Fresh water is the fastest way to bring more birds into your yard — and this one gives them a place to drink and splash that's pretty enough you'll want it where you can actually see it.

The Cardinal Ceramic Hanging Bird Bath is a glazed ceramic basin, 12 inches across, finished in vivid red with an embossed bird-and-blossom pattern running around both the inner and outer rim. The bottom is textured, which matters more than it sounds — wet ceramic is slick, and texture gives small feet something to grip. The basin depth is sized for songbirds, so they can wade and bathe without getting in over their heads.

It hangs from a three-strand black chain with a loop at the top, so you can put it wherever birds already feel safe: off a shepherd's hook, a porch beam, a sturdy branch near cover. Made for outdoor use, and attractive enough to bring inside as a decorative bowl.

Details

• Type: Hanging bird bath
• Material: Glazed ceramic
• Dimensions: 12 in. (D) × 12 in. (W) × 14 in. (H)
• Weight: 4.05 lbs
• Mounting: Hanging — three-strand chain with top loop, included
• Basin: Textured bottom, songbird-appropriate depth
• Best for: Songbirds, for drinking and bathing
• Use: Outdoor use; also suitable for indoor display
• Sold as: Single bath

Questions people ask

How deep should a bird bath be? Shallow. Most songbirds want an inch or two of water and a gentle slope — go deeper and they simply won't use it. This basin is shaped for that.

Where should I hang it? Within about ten feet of shrubs or branches, so birds have cover to dart into. Avoid hanging it directly under a feeder, where seed hulls and shells will foul the water.

How often does the water need changing? Every two to three days in warm weather. A quick scrub with a stiff brush keeps algae from taking hold.

Will it attract birds a feeder won't? Yes. Water pulls in species that never touch seed — warblers, thrushes, orioles — which is why a bath is often the single best addition to a yard that already has feeders.