If you love enjoying the nature around your home then there is no better purchase – or gift – than a bird box camera! They are a fantastic way to get a true picture of what is going on in your garden! Bird boxes are great things – they encourage a whole variety of birds into your garden, whilst providing a nesting home at the same time. But are you ever curious about what actually happens on the inside? A bird box camera is designed to cause minimal disruption to the birds using the box, whilst giving you and your loved ones a “birds eye” view of the nesting process! If you are lucky you may even get to watch the chicks hatch!
So whether you are a bird enthusiast, nature lover, young or old, a bird box camera is definitely going to be a great addition to your garden.
Best Pick – Green Feathers Wildlife Wi-Fi Bird Box 1080p
- WiFi Bird Box Camera by Green Feathers (2nd Generation). View amazing quality footage of nesting birds, eggs and chicks from anywhere right on your mobile device
- Compact camera designed to fit inside a standard bird nest box (camera only - bird box not included)
- Connects to home WiFi network for easy viewing on mobile or tablet, just plug the camera in to power and quickly connect using the free Android or iOS app. Camera includes 1.5m power supply, which can be extended to up to 20m using one of our 12V 2.1mm extension cables. Simply check with your phone before installation that there is good Wifi reception at the bird box's location (we recommend 2 bars). Please note - requires 2.4GHz Wifi network
- Invisible IR LEDs provide night vision without disturbing birds, and a wide angle lens captures everything inside of the box
- MicroSD slot lets you easily capture footage and set up motion detection recording, with no need to use a pricey external recorder
Last update on 2024-04-20 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
This video provides a great, in depth review on our best pick, along with information on all the features included.
In A Hurry?
If it is getting particularly close to nesting season then we understand that you are going to be in a rush – once the birds have started building their nests it is going to be difficult for you to “plant” your camera without disrupting the nest and therefore the birds. So here is all you need to know – and quick! A large amount of choosing which bird box camera is going to be right for you comes down to cost, as there are SO many features to choose from but this depends on what budget you have! This is worth considering before you make further decisions about what is going to be right for you.
Wired or Wireless
Obviously wireless bird box cameras are going to offer you much more flexibility in where they can be positioned in your garden. It is unlikely that many birds are going to want to nest right next to your property, unless they feel particularly safe, so a wireless bird box camera is going to allow you the freedom to put your box where you know the birds are wanting to nest.
A wired camera will basically have a small wire that runs from the camera to a recorder (whether this be a TV, laptop or other recording device) which is great as it means the footage is recorded and there ready to watch immediately. But obviously you do have the limitations of the length of the wire, so make sure to check how long the wire is on the camera you are looking to purchase. Some have cable lengths up to around 40m which offers you the best of both worlds between a wired model and a wireless model.
A wireless option is going to provide you with much more freedom as to where you can place your camera as it will then connect to your Wi-Fi network and stream straight to your phone (or other device). This offers you a wide variety of ways in which you can use the footage and how you can share your exciting findings with others.
TOP TIP: If you are opting for a bird box camera that streams to your phone then make sure that your phone/tablet is going to be compatible with the app that you need to be able to view the camera!
Video Quality
The second thing you really need to consider is how important the quality of the video is to you. Obviously, you are going to want to actually be able to see what is happening in your bird box – otherwise what is the point? So check that the quality of the video is going to be good enough. We love that some of the best bird box cameras now come with HD cameras, as the footage is so much clearer!
When looking at the video quality it is also worth looking whether you can move your camera so that you move it around to see different angles inside the bird box. Not all cameras will allow you to do this but some will and we found this is great for anyone that has the camera connected to an app as you will quickly and easily be able to scan the bird box to get the best view.
Size
It is important to check the size of your bird box camera, as ideally they need to be as compact as possible so as not to disturb the birds that are nesting in the box. Not only this, but you need to check that the bird box camera is actually going to fit inside the bird box securely without taking up too much space. Some of the cameras are as small as 7 or 8cm which is going to allow you plenty of space in the rest of your bird box, whereas others are larger and may need to be secured to the outside your bird box with the camera peeping in through a hole!
Power
Most bird box cameras are going to be mains powered, which means that you will need to have connection to electricity close enough to where you are fitting your bird box camera. This can cause a problem if you are wanting your bird box camera to be fitted at the bottom of your garden, so you will need to make sure that the power cable is long enough – or consider getting an external plug fitted part way down the garden.
We did find some models that were battery powered with a reasonably long battery life. This is obviously going to give you much more options when you are looking at where to fit your bird box and bird box camera, but you will need to remember to charge the battery regularly which could disturb the birds if this is not easy to do! Look out for battery powered models that allow you to slide the battery out of the back of the bird box to avoid your scent being transferred to inside the bird box.
What is Included?
One of the good ways to ensure that you are getting good value for money with your bird box camera is to see what the camera actually comes with. We found massive variations in the things that are included in the price that you pay – so this is worth checking for as will obviously impact on the overall purchase. Here are some of the things we found included:
- Camera (obviously)
- Bird box
- HDMI cable to connect straight to your TV
- Subscription to an app allowing you to view the footage on your phone or tablet
- Cabling for wired options
- Plastic trunking to protect weak points in the cabling from adverse weather conditions
- Bird spotting book
Best Budget – Green Feathers Wireless Bird Box SD
- Tiny Camera for Bird Boxes - This Green Feathers is designed to sit inside a bird nesting box, letting you watch incredible live close up images as chicks hatch and grow
- Wide Angle for maximum view - 110 degree field of view is much wider than similar cameras on the market, and let you see the entire nest, as well as birds entering & leaving the box
- Detailed 700TV Line images transmitted from the camera to your TV, using the included wireless receiver
- 6 night vision LEDs allow wireless nest box camera to record clear video in completely unlit boxes. Uses Invisible IR light so there is no red glow to distract the birds, even in complete darkness
- Includes 3m extended power supply for easy set up! Mains plug has an extended lead to provide far more flexibility when installing camera. Please note that this camera does not feature Wi-Fi connectivity and is not baterry powered. The camera is powered by main electricity. Video is transmitted over 2.4 GHz wiress with a range of up to 30 metres in direct line-of-sight
Last update on 2024-04-20 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
How To Spot the Best Bird Box Cameras
If you are hunting for the best bird box cameras then here are some of the features you need to be looking out for. For anyone wanting the best experience, or who are passionate about bird watching, these additions should not be missed out on!
- Night vision – Your birds will spend a lot of time in their bird box actually after sunset, which is obviously going to cause a problem for you, as if it is dark then you will be missing half the action! Look out for bird box cameras with IR LED lights as these will allow you to see what is happening through the night without disturbing your feathery friends. Some of the best bird box cameras will automatically fade into the night vision lights so that you won’t even notice the change that is occurring! This saves you having to fiddle with the settings at different times of the day.
- Sound – Not all bird box cameras actually come with a microphone for you to hear what is happening. There is nothing nicer than hearing the chirp of newborn chicks, so this is well worth considering if you have the budget for it!
- Wide-angle lens – For anyone not wanting to miss out on ANY of the action then you really must go for a camera with a wide-angle lens. This will allow you to see every corner of your bird box all the time!
- MicroSD slot for additional storage – This gives you the flexibility as to where you store the data and videos that you are collecting. Not only that, but if you lose connection to your phone for some reason JUST at the moment you have been waiting for, then you know you will have a backup waiting on the memory card!
- Bird Box included – We found some bird box cameras that are actually sold with the bird box too! This saves you the hassle of having to make separate purchases if this is a new venture and having to actually fit the camera! These are obviously going to be more expensive but could definitely save you money in the long run! If the bird box is included then look out for ones that come with FSC certified timber.
- Colour images – Make sure to check whether the image is going to be black and white or colour. Most will now be colour but we would still recommend checking as you are going to get a much better image if it is in colour.
- Fixing bracket – If your bird box camera doesn’t come with the bird box itself then make sure to check whether it comes with a bracket so that it can be fixed to the inside of the bird box securely. This will need to be durable and strong so that you know it will take the disruption of the birds flying in and out of the bird box and moving around – plus it may even get the odd peck!
- Motion detection – This may not be something that interests you, but some of the bird box cameras actually come with motion detection so will only start recording when they sense this motion. You will still be able to access the camera to see what is happening all the time, but it saves you from missing out on any important moments when you are busy as you will be able to go back and watch the footage that has been taken during the day.
If you are a true bird lover and are wanting to make your garden a perfect bird sanctuary then why not consider a bird bath or even a bird aviary.
Best of the Rest
- True multi-species nestbox and with 3 option front panel
- 2 in 1 nestbox or included feeder option gives year-round viewing
- Plug-and-Play to your TV or suitable video/dvd recorder
- Made from 20 mm thick naturally durable FSC timber
- Suitable for a wide range of species
Last update on 2024-04-20 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What warranty will come with a bird box camera?
The warranty that comes with your bird box camera will really depend on the quality of the camera that you are looking to purchase. We found that this tends to vary from around 12 months up to 5 years, with the average being around 3 years. Look out for models that offer an extended warranty if the product is registered online!
Where should I position my bird box?
It is important to position your bird box high up in a tree to avoid the birds being at risk to any predators, usually around 3 metres is high enough, making sure that there is still a flight path to the entrance to the bird box. We would also recommend looking for somewhere that has shade over the box during the day, otherwise try to face the box between the north/east to avoid the strongest sunlight and winds.
When should I fit my bird box camera?
It is important to fit your bird box camera at a time of year when birds aren’t going to be nesting so as not to disturb them. This means that it is usually best to put up your bird box/bird box camera in the autumn, so that it is established during the winter and early spring when the birds are looking for somewhere to nest. Once your bird box camera is fitted, try to avoid disrupting the box too much so that your scent can leave the box and the birds know it is a safe place.
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