Do birds prefer ceramic, metal or plastic birdbaths?

Rose Jones
by Rose Jones
Also, what color of birdbath works best?

  6 answers
  • My neighbors and I have ceramic. Metal gets far too hot where we live in summer and would hurt the birds. I do not care for plastic, gets brittle and breaks too quickly.

  • Kathy Rycroft Kathy Rycroft on Apr 18, 2018

    Birds will bathe in a mud puddle, so they probably wouldn't mind any of the mentioned materials. I don't think color will matter much either. I would go with the scheme of your yard.

  • Pat Russell Pat Russell on Apr 18, 2018

    I'm with Naomie; metal is too hot in most areas. We have used ceramic or concrete with good results. The birds really don't care as long as it has water!

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Apr 18, 2018

    I have a plastic white one, my mom had a cement one painted white, I don't think it really matters as long as it is kept clean and full of fresh water, it may take time for them to find it and start using it. Even though mine is right by the feeders, it still took a couple of weeks to start going to it very much.

    • See 1 previous
    • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Apr 18, 2018

      My white plastic one stays out in the winter and has yet to crack or break despite having inches of ice with snow on top throughout the winter. It is not heated at all. The poor birds right now are trying to stay out of the snow to survive by hiding underneath our truck in the driveway. We talked to a guy today that says the robins are dying with no shelter in the cold and snow we are having since they came back. I am going through so much bird food right now trying to feed the birds that can't find food through the snow we keep getting.

  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Apr 18, 2018

    Metal is hot, but other than that, as long as you keep clean, fresh water in it they will come and stay

  • Lisa S. Lisa S. on Apr 18, 2018

    I have cement . They are sturdy if the squirrels try to get in it. But still must turn over in the winter to prevent water from freezing. I have had terracotta, but they always get broken,