Got a bird lover in your life? They’re a bit weird, huh? But you still love them, even when they start talking about Sandpiper identification, the various Dark-eyed Junco morphs, or waiting for an Empidonax flycatcher to sing… 🙄.
Whether you want to encourage their bird obsession is up to you. But if a great gift for a birder is on your list, we’ve got you covered.
Here are 10 gift ideas (plus a bonus idea!) that will make the bird people in your life feel seen, loved, and appreciated.
1. A Colorflock T-shirt, Sweatshirt, or Mug
Colorflock goes where other bird apparel companies don’t, with a whole lineup of hand-drawn designs that span many different species from warbler to woodpecker.
Got a spouse who wishes for White-throated Sparrows? Or a partner who prefers Pileated Woodpeckers? Colorflock has the goods for you. With hundreds of bird shirts, bird sweatshirts, and bird mugs representing over 30 different species (and new ones added each week), you’ll find just the bird for your bird person.
And if you aren’t sure what bird will brighten your beau’s bureau, grab a gift card and let them choose.
As a bonus, 10% of Colorflock’s gross profits go to protecting North American bird habitats, so you’ll win some extra brownie points for your environmental consciousness.
2. Wingspan Board Game
Wingspan is the board game for bird lovers. It features over 170 different North American bird species, and expansion packs can add even more to your avian menagerie. Players compete to attract the most and best birds to their wildlife preserver.
This game features stunning artwork and is sure to keep your bird loving friends and family occupied. Just be careful, even non-birders will find themselves unconsciously identifying Yellow-rumped Warblers after playing.
Buy it at Target for or on Amazon for $44.99.
3. A new pair of binoculars
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Most birds are small, and the ones we birders care about most tend to avoid letting us humans get close. So, get your birder closer with the gift of “glass”. Binoculars are an essential gift for any birder, even those who just watch backyard birds at the feeder.
Prices for a good pair can range from a couple hundred dollars to thousands, so do your research and find the binos for your budget. We’ve listed a few highly-rated birding binoculars in various price ranges below, or you can browse the Audubon Binocular Guide for more detailed research.
- Top of the Line: Swarovski EL 8.5x42 - $2632 at swarovskioptik.com
- High End: Maven B.12 - $950 at mavenbuilt.com
- Budget: Celestron Nature DX ED - $210 at celestron.com
4. A field guide for bird identification
Nothing goes with a pair of binos like a field guide. Field guides help birders identify different bird species by illustrating, often beautifully, the various permutations of look-alike species. If your birder has a hard time distinguishing sparrows from titmice, then this will go a long way.
But even if they’re a pro birder with many different field guides, they’ll still probably appreciate something up to date. We recommend Sibley’s Field Guides, several of which are linked below.
- Sibley Birds East - $12.99 at Amazon
- Sibley Birds West - $12.89 at Amazon
- The Sibley Guide to Birds - $22.49 at Amazon
5. Bird socks from Bird Collective 
Stuff that stocking with songbird socks. Bird Collective has a fun and festive line of shoe liners covered in birds of all shapes and sizes. Like Colorflock, Bird Collective is committed to helping protect and preserve bird habitats across the globe, so buying some bird socks won’t only warm your friend’s feet, but also their heart.
6. A new bird feeder
I know, I know. Another feeder?? While it may seem like the three they already have is enough, there’s generally always room for more bird feeders. Different species of birds like to eat different types of food from different types of feeders.
For example, American Goldfinches prefer Nyjer thistle from a mesh tube feeder, while Northern Cardinals prefer black oil sunflower from a platform feeder. If your birding boo already has a classic tube feeder, consider adding a platform feeder or even a suet feeder to attract different types of birds.
We’ve listed some popular choices below. We also recommend Birdacious Bark Butter, a special paste made of nuts, seeds, and chili peppers. The birds love it, the squirrels don’t!
- Squirrel Buster Mini Seed Tub - $37.79 at Amazon
- Platform Feeder - $78.99 at Birds Choice
- Birdacious Bark Butter - $16.99 at Wild Birds Unlimited
7. A bird bath or bird house
Birds don’t just gotta eat. They gotta sleep (and bathe) too! Birds love water features, both for drinking and bathing. Classic bird baths are always good, but consider something that has a flowing water feature, as the sound of water can attract birds, such as warblers and flycatchers, that prefer not to visit feeders.
Similarly, bird houses can attract cavity-nesting birds like Eastern Bluebirds, various Wrens, and Swallows. These birds generally avoid feeders, but they love a cozy place to stay.
- Drip-or-Mist Bird Bath - $59.99 at Wild Birds Unlimited
- Eastern Bluebird Nesting Box - $59.99 at Wild Birds Unlimited
- Hummer Helper Hummingbird Nest Material - $14.99 at Wild Birds Unlimited
8. A private birding tour
If you’re going for the big one for that very special birder in your life, consider a private, guided birding tour. There are numerous companies and individuals who know the lay of the land in most areas of the world. Find somebody close to home, or send your giftee far afoot on a trip to a birding paradise like Costa Rica. This might be the most expensive option on our list, but it could create some once-in-a-lifetime memories.
For more info on birding tours, check out FatBirder.com. You’ll find a list of companies that provide bird tours for each state in the USA, plus many other countries in the world.
9. A Wild Birds Unlimited gift card
Wild Birds Unlimited is a nationwide franchise selling bird feeders, bird food, and other bird goods. Check to see if there’s a Wild Birds Unlimited nearby, and grab a gift card. That way, you don’t have to do the hard work of figuring out all this bird stuff, and you can leave it to the pros.
You can buy WBU gift cards here from $25 to $200, and you can also sign up your birder for a Daily Savings Club membership ($25 per year) that entitles them to 15% off food and frequent specials.
10. Make a donation in their honor
Over 1 in 4 birds have disappeared from North America since 1970, mostly due to habitat loss. If the birder on your list prioritizes conservation and doesn’t need another gadget or gizmo, consider making a donation to organizations that protect and preserve bird habitats. Some examples below:
- National Audubon Society
- Hawkwatch International
- American Bird Conservancy
- The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
BONUS. An uninterrupted day to go birding
This may not seem like much, but it could go a long way for a grand total of $0.00. If your spouse or partner loves birding but has a hard time getting away from… you know… life, then this could be the perfect gift. Just drop them off at the park or wildlife preserve for a day and let ‘em go wild. Bonus points if they have young kids. They’ll never stop thanking you for this one.
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So there you have it, 10 + 1 great gifts for bird people all the way from free to fancy. Choose something from this list, and you're bound to have a happy birder on your hands.