25 Decorative Bird Bath Ideas for the Garden

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Last updated: March 18, 2022

A bird bath in a garden or backyard space not only provides decorative value, it can also support the conservation of wild birds.

Bird baths provide a much needed water source for garden visitors such as birds and other wild animals, and is also a highly effective way to attract birds to a birdhouse in your backyard.

Knowing how to landscape around a bird bath will help you provide a safe environment for visiting birds, while also enhancing the appearance of your backyard or garden.

Read on, as we have listed 25 unique bird bath decorating ideas that will suit any backyard or garden.

In no particular order, here are 25 different bird baths that are great backyard decoration ideas.

Hopefully these ideas will inspire you to either buy a brand new bird bath or to DIY build one yourself.

1. Tree Stump Bird Bath

Got an old tree stump in your yard and don’t know what to do with it? Why not turn it into a beautiful and functional bird bath!

Get the look without the work by utilizing a stump-shaped dish, like this bath, or go the extra mile and hollow out the stump to fit a removable water basin.

Read our guide to repurposing tree stumps for more ideas around creative things to do with old tree stumps in the backyard.

2. Hanging Bird Bath and Feeder Combo

Hanging bird baths are a great way to provide birds with fresh drinking water without putting them at risk for predation by cats and opportunistic birds of prey.

Hanging baths can be installed on your pergola, patio cover, or hung from a tree in your yard. They are a great way to add a fun focal point to your landscape without sacrificing space.

Read our guide to bird feeder types for more ideas around providing food to birds in the backyard.

3. Gnome Bird Bath

I love having gnomes in my backyard because in my opinion they’re a great decoration piece, as long as you find the right designs.

What’s great about this particular product is that it combines a gnome character with a bird bath, which makes it both fun and functional.

The only thing I’m not sure about is whether this glazed ceramic gnome bird bath will actually scare the birds off!

Read our guide to garden gnome ideas for more inspiration around decorating the backyard.

4. Three Cherubs Birdbath

This Baroque-style bird bath brings a taste of classic Italy right to your yard.

Three winged cherubs work in adorable fashion to hold up a leaf-detailed bowl for your feathered friends.

Perfect for colonial, English, or Tuscan-style landscapes.

5. Heated Bird Bath

Enjoy visits from your feathered friends all winter long by installing a heated bird bath on your deck or patio.

These products often feature a simple design, but are highly functional and even necessary if you live in a colder climate.

Plus, enticing birds to visit your yard in those colder months can help inject a little spring into those long and cold winter months.

6. DIY Modern Bird Bath

For anyone who loves a DIY project, this modern bird bath comes out looking surprisingly sleek.

It has a super-mod feel with an understated bowl and unusual three-post base, which makes it a perfect addition to any backyard.

While it may look fancy, it costs hardly anything to make, especially if you already have a heavy shallow dish laying around.

7. Evergreen Mosaic Bird Bath

Whether you already have a base in need of a bath or are looking for a shallow dish to invite birds to your deck or patio, this Evergreen Mosaic Bird Bath is a wonderful choice.

Beautiful teal, blue, and green tiles arranged in an eye-catching pattern add a ton of depth to an otherwise simple piece.

The birds may not appreciate the intricacy as much as you do, but your human guests certainly will.

8. Glass Flower Bird Bath

Bird baths don’t have to just be utilitarian features, they can easily double as a beautiful piece of landscape art, like this gorgeous glass flower bird bath.

The blue glass lights up in the sun to draw the eye while also being more attractive to local birds.

When not in use, it functions as a whimsical sculpture that easily blends with bright flower beds and provides a much-needed splash of color during those less bountiful seasons.

9. In-Ground Bird Bath

Want a pond but only have the budget and space for a bird bath? This creative approach gives you the best of both worlds.

By burying a small pond liner in a mounded garden bed, you can enjoy the look of a pond (and even add a pump for that moving water effect) without having to pay for the real thing.

10. Metal and Stone Bird Bath

This metal and stone structure is a bit of a statement, as it looks rock solid while still blending in nicely into a garden environment.

It has a very elegant feel to it, and birds may find this bird bath appealing because it does look quite natural.

11. Large Flamingo Birdbath

Sometimes kitschy can be super cute. We definitely think that’s the case with this pink flamingo bird bath.

A hand-painted glass bowl sits over a metal body with fun embellishments like spiral tail feathers with glass bead end caps.

Bright, cheerful, and free of plastic, this decoration piece is here to redefine flamingo chic.

12. Free Standing Garden Bird Bath

For an ultra-sleek, minimalist vibe, this free-standing bird bath is a great choice.

The simple oval bath sits atop a single iron brace that won’t detract from the surrounding garden.

It’s the perfect height for attracting songbirds while keeping the water out of the reach of mice and crawling insects.

13. Stone Bird Bath

A classic stone bird bath always works well in any garden or backyard environment, because they have that neutral look.

The flowers and bushes surrounding this stone bird bath will make it blend in even better, and the wide basin will make this an appealing spot for birds.

14. DIY Salvaged Sink Bird Bath

Got an old sink laying around?

Why not give it a second life by providing your birdy friends a nice place to wash up?

This ultra-creative DIY sink bird bath is sure to be a conversation starter, and a great way to put scraps from your recent bathroom remodel to use.

15. Garden Bird Bath with Flower Planter Base

This bird bath features a built-in plant holder at the bottom to bring some color to your deck or patio.

Fill the coconut fiber liner with your favorite annuals, pollinator-friendly flowers, or faux flowers.

With a simple design and gorgeous details along the bottom, this bird bath is ready to be the focal point of your favorite sitting area.

16. Stone Statue Bird Bath

This stone statue bird bath may not be for everyone, but the wide basin and the flowers at the bottom make it a nice decoration piece.

Similar to the gnome style bird bath further above, some birds might be a little too scared though to approach this structure.

17. DIY Concrete Leaf Birdbath

Bird baths don’t have to take up a lot of space because, you know, birds don’t drink much!

Not only is this nature-inspired DIY leaf birdbath super unique and space-saving, it also costs hardly anything to make.

All you need is a large, deep leaf and some concrete, and you have all the ingredients for a small but elegant bath to decorate your deck rail or concrete wall.

18. Outdoor Ceramic Bird Bath

Is that a gorgeous piece of high-end landscape art or a functional bird bath? How about both!

This high-fire glazed ceramic bird bath is hand-painted for a unique finish that’ll bring color to your yard no matter the season.

Moody two-tone accents set this artistic piece apart and are sure to make this bath the centerpiece of any garden bed.

19. DIY Candlestick Birdbath

You’d never guess from looking at it that this DIY product was made using an old candlestick holder and a pot lid, resulting in a great looking bird bath.

That’s the magic of a little creativity and a hefty dose of spray paint.

You can create a similar look using a painted banister column and shallow planter dish.

20. Talavera Pottery Bird Bath

If you’re looking to add a water feature to dress up your hacienda-style landscaping, a Talavera pottery bird bath has the perfect aesthetic.

Dark blues and bright whites painted in traditional Mexican patterns create a brilliant focal point for Mexican courtyards, adobe patios, and southwestern gardens.

And don’t even get us started on those adorable little ceramic birds!

21. Pedestal Bird Bath with Resin Accent

This resin pedestal bird bath captures the essence of patinaed copper fountains found in the center of every great European square.

But the resin finish also makes it much easier to care for and a lot more affordable.

Don’t worry though, neither your guests nor the birds are likely to know this isn’t actually the real thing.

22. Fountain Bird Bath

A moving bird bath, like this adorable fountain bath, has many benefits for you and the birds.

The soothing sound of trickling water brings ambiance to outdoor seating areas while injecting the water with oxygen to keep it cleaner for the birds.

This multi-sensory bath is the perfect size for the garden, deck, or porch.

23. Stone Fiberclay Bird Bath

This fiberclay bird bath will certainly attract birds to your outdoor space, as it not only looks decorative with ornate flowers engraved into the design, it’s also very functional.

The basin of this birdbath is quite wide and not too deep, which makes it perfectly suitable for birds to bath in or to have a drink.

The lightweight fiberclay material is also well suited to sustain the elements outside, and because it’s so easy to assemble you can have this structure set up in no time.

24. Hanging Bird Bath

A hanging bird bath will give birds a bit of protection against potential predators on the ground, with many different designs available.

This particular bird bath design includes a decorative bird, and can be easily attached to a tree or otherwise installed on a pergola or other outdoor furniture piece.

25. Waterfall Bird Bath

A small running waterfall in the garden or backyard always creates a natural atmosphere, which will be appreciated by birds.

There are lots of bird baths available in the shape of a waterfall structure, with most of them requiring a power source to run.

If you’re keen to place one or more bird baths in your backyard, either for decorative purposes, or to solely provide water to birds, there are a few things to consider.

Especially from a landscaping perspective, it’s not simply a matter of placing a bird bath anywhere you like. It’s important to consider the safety of birds, while also enhancing the appearance of your outdoor space.

Do note though that the below tips are not set in stone, they’re just meant to be tips to take into consideration.

1. Location Matters

It’s a good idea to place the bird bath near a tree or near bushes, to not only make it more accessible for birds, but to also make it look more natural and appealing.

But as important it is to have trees and bushes nearby, it’s also a good idea to keep the direct surroundings of the birdbath somewhat clear. This will prevent predators from hiding and sneaking up on the birds when they are not paying attention.

This also gives you a bit more space to clean the birdbath or to do any other sort of maintenance. Regular cleaning is important, otherwise the birds are going to stay away.

Do make sure though that the bath is clearly visible, for the birds but also for you from inside the house. Also, during the warmer summer months, place the birdbath in a shaded spot to keep the water as cool as possible.

Also note that you would want to have a birdbath away from the porch, to avoid bird droppings or bird nests in the wrong location. The porch should be bird free.

2. Solid Foundation

This often gets overlooked, but please be mindful that some birds can be relatively heavy.

As such, a bird bath needs to have a solid foundation so that it is stable enough when birds are drinking and bathing.

3. Shallow Basin

Birds prefer a bath that is quite shallow. Most birds that visit backyards are small. So what may not look like a deep birdbath to you, for the bird it may be seen as too deep.

A good rule of thumb, to keep most birds happy, is to have the basin about two inches deep or less.