Birds nesting in your garden can be a real delight. The sound of birds and chicks filling your garden and watching them fly to and fro can be a lovely way to spend time in your outdoor space. However, you are actually rather limited in the amount of time that you will actually be able to spend watching your local wildlife, due to them spending a good part of their time hidden away in a bird box! This is where a bird box camera can be the perfect addition to your garden as they will allow you a “bird’s eye” view of what is happening in the hidden depths of your bird box!
Whether you are an avid bird/wildlife lover, have children that are wanting to learn more about their local wildlife, or just want the delight of watching eggs hatch in your garden then a bird box camera can be there to help! They will provide you with a fantastic insight into what happens in your bird box so it can be perfect for anyone that is just wanting to enjoy a closer look at their local wildlife or even for if you are wanting to complete research into the birds in your garden.
There are many different aspects to consider when looking to purchase a bird box camera, from the power types to the size of the bird box camera that is going to be best for you and your garden. We have included some of the best bird box cameras available for you to choose from, along with an information buyers guide on all that you need to know.
Best Pick – Green Feathers Wildlife Wi-Fi Bird Box Full HD 1080p
- WiFi Connectivity: We developed the first bird box camera on the market with built-in WiFi, so you can install the camera in a bird box without running a network cable back to your house.
- Watch on Your Smartphone & Tablet: Using our official Green Feathers app, you can watch live or recorded footage of nesting birds using an iOS or Android device.
- HD Video: Records pin-sharp, high-quality images in 1080p HD.
- Simple Setup: Connects directly to your mobile or tablet during setup so it’s simple to get up and running. Voice prompts from the camera helps you get connected quicker!
- Night Vision: Invisible infrared LEDs emit no glow and keep recording in dark bird boxes without disturbing the birds.
Last update on 2024-12-12 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
In A Hurry?
If you have seen birds scouting around the area looking for somewhere to nest then chances are you need to get moving on purchasing a bird box camera. It is always best to fit your bird box camera before birds start nesting, as after this point you will probably disrupt them and their nest if you try to fit a camera then! So if time is of the essence then get reading this essential part of the article.
Size
The first thing we would recommend checking for is the size of the bird box camera that you are looking at and whether this is even going to be compatible with your bird box (if you have one in mind already!). Your bird box camera not only needs to be small enough to fit in the bird box but it also needs to leave enough space available for the birds to actually fit inside. Also, if it is a bird box that has been used for nesting before, you don’t want the camera to be so large that the birds sense something different and then look around for a new location!
Some models that we found are as small as 7cm so will be able to fit perfectly in most bird boxes without taking up too much space!
TOP TIP: Some models are going to be much larger but we found that the best way to deal with this is to purchase a bird box specifically designed to have cameras fitted in them. These will usually have an extra “box” on the back to store the camera with a hole into the main “living area” of the bird box so that the camera can still look in at the birds without taking up too much space!
Power Options
The second thing that you are going to have to consider when trying to choose a bird box camera is the different power options that are going to be available to you.
Almost all bird box cameras that you will find are going to be powered by mains electricity. We did find a couple of models that were battery-powered, but you are taking the risk of keeping the battery charged and missing key moments in your bird box! You don’t want to miss the first chick hatching just because you’ve run out of battery! The real downside to a bird box camera being mains powered is that they are going to need to be close enough to a power source for this to work – which isn’t always ideal for your birds as they tend to like to be in a quieter more isolated part of the garden! This means that it is important to check the length of cable that is going to come with your camera so that you can judge how far it can be positioned from the garden. Some come with cables up to around 10m which is going to give you more flexibility.
TOP TIP: If you choose to purchase a battery powered model then make sure to go for ones that offer a long battery life. Some models will be able to last a week or two weeks on one charge!
Wireless Connectivity?
Wireless technology has come a long way in recent years – so why not use this to your benefit with your bird box camera?
Wireless bird box cameras are going to be able to connect to your tablet, phone or smart tv with ease so that you can see in real time what your feathered friends are getting up to and any given time. Not only this, but it makes it much easier to record and look back at what your birds have been doing! This means that you are never going to miss an important moment – because if you do you can just look back through the recordings and watch it all again! Wireless bird box cameras are usually going to be a little more expensive, so this is worth considering if you are working to a budget. Not only that but they are going to have to connect to your WiFi to then be able to send the footage onto your device. If you have a larger garden then you are going to need a pretty strong WiFi connection for it to still be effective at the bottom of your garden! However, if you can find a way to manage this then we feel you will get a lot more enjoyment from your camera due to the footage being so accessible not just for you but for all the family!
That being said, there are many benefits to wired cameras as well. These models will have a long wire (sometimes up to 40m) which will then need to be connected to a recording device to broadcast and save the footage generated. This will usually involve using a television, laptop or other recording device depending on what you have available! This is a much more reliable option if you feel that your WiFi is less than predictable at the best of times!
Regardless of whether you opt for a wireless or a wired model, we would recommend just making sure that you have a device that is going to be compatible with them. Whether this be an app on your phone for a wireless model or a recording device for your wired option! Most manufacturers will provide a list of devices that they are going to be compatible with!
Video Quality
It is so important to check the video quality that comes with your bird box camera. Some of the cameras that we found have quite poor quality cameras that are going to leave you not able to see nearly enough footage! Some of the best bird box cameras actually come with HD cameras so you will get a much better picture of what is going on inside your bird box.
Not only this, but we love models that have “fish-eye” cameras that will give you a much better angle of all the corners of your bird box so that you aren’t missing any exciting developments for your winged family!
TOP TIP: Look out for bird box cameras that come with night vision! You will often find that most of the exciting events in your bird box happen at dawn or dusk, so why miss out on these moments just because your camera isn’t up to the task? Cameras with IR LED lights will allow you to have a good vision of what is happening no matter the time of day!
Best Bird Box Cameras Accessories
It is rare that you will find a bird box camera that comes on its own! Most models are going to come with other parts to make both the fitting and using of your camera much easier! This is a good sign that the manufacturer has thought of everything to offer you not just the best value for money but also the best experience with their product!
We found these accessories included in many products:
- HDMI cable
- App subscription or even better a free app for viewing the footage
- Cabling for wired options
- Bird spotting book
- Fitting bracket
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 2024-12-12 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
The Best Bird Box Cameras Features
Bird spotting and spotting the best bird box camera can be equally difficult, which is why we have included some of the features that we found in the best models so that you know what to look out for.
- Microphone – We particularly like bird box cameras that come with a microphone so that you can listen to all that is happening in your bird box as well as watch the footage! The chirp of newborn chicks is not to be missed if you can avoid it!
- MicroSD Card – Modern bird box cameras will come with either a slot for a storage card or may even come with the card included. This allows footage to be saved straight to the card so that you can be sure not to miss anything!
- Colour images – Most bird box cameras are going to offer colour footage but we did find some models that were still black and white so this is definitely worth checking for before you purchase!
- Bird Box – There are some bird box cameras that actually already come fitted in a bird box. These do tend to be more expensive as you are also purchasing the bird box but actually will save you a considerable amount of hassle trying to fit the camera and it means that the camera and bird box are designed perfectly to leave the right amount of space etc so that the camera will be easy to remove without disturbing the birds.
- Motion detection – We particularly like bird box cameras that come with motion detection. You have to think that there is going to be a large amount of time that your birds aren’t even in the nest and even when eggs have been laid they are going to have an incubation period. Motion detection will usually alert you (or at the very least start recording) when something is happening, so that you don’t have to watch through hours or footage to see the interesting parts!
Best of the Rest
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Frequently Asked Questions
What guarantee comes with bird box cameras?
Most bird box cameras are going to come with a guarantee between 3 and 5 years. However, we did find some models that only came with a 12 month warranty, which isn’t long when you think you will get one (possibly two) nesting seasons out of that!
Where is it best to position a bird box?
Bird boxes need to be positioned around 3-4 metres from the ground if you are wanting your local birds to feel safe nesting in this location. They also need a clear flight path at the entrance and to have shade over the box in the middle of the day to avoid them overheating. It is always worth considering whether they are close to any fencing or walls that cats/foxes/other predators could climb up as this is going to be off putting for most birds!
Can a bird box camera only be used in a bird box?
No! Most bird box cameras will be compatible with a wide range of dens and huts suitable for all sorts of wildlife such as hedgehogs, foxes and badgers. The one thing to consider is that due to their small size, they could be more prone to damage with larger wildlife!
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