The Ultimate Gift Guide for Bird Lovers: Unique Gifts for Birders and Birdwatchers [Updated for 2025]
Brett KarleyThoughtful things for people who notice the details.
Before we get into it, one quick thing: I don’t earn affiliate fees for anything on this list. These are simply items I use, love, and recommend because they make life better, either out in the field or in those in-between moments when nature surprises you and the world opens a little.
Birders love details. Bird lovers love gifts with stories behind them.
The best gifts aren’t gadgets, they’re the things people quietly want but would never buy for themselves. Whether you're searching for gifts for birdwatchers, unique bird lover gifts, or something meaningful for someone just starting to notice the natural world, this guide is built with care for 2025.
Nat's 1500 | EVA Insulated Rain Boots
Price: $66.00
Purchase Here
These boots are a game-changer. They let you walk through swamps, flooded rivers, and marshes—places you couldn't reach before. Completely waterproof and made from a single piece, they come with a removable insulated lining. In winter, they keep you warm (I've been cozy in a foot and a half of snow for hours), and you can remove the liner in warmer weather to avoid overheating. One extra recommendation: grab a pair of insoles for added support, as they don't have much built-in.

Nat's 1590 | Ultra Light EVA Boots with Thermal Liner (Upgrade)
Price: $126.00
Purchase Here
If you're looking for a bit more, these are your next best bet. They're lighter in weight, and the insulation is of higher quality and functionality. The shape of the boot is also more comfortable. Again, I'd throw some insoles into these for extra support.

Kowa YF II 8x30 Binoculars
Price: $149.00
Purchase Here
This is a killer entry-level binocular that's totally old-school in design—Porro prism style. This classic look is how binoculars used to be made. Kowa is renowned for their precision optics and is known for having some of the best scopes in the world. These binoculars are fog-proof and waterproof. I'd be happy to use them myself, but a newer birder would especially love receiving these as a gift. Use code BIRDCLUB15 for 15% off your orders.

Kowa BD II 8x42 XD Binoculars (Upgrade)
Price: $499.00
Purchase Here
For an upgrade choice, these binoculars are top-notch! They transport you into the trees alongside the birds, letting you see details usually reserved for still images after you're out of the field. This is a highly desired step up from entry-level binoculars and will make anyone remotely interested in nature fall in love with birding. Use code BIRDCLUB15 for 15% off your order.

"Owls of the Eastern Ice" by Jonathan C. Slaght
Price: $16.69 Hardcover
Purchase Here
This book blew me away. It explores a part of the world and a bird I knew nothing about. The adventure, peril, nature, and science in this book made it a page-turner for me. I can't believe the amount of hardship Jonathan endured in the name of ornithology. We're lucky to have this book from him.

"What It's Like to Be a Bird" by David Allen Sibley
Price: $11.62 Hardcover
Purchase Here
This book is great to have around. It's fun and easy to read, filled with fascinating facts and little anecdotes about birds, species, and behaviors. It's something you can keep coming back to over and over, or just flip through and read parts here and there. I love seeing it on my shelf.

2026 Calendar by Maltry Creative
Price: $40.00
Purchase Here
There are many bird artists out there, but not many with truly unique styles. These birds stand out from the rest, and you won't see any others like them. Think about your favorite bird and the things you love about it—all of these paintings and illustrations capture that essence, but with an otherworldly quality, like seeing them again for the first time. Hannah Maltry affectionately refers to them as "vaguely spooky," which I love. It's a super cool aesthetic that captures those feelings when you're alone in misty woods looking for birds. The calendar is also smartly designed so you can detach each month's archival-quality print and frame them. Oh, and she's also making ornaments, which you can't go wrong with.


Custom Wool Bird from Wool Wings
Price: around $220.00
Purchase Here
These are some of the most lifelike, lovingly made bird sculptures I’ve seen. Each piece is handmade from wool by Julia at Wool Wings, with every feather and marking carefully felted to match the real species. The result looks like a tiny bird has quietly landed in your home, only softer and kinder. It’s the perfect way to honor someone’s favorite bird, a lifer, or a place they miss.
This is the sort of gift people remember for years, and proudly display or show to everyone who walks into the room. Wool Wings works in a realistic, natural-material style with no plastic, and that attention to materials and craft is exactly what makes the piece feel special rather than just decorative.


Note: the shop carries very limited stock, and listings can be one‑off or quickly taken.It usually requires a custom order, which can take some time because it's only one person making them.
Mountain Bluebird Beanie by Bird Club
Price: $48.00
Purchase Here
The first time I heard about Mountain Bluebirds, I couldn’t believe the color. When I finally saw one, the blue was unreal—electric, almost glowing—and fading into that clean white like the sky breaking open after a storm. I wanted to make something that felt like that moment, and this beanie is it.
It’s knit from soft, sustainable materials and dyed to echo that impossible blue you only get from a Mountain Bluebird in good light. It’s warm, comfortable, and subtle enough for everyday wear, while still carrying a little bit of that magic you get when a rare bird catches you off guard. A perfect gift for anyone who loves birds, color, or just being outside.

Screech Owl House from Nature Niche
Price: $93.75
Purchase Here
If you live near woods or fields with trees, anyone would love to have one of these. You put it up on a tree, pole, or side of a barn, and these little screech owls—which you might not have even known live near you—will hopefully set up a nest in the box. And if by chance a screech owl doesn't come, American Kestrels and Northern Flickers also use this box. There's nothing like knowing that owls are living in your yard—so, so fun. Also, screech owls make a very pleasant trilling call.

Traveler's Notebook from Traveler's Company
Price: $60.00
Purchase Here
I love this notebook—I love notebooks in general—but for some reason, I don't always write in all of them. This one, however, I use all the time. It's fun to pack and bring with me. I love the shape and the feel of it. The best part is that you get blank pages where you can draw, write, make notes, and when you fill it up, you get a refill. Slide the refill in, and you can save all your notebooks while continuing to use the cover with the bookmark and elastic band.


Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils
Price: $36.80
Purchase Here
Anyone who has a notebook with blank pages will want some colored pencils to use in it. Even if you're not "good at drawing," you should try using colored pencils. When you see birds, try drawing them—try sketching some of the features you see out in nature. Even if you're not great at drawing, it's still fun. You can even draw once you get home after looking at some of the photos you took in the field. Nice pencils are something people might not buy for themselves, which always makes a great gift.

Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder
Price: $99.00
Purchase Here
These are having a moment right now, and rightfully so. They're giving people a view of nature like they've never seen before, right in their backyard. Birds they didn't know lived there, details, colors, types of birds they didn't even know existed—straight from their backyard to their phones. My mom sends me photos when some of her favorites come or when new species visit, and I love getting those messages. Pro Tip: Fill it with black oil sunflower seeds and dried mealworms to attract the biggest variety of birds. You don't need the other stuff mixed in.

Gift Wrap and Stationery by Alexia Claire
Price: Varies
Purchase Here
This stuff is beautiful and has so much character—so fun to look at. I'd be absolutely pumped to receive a gift wrapped in this gift wrap or to have some of the many other items she offers. You can gift her products as part of a gift or things to accompany a gift—all sorts of different items, and all of them are great.

The Dark Mode Corduroy Logo Cap from Bird Club
Price: $42.00
Purchase Here
Now, I thought about not including any of my own stuff here to give the most impartial list possible, but after returning from the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival in early November, I've found that this item is something a lot of people want and appreciate. It's corduroy made from recycled bottles and has our Mandarin duck logo embroidered on the front. It has a flat brim and is unstructured—just a classic, clean look. People ask me about this hat all the time when I wear it.

Birds Script Crewneck Sweatshirt by Bird Club
Price: $106.00
Purchase Here
This is one of those pieces people come back to tell me they love. The Birds Script Crewneck has this clean, timeless look — simple at first glance, but with the kind of thoughtful details that birders appreciate. It’s made from heavyweight organic cotton with a soft, structured feel, the kind you wear for years. The script embroidery gives it a classic, almost collegiate vibe, but in a way that still feels modern and understated.
What I like most is how wearable it is. You can dress it up, layer it under a jacket, or throw it on for a cold morning in the field. It’s warm without being bulky, durable without feeling stiff, and cozy enough that people often tell me it becomes their “everyday” sweatshirt. A great gift for anyone who wants something high-quality, comfortable, and bird-forward without being loud about it.

Ceramic Hot Shoe Covers by Catbird Creations
Price: $55
Purchase Here
These are unexpectedly delightful gifts you can give a birder who loves photography. They’re tiny ceramic birds that slide right into the hot shoe on your camera, which is that little slot on top that most people never use while they’re out taking photos. Instead of leaving it empty, you get a miniature bird riding along with you on every outing.
They’re handmade, adorable, and full of personality. And because each one is ceramic, no two look exactly alike. It’s one of those small, thoughtful gifts that gives you a smile every time you pick up your camera. A perfect stocking stuffer or add-on gift for anyone who spends weekends chasing birds with a lens. There aren't a lot of them, so they might be tough to get a hold of.


Birds of the World Subscription
Price: $49/year (individual subscription)
Purchase Here
Birds of the World is a product from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which is the gold standard in worldwide ornithological information. Anyone who wants to learn about birds beyond their own borders needs this subscription. The information is gold—over 11,000 species with 1.5 billion eBird observations and 70 million pieces of media in the Macaulay Library. It's like a field guide for the world that you always have access to, whether on your phone or your computer. The information is invaluable; it will make you a better birder, a better traveler, and make your time outside much more fun. It's the ultimate resource for expanding your birding knowledge.

Bird Club Gift Card
Price: Starting at $25
Purchase Here
Sometimes it's tough to pin down exactly what a person might like, especially if they already have a lot or have a particularly curated sense of style. With the Bird Club Gift Card, you communicate what's important: quality, sustainability, and style. You also show the thought you put into the gift by introducing them to Bird Club. They're then free to look around and pick their favorite things—a win-win. It's the perfect way to let them choose something they'll truly love.

Each of these gifts brings a little more joy to daily life and a little more magic to time outdoors. Whether you’re shopping for an expert or a brand-new birder, I hope this guide makes the search easier. And if you have questions or need guidance, just reach out. Happy gifting!
About Bird Club
Bird Club is a premium, sustainable lifestyle brand built by a lifelong birder who wanted clothing that matched the way birding feels, intentional, curious, crafted, and a little magical. We don’t do AI, clipart, or shortcuts. We design everything ourselves and build from the fabric up. That means slower development, fewer mistakes, better materials, and pieces that last.
Our collection of eco-friendly birding gear, including ultra-cozy hoodies, organic cotton rugby shirts, sustainable ornithology t-shirts, and recycled hats, is designed to make everyone look great while feeling super comfortable, whether at home, in the field, or out on the town.
Every piece reflects the hidden world that opens up when you start paying attention. And every purchase supports conservation. Because loving birds and protecting their habitats should go hand in hand.