With the best bird box camera, keen bird watchers can capture incredibly close images and videos of their avian visitors. Since we can't spend every second watching for our feathered friends, a bird box camera is the ideal solution. It allows us to capture images of the kinds of birds that would be scared off by human presence.
There are tons of bird box camera options out there – so we've made things easier with this guide. Our team tests all types of cameras, including bird box cameras and bird feeder cameras, and we've used our findings to inform our picks for this list. We've looked at image quality, ease of setup, durability, streaming options and more.
Read on as we get into our top picks of the best bird box cameras – we've put together an easy-to-navigate list up top before getting into the guide proper.
Tom is a regular contributor to DCW, an experienced freelancer who specialises in art, photography, design and travel. He was previously editor of Professional Photography magazine and has lent his expertise to a range of other titles.
The quick list
Best bird box camera for streaming
If you're not super tight on budget, this bird box camera puts out a Full HD footage that can be saved to a microSD card or streamed live.
Best smart birdbox
This kit comes with a wooden nesting box, with a wifi-connected camera that allows you to view what's going on in the box 24 hours a day.
Read more below
Best value
You can't store your footage, only watch it live, nor is it quite as high-res as our number one pick, providing 700 TV lines, which roughly approximates a resolution of 976 x 582, but it's the best for value in our list.
Best for a wired connection
If you don't want to mess around with apps, or just want to save some cash, then this wired alternative to the first two options on our list will be up your street.
Best high-resolution
If you're looking to get high-quality footage of birds, the Nestera Birdhouse with camera is a good bet – it captures 2560×1440p video.
Best for kids
It's not a bird box, but with superb app integration and educational features, this all-in-one bird feeder camera is ideal for kids and families. The 5MP stills quality is pretty good too!
The best bird box cameras in 2024
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Best bird box camera for streaming
If you're not super-tight on budget, we'll make it simple for you. This is hands-down the best bird box camera on the market today. With HD resolution, you'll get a crisp and clear picture, and with Wi-Fi connectivity, you'll be able to stream footage for your iOS or Android phone or tablet. If you want to record your footage, you can add a microSD card (not included) up to 128GB. And there's motion detection tech included, so you can set the camera to only start recording when stuff starts happening.
This kit also includes a purpose-built bird box for your camera, along with mounting screws for securing it. As you'd expect, the camera fits perfectly inside. The 2.8mm wide-angle lens provides a 110-degree field of view. And there's an in-built microphone for recording audio too, as well as four night-vision LEDs, offering a 1m night vision range, and a 10m power cable. In short, you have everything you need here to watch or record bird life in excellent detail.
Do note that Green Feathers sell a variety of kits with very slightly different options - so do check you order the set-up you need.
Best smart birdbox with camera
This is a simple but smart birdbox, that allows you to monitor the what is going on inside the nesting box 24 hours a day, using an app on the phone. The wooden box is designed for attracting blue jays - hence, perhaps, the teal lime coloring on the walls - but it would undoubtedly do for other smaller birds such as blue tits.
The camera is essentially a 1080P home security camera, which on its own would cost around US$10. But this does provide some decent specs - with 2.4GHz wifi connectivity, and the ability for it to be powered via a USB lead from outside the box. The camera also comes supplied with a 32GB microSD card, but this can be upgraded to an 128GB card should you need to. You can also upgrade to online storage of clips (a year's subscription for 7-day backup costs US$39.99).
Best cheap bird box camera
If the first option our list is too rich for your blood, then here's a more affordable alternative from the same manufacturer. So what don't you get with this model? Well, this camera doesn't have a built-in mic, so you can't use it to capture audio. You can't store your footage, only watch it live. And nor is it quite as high-res as our number one pick, providing 700 TV lines, which roughly approximates to a resolution of 976 x 582.
That's still pretty detailed, though, and fine for personal use. Plus you still get a bird box to stick your camera, Wi-Fi connectivity, night vision LEDs, a 110-degree field of view, and the ability to stream to your phone or tablet. Plus you have a choice of a 10m or 20m cable. So overall, we'd say this is the best bird box camera for value.
Best wired bird box camera
Not bothered about wireless connectivity? If you don't want to mess around with apps, or just want to save some cash, then this wired alternative to the first two options on our list will be up your street. This tiny camera sits in your bird box and connects straight to your TV via the included three-way cable. That will allow you to view live footage from the comfort of your sofa, in the same 700TVI resolution as the number two choice on our list.
Measuring just 40mm across, this tiny camera fits perfectly even the smallest garden bird boxes. And you get night vision and a wide angle (110 degree) lens to make sure you don't miss out on any of the action.
Best high-resolution bird box camera
Looking for picture resolution that's higher than HD? This birdhouse camera from Nestera offers the highest level of pixels on our list, although you'll pay a little more for the privilege.
The 4.0MP sensor captures 2560×1440p video, allowing you to get up close as your garden birds build their nest, lay their eggs and raise their newly-hatched chicks. The camera's motion sensor can be set to automatically record when movement is detected. Night vision LEDs produce excellent footage in darkness while the integrated mic lets you listen in on nesting birds as well.
There's Wi-Fi connectivity to stream footage to your phone or tablet, and you can add a microSD card up to 128GB (not included) if you want to save your video. This camera comes with a removable front panel and includes 28mm and 32mm hole protection plates, translucent windows, and a tray to keep the camera and wires away from the nesting chamber.
Best bird box camera for kids
The Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder is not technically a bird box camera, but it is oneof the best bird cam set-ups we've tested – and that's largely down to the smoothness of its app experience. Once you've got the camera rigged up and the app working on your phone, you can dive right in and enjoy a satisfying 'ping' notification every time the camera spots an avian visitor. Then, you can dive in and enjoy the automatically captured 5MP stills, with the AI-powered assistant on hand to identify the species and give you a few facts about their feeding and nesting habits. It's this educational functionality that makes this one of the best bird box cameras for kids, as it's great for teaching little one about the species that thrive in their back gardens.
In our testing we did find the automated detection system could get caught out sometimes, with very obvious birds sitting squarely in the middle of the feeder despite nothing being detected. Also, while the 5MP stills are consistently pretty decent, the 720p video has a tendency to be a little juddery – a super-fast Wi-Fi connection is helpful.
Read our Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder review to find out more.
How to choose a bird box camera
When you're choosing a bird box camera, it's worth looking at the different types on offer. Some come as complete kits, including the camera itself, and a ready-made bird house in which to place it, and in some cases a feeder to entice the birds over. Others come with just the camera included, under the assumption you have a birdhouse already.
Different bird box cameras also offer varying levels of functionality. It's worth looking at both the stills and video resolution to get an idea of the quality of photos and clips you're going to get. While these cameras aren't going to be on the level of the latest mirrorless cameras in terms of quality, you should still at the very least be able to get a decent image out of them. Ideally you want at least 4MP for stills, and HD 720p for video – though as you may have seen in our guide, we have included some affordable options that come in below this.
Something important to note: the availability of bird box cameras tends to vary quite a bit between territories, and stock fluctuates. We've aimed to include a broadly available selection of options in this guide, but some entries may not always be available in all territories.
How we test bird box cameras
Usually, when we're reviewing the latest mirrorless cameras, we take them to our lab to conduct scientifically controlled testing of resolution, dynamic range, image noise, etc. With bird box cameras, however, the process is a little simpler – we believe the best way to test specialized cameras like these is to use them out in the real world and see how they perform.
So, our reviewers set up bird box cameras in their gardens or wherever else – taking note of how easy this is to do – and look at how successful they are at capturing images of birds. We assess the image and video quality the cameras capture. If they have automated features (e.g. automatic capturing when a bird appears), we test how well these features work. We download the companion apps to see how they perform and test out live streaming if that's an option.
Read more about how we test and review at Digital Camera World.
FAQs
How do I attract birds to my bird box camera?
If you want to attract birds to your bird box camera, it's a good idea to put out water and food to give them some incentive to come to your garden in the first place. Don't be afraid to mix things up – if a certain type of food doesn't seem to be working, switch it out for something different (e.g. swap seeds for suet balls). A key thing to remember is patience – birds likely won't flock to your bird box straight away. Resist the temptation to go over and fiddle with the box's setup – the more you stay away, the more comfortable the birds will be around the box. It can be a long wait - as even if successful, nesting boxes can take several seasons before they are actually used!
How do bird box cameras work?
Bird box cameras work in a number of different ways – as we've seen in this guide. At its core, a bird box camera is made up of the same key components as any digital camera: a lens to focus light, and an imaging sensor to convert that light into a readable image. Where they will differ is in how they store or transmit their footage. Some will send it directly to a compatible smart device, while others can record to a physically inserted memory card (usually microSD card, usually sold separately).
Some bird box cameras simply record continuously until you switch them off or the battery dies, but it's also common for bird box cameras to be triggered by a motion detector, in order to save on battery and memory.
How do I keep squirrels away from my bird box camera?
Squirrels are often the bane of any birding enthusiast's existence. They eat a lot of the same foods as birds, and will often make their way into a feeder, which will scare away the birds. While there isn't a single foolproof way to stop them coming in, there are a number of methods you can try to keep them off.
Constructing a smaller opening for the front of the bird box, out of metal or a similar non-chewable material, can be a good deterrent, allowing only birds inside and not squirrels. You can also consider purchasing a squirrel baffle – a circular piece of metal designed to mount loosely on a roof or pole of a bird box, preventing them from gripping or balancing. It sounds silly, but it works!