Most gardeners enjoy having a birdhouse in the back yard. Nothing beats the melodious tones of the local bird population, and they also provide a visual treat with their industrious activities in the yards. And many birds give back by feasting on some of your local pests like the insect population.

But, as an added benefit, we can put up a birdhouse that is attractive in its own right, and add to the decor of your yard as well. Here we take a look at a variety of different unique and unusual birdhouses. Maybe you'll find one that would add to the beauty of your yard too!

A quick note on the types of birds you might attract with your birdhouses.

The birdhouse should be in proportion to the size of birds in your area. Chickadees and other small birds like wrens prefer smaller birdhouses, where they feel safe. Avoid a house with a perch as this can attract some predators.

Once you choose a house, put it in a location like a pole or the side of a building where access for predators is difficult.

One all time favorite style of birdhouse is the church birdhouse. You can find a variety of styles built on this same basic theme. Far and away the most popular style is those that are patterned after small rural chapels, harkening back to the earlier days of the US.

But there are others to be found as well. Houses modeled after the great church of Notre Dame, some built in a Gothic style, and even some Byzantinian church houses are commonplace.

You can find a chuch birdhouse to reflect many of the great traditional churches.

Cottage houses come in all sorts of sizes and styles. You can find something quite ornate, like a Victorian mansion, which stretches the limits of what you may decide is a cottage. These can come in styles that look like multi story mansions, complete with second floor railings and detailed bannisters, along with detailed roof lines.

Smaller, more quaint houses are suited for the smaller birds like wrens. A Cape Cod style house, or something similar that recalls the typical Northeast home is another favorite. Combined with a feeder at times, this is a natural home for your bird friends.

These are just a few ideas I've seen for fancy birdhouses for the backyard. these are of course many more types of designs, like the ones with faces of animals and people, or ones shaped like a fishing hat or campers.

What are the best bird house designs you've seen? Leave a comment with your ideas!