When temperatures plummet and your birdbath turns into a solid block of ice, birds still need access to clean, liquid water. The good news?
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Why Birds Need Liquid Water in Winter
Most of us have seen birds eating snow. It’s a strange sight, but there’s a good reason for it.
Birds need water to drink, and in the winter, water is often in short supply. Snow is a great way for birds to get the hydration they need.
When birds eat snow, they are really just looking for water. The snow helps to keep them hydrated and provides them with the water they need to survive the winter months.
Snow takes up more space than fresh water. Imagine melting a large glass of snow on the counter.
It doesn’t make much bird bath water, does it? Birds would have to consume large amounts of snow in order to get a small amount of hydration.
In the winter, birds have fewer places to access water in the wild. Puddles and ponds freeze over.
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Streams dry up, freeze, or become so muddy that it is difficult to access the water.
Simple Sun-Powered Tricks to Thaw Your Setup
Option 1: Place your birdbath in a sunny spot. If possible, try to place it in an area that will receive direct sunlight for most of the day.
The sun’s rays will help to keep the water warm and prevent it from freezing. Just be sure to check the water level periodically and top it off as needed..
This is a straightforward little solar fountain that you can place directly into your bird bath and power without an outlet. Powered by 2.5 w, the moving water keeps the bird bath from freezing down to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
Heated bird baths are perfect for winter. These baths have a thermostat and prevent the water from freezing.
Keep in mind, this isn’t going to be a hot tub, but it could potentially save many birds from perishing. In winter, birds will eat snow to stay hydrated, but if there’s no snow around, yet the temperatures are too cold for flowing water, they will have a hard time staying hydrated.
These can be solar powered.
DIY Alternatives When the Bath Won’t Cooperate
In the winter, a heated bird bath will prevent water from freezing, but that’s also an added cost for you. You can also just watch the water closely to make sure it doesn’t freeze and change it out to make sure it doesn’t get too cold.
Reliable Heated Options and Extra Tips for Success
Option 3: Invest in a heated birdbath. Heated birdbaths are specifically designed to keep the water from freezing over.
They come in various styles and price points, so you’re sure to find one that fits your needs. Just be sure to read the reviews before making your purchase.
A birdbath heater is a safe way to access water all winter long. Some birds will migrate south for the winter, but plenty of bird species spend all year in one general location.
These birds will absolutely use a heated bird bath! There are heated bird baths available, but don’t feel like you have to spend the extra money.
Regularly changing the bird bath’s water to keep it thawed is plenty.
Winter water when the bath freezes
| Spec | What our writers say |
|---|---|
| Why snow fails | Birds would need large amounts of snow for a little water |
| Wild water | Puddles and ponds freeze; streams dry, freeze, or turn muddy |
| Sunny placement | Direct sun most of the day helps keep water from freezing |
| Solar fountain | 2.5 W moving water holds to about 20°F without an outlet |
| Heated baths | A thermostat keeps water open; it is not a hot tub |
| No heater | Watch the water and change it out before it freezes |
| Who uses it | Year-round residents will use a heated bath |
