We’ve got 49 unique bird bath ideas for you, to help you design a garden spa for the birds. During the hot and dry dog days of summer, you’ll be doing the birds a great service to provide a bird bath. Like dogs, birds do not sweat and must remove excess heat through their respiratory system. And yes, they can end up panting like dogs. Bird baths provide a place for them to cool off. Plus, it’s important for them to keep their feathers clean and ready to fly.
And our feathered friends don’t just need bird baths to bathe in. They need a source of clean, fresh water to drink and the bath serves both purposes. You’ll see more and more fountain bird baths, primarily solar powered, with another two-fold purpose. Birds are attracted to running water – and running water will prevent insects like mosquitoes from taking over the installation.
Copper Bird Baths
This copper sculpture birdbath chalice will weather over time with a great pantina. Source
Grouping the colored version of the copper chalice design is a fantastic birdbath idea. You can use the matching cupped copper flowers as tea light holders. Source
This unique bird bath features a copper flower with a hummingbird figure. Source
What a great design for a copper birdbath. Billed as Queen Anne’s Lace at the source, but looks more like a dandelion to us. Make a wish. Source
A unique bird bath idea – a shallow copper bowl adorned with silhouettes of cedar waxwings. Source
Artistic Bird Bath Design Ideas
The Willie Wagtail and Wren birdbath is made of bronze and is art for the garden, as well as a bath for backyard birds. Source
Classic bronze garden statue with birdbath – for more formal gardens. Source
Whimsical frogs in bronze – a unique bird bath guaranteed to bring a smile to those who venture through your garden. Source
This glass dish birdbath sits on a stainless steel plinth and has three bronze parrots perched on the bowl. Source
What a great bird bath idea – the bath is perched on a strong aluminum branch. Source
Another incredibly artistic and unique bird bath idea from our Australian friends, Kooper Tasmania. Source
This incredible Moira Fain birdbath is a steel weave basket and copper bowl. Talk about unique garden art. Source
Cement, Concrete & Stone Bird Baths
A simple square cement birdbath is a popular pool – check the video at the source link. Source
A cast cement birdbath with mystical design, from India. Source
Art Deco style Roman Goddess birdbath in concrete for the garden. Source
Here’s a cute idea – the top hat makes a unique bird bath in cement. The parakeet likes it. Source
Another unique bird bath idea – this one is hidden in a (faux) rock. Source
Made from cast stone, the Campania International Pine Meadow birdbath is a modern sculpture as well as a water pool for your feathered friends. Source
This scuba cat birdbath is a really unique idea. Source
Hand Blown Glass Bird Baths
Glass has always been a popular choice for bird bath design – and it looks great in your garden. Source
A wide array of colors, speckles and textures are available when you choose a hand-blown glass birdbath. Source
A beautiful and unique bird bath in cobalt blue dichroic glass (glass containing containing multiple layers of metals or oxides, giving it an optical quality).You’ll see dichroic glass used a lot in jewelry making but it certainly makes for a stunning birdbath. Source
This butterfly & flowers birdbath glows in the dark – the butterfly body and flower centers (see bottom left corner of photo for night shot). Source
The blue ice glass birdbath is made from recycled materials. Source
Stained Glass Style Bird Bath Designs
The Peacock bird bath is a favorite with its multi-hued blue design. Source
Luck of the Irish is a Celtic-inspired birdbath in great tone of green. Source
Dragonfly Dance is a beautiful glass birdbath with striking colors. Source
A unique bird bath in glass, with leaves in raised patterns. Source
This unique Tiffany-style floral birdbath looks like real stained glass. Source
Mosaic Glass Bird Baths
This mosaic bird bath in blue is a beautiful design. Source
A trio of unique bird baths in mosaic stone design. Source
This superlative mosaic sunflower bird bath is truly a work of art (by Sueann Bettison Sher). Source
This mosaic sink bird bath idea is one of the most unique (bird baths and sinks) we’ve ever seen. Source
Hummingbirds will also visit your garden bird bath, to both bathe and drink. Source
Solar Bird Baths
In many cases, the solar powers the fountain function – running water is a magnet for birds. There are a few bird baths will solar lights as well, but the running water really is the thing.
This blue koi solar birdbath is a spitter fountain. Source
More dragonfly bird baths – this time solar, with lights. Source
This faux rock fountain solar bird bath looks very natural in the garden. Source
The blue peacock bird bath in solar, with running water. Source
Powder-coated aluminum looks like a bronze patina on this dragonfly solar birdbath – complete with three spray settings and bubbler. Source
Hanging Bird Bath Design Ideas
This hanging glass flower can be a bird bath or a bird feeder – two ideas in one. Available in fuchsia (above) or lime. Source
The sunrise glass hanging birdbath has the colors of the morning. Source
This copper hanging shallow birdbath would also be good for butterflies if you added a few marbles so they had something to stand on. Source
The Tiffany-style hanging birdbath has stained glass design features. Source
Free Standing Bird Baths for Your Garden
The classic ceramic pedestal birdbath is available in a multitude of cool colors.
This cherry red crackled ceramic makes for a unique bird bath design. Source
The Peace Pole birdbath is a colorful garden addition. If you put stones in it, as above, it also becomes a place that bees, hummingbirds and butterflies can land and have a drink of water. Source
Brightly colored talavera pottery birdbaths from Mexico turn heads everywhere you put them.
Orange isn’t the first color that comes to mind when we think of bird bath ideas, but this glossy ceramic bird bath looks fantastic. Source