Do metal bird baths get too hot
It makes sense to be concerned essentially about a material that is a heat conductor, but with a metal bird bath the temperature it can rise to is nothing to be concerned about.
Metal bird baths can't get so hot that it will result in wild birds staying away. Bird baths made in metal can feel warm to people and birds, but it isn't a health hazard for anyone involved. No harm in maintaining a cool water temperature to benefit birds, where rocks in the water can allow birds to avoid a metal surface.
What I will say is if you can press your individual fingers on the metal bird bath surface, without feeling uncomfortable, then the metal bird bath surface will be safe for your wild birds delicate little feet.
Metal bird baths like those made in cast iron or steel wouldn't be made available if they risk being unsafe for birds, as it would mean its a device that can be a danger to children.
Bird baths made in other material like stone or plastic can certainly feel cooler to touch even in the hottest months - while a metal bird bath can get hot - but never so hot it can harm a wild bird, while burning you in the process.
Birds like the kind of bird bath that is easy to perch on as they enter water to preen, or to lean over to drink - they care less about a bird bath getting a little on the warm side.
What I believe you must concentrate on above anything else, is keeping the bird bath water temperature cool as you can, for much of the day.
Metal bird baths in particular can benefit with a shaded location providing birds can find it still, yet metal bird baths can be kept in sun all day if it isn't in the dead of summer.
Great benefit to a metal bird bath is the metal itself is a great conductor for any heat source, thus its possible to prevent a bird bath freezing in winter if its made in metal; whereby stone or plastic would need additional heat if utilizing the same technique.
No hotter than other material
Where a wild birds feet has the potential to stick to a metal bird bath in winter, due to the frost covering the metal surface - a bird bath heated up under the summer sun - isn't going to be as problematic.
As it happens I don't believe a metal bird bath can get any hotter than bird baths made in other material... like plastic, stone or any kind of resin.
Metal is a conductor for heat absolutely, but in no way can a metal bird bath get so hot, it can burn a wild bird feet.
Bird baths with water in it can lower the temperature for sure, whereas the location of the bird bath in the yard, can continue to cool it down whenever it comes into the shade.
Metal bird baths simply don't get too hot because then it would be a health hazard for people, thus there would be safety information surrounding a basic metal bird bath.
Thankfully a metal bird bath sat under full sun all day can come into contact with your bare hands with no issues at all. It may feel a tad on the hot side but its unlikely to cause burns on bare skin, nor will it burn a birds feet.
Shade will keep it cool
With no real risk involving the temperature of a metal bird bath rising, while situated under the heat of the sun, there's certainly no harm in attempting to keep it all cool.
We don't want any common backyard birds to turn away at a metal bird bath if they heat that is coming off it, can deter birds rather than tempt them to bathe or drink.
Like most heat conducting objects in the yard, certainly the heat can be felt coming off metal which will be amplified when it comes to a small wild bird. Despite that, it can feel like its going to be super hot when it fact the metal bird bath would be perfectly safe.
How to attract birds to a bird bath must still be placed in a lit up area, which would normally involve a sunlit area.
But a lit up doesn't always have to be under the sun, when situating the bird bath in the shade can benefit your birds along with sustaining the water quality itself.
Situate the metal bird bath in particular to keep the metal surface cooler for much of the day - while allowing it to be exposed in direct sun for far less than it needs to be.
To be sure all wild birds are safe to use a cast iron bird bath for example, locating it under cover of shade should keep everyone happy.
Concentrate on water temp
Rather than worrying about if metal bird baths get too hot while sitting out in your yard, really the bird bath water temperature should be your focus.
What I can say is bird bath water sitting under the sun all day cannot get so hot, it can harm a wild bird or deter birds using the water to bathe or hydrate. Bird bath water will feel warm but will continue to stay at a safe temperature
However, you can try to maintain this water temperature by at least utilizing devices for keeping bird bath water cool.
Birds like to keep cool thus will rely on bird bath water to provide that, if the metal bird bath water is indeed a little on the hot side - there's no way they can cool down.
Bird baths can be made in stone or plastic which can be kept cooler, whereas a metal bird bath can make it more difficult for you to maintain water temperature. To keep water cool for all bird baths, you only need to change the water as often as you can.
Benefits can include keeping algae out of the bird bath if water is kept clean, whereby a deep bird bath water level is kept cooler for longer, over what is a shallow depth.
To conclude
Understandably concern over a metal bird bath, or should I say any metal device in the yard, does get a little on the warm side, as metal is a conductor of heat.
With a bird bath made to hold water which allows wild birds to preen in the water or drink when perching around the bird bath rim - heated up metal bird baths under the summer sun isn't really an issue at all.
Quality metal bird baths can feel warm, but what would become of a super hot metal bird bath, would be more of a design flaw.
With that in mind there's certainly no harm in doing some tests to be sure the metal surface doesn't feel too hot when you touch it with your fingers.
If you can press your finger on the metal bird bath surface without any discomfort, then your wild birds will have no trouble either.
Concentrate your efforts on keeping the bird bath water at a cool temperature as birds can appreciate a nice cold bath in summer - similarly to how they like to cool off by drinking cold water... just like people do.
Situating a metal bird bath in the shade can certainly cool the cast iron bird bath down, but to be kept in full sunshine its imperative it never is during the hot summer months.
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