You may be familiar with the various memes detailing the fact that once you reach middle age, you're automatically sorted, Harry Potter hat-style, into one of a handful of hobbies, such as sourdough bread making, gardening, or bird watching. I can't contradict this, since I'm a middle-aged person who got sorted into bird-watching. But I do know that enjoying birds and their various activities is fun for all ages. Birds are beautiful, interesting, and unpredictable, and it's fascinating to keep a running life list of all the birds you've seen and hope to see in your lifetime.
Whether someone you know is in their bird watching phase, preparing for this phase, or has been in it for decades, all of these items—for traveling bird watchers and backyard bird enthusiasts alike—are things either I or another bird-loving Reviews team member tested, was gifted, or bought IRL and enjoyed.
For more specific equipment recommendations, check out our guides to the Best Smart Bird Feeders and the Best Binoculars, and for other gift ideas, check out all our gift guide coverage, including the Best White Elephant Gifts, Best Gifts for Men, and Best Viral TikTok Gifts.