The best bird traps, compared.
Top pick: Gonetre bird catching net – 3.6 from 4 ratings ties the highest star line, and the higher rating count breaks the tie with the MetS wooden cage. Best value: HFSAZJ one-door pigeon cage – Lowest shelf price in this set among listings with at least five ratings, at about £11.89 and 2.3 from 8. Updated October 2026.
A bird trap is a live-capture cage or a catching net on amazon.co.uk. It is not a hawk kite, ribbon, reflector or ultrasonic scarer. If you are choosing from this shelf, the listings are one-way pigeon cages, small wooden finch cages, and one polyethylene net. A closed mesh, a door that meets the frame, and a size that matches the bird are the checks the reviews support. Wild birds in Britain are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and in Northern Ireland by the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. Taking one needs a licence that names the species, the purpose and the method. It is not a catch rate, and no listing here is a licensed trap. The [bird trap buying guide](/hub/traps/bird-trap/sub/bird-trap-buying-guide) sets out design, size and licence fit.
A bird trap is a live-capture cage or a catching net on amazon.co.uk. It is not a hawk kite, ribbon, reflector or ultrasonic scarer.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What matters most on this shelf?
The Gonetre listing is a polyethylene catching net, not a rigid cage, at 360 g and £18.19, with 3.6 out of 5 from 4 ratings on amazon.co.uk. That ties the highest star line in this set and has more ratings than the other 3.6. The listing names sparrows, pigeons, budgies, quail and other small birds, and the bullets say it is portable and for outdoor use, but dimensions are not in the source file. The only written review, from the United States, says there were no instructions and that a video did not make the net work. A net used to take a wild bird is a restricted method under section 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 unless a licence allows it, so a marketplace title is not permission. The score follows the stars: it is not a mesh test and not a legal approval.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You are comparing a catching net with the cages in this set, and you will read the licence for your nation before you use a net on a wild bird.
Less suitable: You need a one-way pigeon cage with a stated size, or a listing whose reviews say the instructions were in the box.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a cage?
No. The listing is a bird catching net in polyethylene, style Classic, weight 360 g. The brand is Gonetre. Dimensions are not in the source file.
Which birds does the listing name?
Sparrows, pigeons, budgies, quail and other small birds. The bullets say it is portable and for outdoor use.
What does the review say about instructions?
The only review in the source, from the United States, says there were no instructions and that a video did not make the net work. The listing shows 3.6 out of 5 from 4 ratings.
The MetS wooden cage is listed at 36.8 × 16 × 22.5 cm and 757 g, with finch as the target species and indoor as the specific use, at £39.98 and 3.6 out of 5 from 2 ratings. The source file has no review text, so there is no written praise or complaint to set against that star line. The title mentions three traps and a calling area, while the specification table says one door, and the gap figure of 16 cm matches the width rather than a separate mesh measurement. The breed line also says parrot and cockatiel, which does not sit with a 16 cm width, and a feral pigeon does not fit the stated box. The star line is joint-highest only because two ratings average 3.6, not because anyone described a catch.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You are comparing a small indoor wooden cage sold for finches, and you will not treat two ratings as a test.
Less suitable: You need a pigeon cage, outdoor use, or a review that says whether birds stayed in.
Specifications
Common questions
Which birds does the listing name?
The target species field says finch. The breed recommendation says parrot and cockatiel. Specific use is indoor.
What size is the cage?
The listing gives 36.8 × 16 × 22.5 cm and 757 g. Gap size is listed as 16 cm. The title mentions three traps and a calling area. The door count in the table is 1.
Are there written reviews?
The listing shows 3.6 out of 5 from 2 ratings. The source file has no review text, so praise and complaints are not available.
The MetS wooden cage with a tray is listed at 30 × 16 × 22.5 cm and 703 g, with a removable tray and indoor as the specific use, at £37.98 and 2.9 out of 5 from 2 ratings. The only review text in the source is A+, with no further detail. The bullets say two doors and the specification table says one door and two levels, and the gap size is listed as 1.6 inches. Target species is simply bird, and at 16 cm wide the cage sits with the other small wooden boxes, not with the 40 cm and 60 cm pigeon cages. Two ratings and a two-letter review do not show whether a bird stayed inside.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a small indoor wooden cage with a tray, and you accept that the door count is inconsistent on the listing.
Less suitable: You are trapping feral pigeons outdoors, or you need a review that describes a catch.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say two doors or one?
The bullets say two doors. The specification table says number of doors 1 and number of levels 2. Gap size is listed as 1.6 inches.
Is it listed for outdoor use?
Specific use is indoor. Dimensions are 30 × 16 × 22.5 cm and weight is 703 g. A removable tray is in the included components. Target species is bird.
What do the reviews say?
The listing shows 2.9 out of 5 from 2 ratings. The only review text in the source is A+, with no complaint and no further detail.
The HFSAZJ cage is the cheapest listing in this set at £11.89, a wire box of 40 × 30 × 26 cm and 1.32 kg, sold as a one-door variant. amazon.co.uk shows 2.3 out of 5 from 8 ratings, the largest count here. UK reviewers say it arrives in pieces joined with cable ties and without instructions, and one says the door was the wrong size for the panels. Another says pigeons would not go in, and another says the cage is not big enough, while one reviewer said it was sturdy once assembled. The bullets also mention four-side entrances, which does not match the one-door field. The price is low, and the reviews are why it is not a default pigeon cage.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the lowest price and the most amazon.co.uk ratings, and you will return the cage if the door does not meet the frame.
Less suitable: You need a cage reviewers say pigeons enter and stay in, or instructions in the box.
Specifications
Common questions
What size is the one-door cage?
The listing gives 40 × 30 × 26 cm and 1.32 kg. The colour field says one door. The brand is HFSAZJ and the model number is HFSAZJ378991.
How do UK reviewers describe assembly?
Reviewers say it arrives as pieces joined with cable ties, with no instructions. One says the door was the wrong size for the panels. Another says it was sturdy once assembled.
Did pigeons go in?
One UK reviewer says pigeons would not go in. Another says the cage is not big enough for the purpose. The listing shows 2.3 out of 5 from 8 ratings.
The MetS two-pack is two wooden cages on one listing at £39.59, with a stated weight of 635 g and finch as the target species. amazon.co.uk shows 2.0 out of 5 from 1 rating, with no review text and no length, width or height. The bullets say small birds and animals, indoor and outdoor use, and that it is not electric. Country of origin is Tunisia, as on the other MetS cages, but this line does not repeat their centimetre measurements. One rating at 2.0 is not a sample you can read, and a pack of two does not tell you whether either cage is wide enough for the bird you have in mind.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You specifically want two wooden cages labelled for finches, and you can measure them when they arrive.
Less suitable: You need a stated size, a pigeon trap, or more than one written review.
Specifications
Common questions
How many cages are in the pack?
The listing is a set of two. Unit count and number of pieces are both 2. The brand is MetS.
What birds does the specification name?
Target species is finch. The bullets also say small birds and animals, and that the cages can be used indoors and outdoors. It is not electric.
Are dimensions listed?
No length, width or height is in the source file. Weight is 635 g. There is one rating, 2.0 out of 5, and no review text.
The ybaymy four-door cage is an iron one-way trap listed at 60 × 40 × 26 cm and 4 kg, the largest pigeon-sized cage in this set, at £37.99 and 1.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings on amazon.co.uk. The listing states a 2 cm mesh, four one-way entrances, a fold, assembly with straps or ropes, and a top door. A UK reviewer said pigeons got in and then escaped through the sides within three days, and called assembly fiddly. A review from France says the cage is held with cable ties and has no instructions. The stated size is what matches a feral pigeon, and the side-escape review is what does not. A delivered cage is not a licence to take a wild bird.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the largest stated one-way pigeon cage in this set, and you will check every panel gap before you set it.
Less suitable: You need a cage that UK reviewers say holds pigeons, or a small indoor finch cage.
Specifications
Common questions
How big is this pigeon cage?
The listing gives 60 × 40 × 26 cm and a weight of 4 kg. The stated mesh is 2 cm. The brand is ybaymy and the model number is UKB5-10588.
Did pigeons stay inside in the UK review?
One UK reviewer said pigeons got in and then escaped through the sides within three days. The same review calls assembly fiddly. A review from France says the cage is held with cable ties and has no instructions.
Is it sold as foldable?
Yes. The listing says it folds and is assembled with straps or ropes, with a top door for access. It is listed for indoor and outdoor use.
The Peosaard listing is an iron cage whose technical table says 12 × 12 × 12 cm and 1.7 kg, at £27.49. The title and bullets name pigeon, sparrow, mouse, rabbit and chicken, and they list a patio, garden, farm and warehouse. There is no customer-review line and no review text in the source file, so the score is 0. A 12 cm cube cannot hold a pigeon, a rabbit or a chicken on the dimensions the table itself prints. The bullets say it is easy to set up and hand powered, and they do not mention a fold. A weight of 1.7 kg on a 12 cm cube is a heavy small box, not evidence that the title's species list is accurate. Use the table as the size, not the title.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You only need a very small iron box, and you will ignore the pigeon line in the title.
Less suitable: You need a pigeon, rabbit or chicken trap, or any written customer review.
Specifications
Common questions
What size does the technical table give?
Product dimensions are 12 × 12 × 12 cm and weight is 1.7 kg. Material is iron. The manufacturer field is Peosaard_C30_5555957. The model number is Adjustable.
Which animals does the title name?
The title and bullets name pigeon, sparrow, mouse, rabbit and chicken. There is no customer-review line and no review text in the source file.
Is a fold mentioned?
No. The bullets say it is easy to set up and list outdoor places: patio, garden, farm and warehouse. Power source type is hand powered.
Seven bird traps on amazon.co.uk were scored on 19 October 2026. The score is the live star average times 20. A listing with no rating line scores 0. The number does not add points for size, mesh or a UK review, and it does not subtract them. This is not a laboratory catch test, and no listing is treated as a licensed or government-approved bird trap.
Amazon.co.uk star rating
100%Each score is the amazon.co.uk star average times 20, from the listing on 19 October 2026. A listing with no rating line scores 0. The score does not add points for size, mesh or a UK review, and it does not subtract them. The write-up records what the stars hide: a side-escape review, a door that does not fit, a 12 cm cube, a missing dimension, a review from outside the UK, or ratings with no text.
The seven listings on this page are live-capture cages and one catching net from amazon.co.uk. The useful differences are the bird the stated size can hold, whether a UK review says the door meets the frame, and whether you can inspect the trap on the interval for your nation. The star score does not measure a catch, and a delivered cage is not a licence.
A bird trap in this comparison is a live-capture cage or a polyethylene catching net. A hawk kite, a ribbon, a reflector or an ultrasonic scarer is a different product. The seven amazon.co.uk listings are one-way pigeon cages, small wooden cages aimed at finches, and one catching net. On the listings and the reviews, the practical checks are a closed mesh, a door that meets the frame, and a size that matches the bird.
A hawk kite, ribbon, reflector or ultrasonic scarer is not a live-capture cage or a net. This comparison stays on the seven cages and the catching net.
The MetS wooden cages are about 16 cm wide and, where a target is named, say finch. A feral pigeon does not fit that box. The Peosaard table says 12 × 12 × 12 cm.
A UK review of the ybaymy cage says pigeons escaped through the sides within three days. UK reviews of the HFSAZJ cage say the door was the wrong size and pigeons would not enter.
The England and Wales condition used here is a physical inspection at least every 25 hours. NatureScot GL01/2026 asks for at least every 24 hours. If you cannot make the visit, leave the trap unset.
Name the species and the purpose first, then read the current general licence for your nation. A delivered cage is not permission. If the species or the purpose is missing, the route is an individual licence. Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects wild birds, nests in use and eggs. Section 5 restricts injurious traps, nets and tethered or injured decoys. GOV.UK states that acting without a required licence can mean an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison.
Match the printed size to the bird. The ybaymy cage is 60 × 40 × 26 cm and 4 kg, with a stated 2 cm mesh. The HFSAZJ one-door cage is 40 × 30 × 26 cm and 1.32 kg. The MetS wooden cages that print a width are about 16 cm wide and list finch. The Peosaard table states 12 × 12 × 12 cm while the title mentions pigeon, rabbit and chicken. Use the table, not the title. A UK review of the ybaymy cage says pigeons escaped through the sides within three days, and assembly was fiddly.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You have a serious-damage purpose and you can inspect the trap on the interval for your nation. The ybaymy cage is the largest stated one-way cage in this set, at 60 × 40 × 26 cm and about £37.99. A UK review says pigeons escaped through the sides within three days. Check every panel gap before you set it. A delivered cage is not a licence.
You must match GL41, or the public-health licence for your nation, before trapping feral pigeons. The HFSAZJ cage is the one-door listing at about £11.89, with 2.3 from 8 ratings. UK reviews report cable ties, a door the wrong size, and pigeons that would not enter. Return it if the door does not meet the frame.
You need a loft entrance, not a marketplace cage or a catching net. None of these seven listings is that entrance. The Gonetre net is the top pick only if you are sorting this shelf by star average, at 3.6 from 4 ratings. A net is still not a loft, and it is not permission to take a wild bird.
On this shelf the top pick is the Gonetre catching net, because 3.6 from 4 ratings ties the MetS wooden cage and the higher rating count breaks the tie. The score is that star line times 20. The only written review says there were no instructions, and the badge is not a licence or a mesh test. The best value is the HFSAZJ one-door cage at about £11.89, the lowest shelf price among listings with at least five ratings, at 2.3 from 8. UK reviews report cable ties, a door the wrong size, and pigeons that would not enter. The ybaymy four-door cage is larger on the listing and has no badge, because 1.8 from 4 is a lower score. The Peosaard cube scores 0 because the source file has no rating line.
Gonetre bird catching net
3.6 from 4 ratings ties the highest star line, and the higher rating count breaks the tie with the MetS wooden cage.
HFSAZJ one-door pigeon cage
Lowest shelf price in this set among listings with at least five ratings, at about £11.89 and 2.3 from 8.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources from the research digest, plus amazon.co.uk listings for the seven traps. Shelf date 19 October 2026. Natural England issues the England general licences quoted here from 1 January 2026.
This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts come from amazon.co.uk listings. This is not a laboratory test, and a listing is not a licence to take a wild bird.
