

Perhaps the simplest bird bath is just to place a shallow bowl of water directly on the ground. Larger basins may even be dug into the ground. One could even create an artificial rock stream bed with plastic-lined catch basin to act as a “natural” bird bath.<\/p>\n

Even if you have a traditional bird bath, you might consider placing a ground-level bird bath inconspicuously off to one side of your backyard.<\/p>\n

Pros-<\/b> Since birds naturally drink and bathe from puddles on the ground, they may more readily use bird baths placed on the ground than anywhere else. These will especially be favored by sparrows, doves, quails, and other ground feeding birds.<\/p>\n

Cons-<\/b> Bird baths on the ground may collect more dirt and leaf litter and need to be cleaned more often. Other pests may be attracted to this easy-to-reach water source.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Bird baths within 1 foot of the ground<\/span><\/h2>\n

Birder Bill Thompson III, editor of Bird Watchers Digest (source<\/a>), recommends keeping bird baths within 1 foot of the ground. How would you do this?<\/p>\n

You could place a water dish on a low platform of bricks. You may find a tree stump to use as the perfect natural platform for a homemade bird bath such as a terra cotta saucer normally used under a flower pot.<\/p>\n

Pros-<\/b> This is perhaps an ideal height. Such a height will appeal to a large variety of birds. It should be very stable and unlikely to tip over easily.<\/p>\n

Cons-<\/b> Other critters may use your bird bath. Depending upon what they are, though, this could also be a pro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
White-throated Sparrow on a bird bath. Greg Gillson.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/span>Traditional pedestal bird baths 26-32 inches above the ground<\/span><\/h2>\n

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with the traditional concrete pedestal bird bath. Plastic is cheaper, with a weighted bottom, and perhaps easier to clean. Other materials are possible, including copper or ceramic.<\/p>\n

Pros-<\/b> Pedestal bird baths can be very decorative and attractive.<\/p>\n

Cons-<\/b> Decorative doesn’t mean the birds will like them. The water level in many decorative bird baths is actually deeper than many small birds would like. Many decorative bird baths have too slippery of a surface and birds may not like them. These bird baths can topple over in strong winds or if larger animals or a pet tries to get up in them for a drink.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Deck railing mounted bird baths<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are several bird baths that attach to your deck railing. Some attach with C-clamps and wing nuts.<\/p>\n

Pros-<\/b> By mounting bird baths on your railing they will be at a great height to watch the birds bathing and drinking. You will easily be able to keep it refilled. Cleaning should be easier.<\/p>\n

Cons-<\/b> Basin or saucer may fall if not secured. Water may splash out onto objects you don’t want to get wet. Fecal droppings may make a mess of the railing or nearby staging area where birds go to first before going into the bird bath.<\/p>\n

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                   Bird bath by dan-wayman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/span>Hanging bird baths<\/span><\/h2>\n

Ceramic terra cotta saucers can be used as bird baths. Hang them from hooks on your porch or patio like hanging plants. They can hang from a sturdy shepherds hook next to your other feeders.<\/p>\n

Pros-<\/b> You can place them for better viewing near patio or kitchen windows. They are much less likely to attract unwanted pests.<\/p>\n

Cons-<\/b> May be used primarily by finches and less likely by other birds. May sway too much in the wind. May be hard to refill and clean if too high. Glass or decorative basins are too slippery for birds to grip, so they may not use them. It may be difficult to tell whether or not there is water in a hanging bird bath.<\/p>\n

Place hanging bird baths out of strong winds. <\/p>\n

Make sure how ever you hang them that the hanger can support the weight.<\/p>\n

The rough texture of a ceramic or terra cotta saucer is perfect. Birds won’t slip on it as they would on glass or porcelain. <\/p>\n

<\/span>Other considerations for bird bath placement<\/span><\/h2>\n

Birds will drink and bathe in bird baths of various heights. Other considerations of bath placement may actually be more important for attracting birds than how high it is off the ground.<\/p>\n

Here are some other things to think about for locating your bird bath:<\/p>\n