Gifts for birdwatchers
Sorted by budget. Everything here gets used, which is more than most bird-themed gifts manage.
Updated 2 October 2026
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Quick picks
RSPB Pocket Guide to British Birds Our pickSmall giftsCheck priceCollins Bird Guide (3rd edition) Our pickMid-range giftsCheck priceCelestron Outland X 8×42 binoculars Our pickBigger giftsCheck price
Small gifts
RSPB Pocket Guide to British BirdsOur pick
A slim guide that lives in a coat pocket. Right for someone who has started noticing birds and wants names for them.
Wooden nest box (32mm hole)
Christmas is the right time to put one up. Birds prospect from February. See the nest box guide for hole sizes.
Waterproof pocket notebook
Birders write things down in the rain. A waterproof notebook survives it.
Mid-range gifts
Collins Bird Guide (3rd edition)Our pick
The field guide serious birders use. If they only own a beginner book, this is the upgrade. More in the bird book guide.
Squirrel-proof seed feeder
A caged feeder keeps squirrels and pigeons off the seed. Pair it with a bag of sunflower hearts and the gift works on day one.
Pedestal bird bath
Water pulls in birds that ignore feeders. Choose a shallow bowl with a rough surface. The bird bath guide covers what to look for.
Bigger gifts
Celestron Outland X 8×42 binocularsOur pick
A first pair that is good enough to keep. Waterproof and 8×42, the size that suits UK birding. Our binoculars guide has the step-up options.
WiFi nest box camera
Live video from inside a nest box, on a phone. Fit it over winter and it is ready for spring. Details in the camera guide.
Smart bird feeder camera
A feeder that photographs its visitors and sends the pictures to a phone.
Gifts that cost nothing
Set them up with a free Birdedex and log the first bird together. Or take them to a reserve. Our hotspot pages list what to expect at twelve of the best in Britain.
What to skip
Zoom binoculars. The picture falls apart at high zoom.
Fat balls in plastic nets. Birds catch their feet in the mesh.
Novelty bird houses with thin walls and the wrong size hole. They look good and stay empty.
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