26 Gifts for Bird Lovers

Playing to someone’s personality and interests is always a great start for gift shopping. If you’ve got a bird lover in your life, there are so many great gifts out there — from the best gear for bird watching to top-rated bird feeders to thoughtful home decor. We’ve rounded up our favorite gifts for bird lovers at every budget. There’s big-ticket tech for milestone celebrations and cheep gifts for stocking stuffers or surprise mail just because. Take a look at our picks below, and if you’re a fellow bird lover, you’ll probably want to snag a couple of these for yourself, too!

For Bird Watching

For serious birders, a gift they can use while on bird-watching trips is always a solid choice. Top-rated, waterproof binoculars are a must as many field trips include waiting close to the water or via boat. A scope is great for both stargazing and wildlife, but they can get pricey fast, as in thousands of dollars. (Yes, really.) This mid-range scope from Celestron is under $250 and is praised for its value and clarity. And no birder can watch birds without a life list. It’s kind of like a bucket list diary that every birder keeps to track which birds they’ve seen and when. And if they’re an inspiring Audubon, it’s a place to sketch each bird, too.

For a Bird House

For more casual birders, those who love the backyard songbirds best, a quality birdfeeder will attract more feathered friends. We named the PestOff one of the best feeders you can buy for many reasons, but mostly because it keeps squirrels from stealing seeds without hurting them or throwing them off as other popular “pest-free” feeders do. For smaller rentals or apartments, we love these window suction cup feeders. For something more high-end, this new birding cam is a great big-ticket present! It’s kind of like a ring doorbell but for birds. You can even record video clips and send photos and videos to friends or upload them to social media.

Home Gifts That Put a Bird on It

As the "Portlandia" sketch suggests, home decor and accessories really are better when you put a bird on it, but if you’re gifting a bird lover, it’s better to gift something specific than a vague bird. That creates a more meaningful gift that shows you put thought into it. A coffee table book with illustrations or this bird bingo game set highlights specific bird breeds and, in this writer’s opinion, every person on the planet should have an Audubon clock. It chirps a different songbird for each hour. Nothing could be more classic than a duck head umbrella. I love, love, love the modern-meets-vintage spin on this one from Rifle Paper Co. For the pun lovers, there are so many great puns to riff off in the bird world, and Etsy artist Sarah Edmonds does them all.

For Baby Birds

For future birders (or parents and grandparents who love birds), there are so many stinking cute baby accessories that would be perfect for a nursery. These custom, hand-embroidered birds are a great first rattle. And how adorable is this owl towel? (There’s also a penguin!) Wild Republic in tandem with The National Audubon Society has a series of plush birds with sound boxes to tweet their exact calls. You can also adopt a bird via The National Audubon Society’s website and the donation comes with a plush.

Cheap Gifts for Bird Lovers

On a budget? No problem. All of these gifts are under $20 and will wow any giftee. I’m obsessed with this little sponge set that perches on a wooden rack, and these Sibley flashcards are great for stocking stuffers. There’s even a coloring book with official Audubon illustrations under $5!