 |
 If you've ever hosted wild birds at nesting time, you can attest that it is an experience to look forward to every spring. It's very fascinating to |
 |
| watch birds mate, establish and defend territories, and provide for their young. Many species will use man-made nest boxes or nest platforms, and if you want to use them to attract birds to nest in your yard, it's helpful to know the nestbox specifications required by various species. This will improve the likelihood that the home will be occupied by the species you intend to attract.
You will want to make sure the entrance hole is sized only as large as it needs to be for the species you wish to house. Holes larger than this will invite larger birds and other predators to invade the box, which can be a danger to the chicks or prompt the invaders to take over the box and evict the current residents.
The following chart will help select a birdhouse appropriate for housing a particular species. We not only give you an idea of the specification requirements of the house or platform, but also give you some tips about where and how high to mount it.
|
Bird Species |
Floor Size |
Depth of House |
Hole Above Floor |
Hole Diameter |
Placement
Above
Ground |
Mounting Location or Other |
Barn Swallow (Nesting
Platform) |
6" x 6" |
6" |
NA |
None
(front side
panel) |
8' - 12' |
Side of building, arbor or in tree |
| Bluebird |
5" x 5" |
8" |
6" |
1-1/2" |
5' - 10' |
Open areas; facing a field |
| Chickadee |
4" x 4" |
8" - 10" |
6" - 8" |
1-1/8" |
6' - 15' |
Thicket of a small tree |
Downy
Woodpecker |
4" x 4" |
9" - 12" |
6" - 8" |
1-1/4" |
6' - 20' |
On tree trunk; needs sawdust |
| House Wren |
4" x 4" |
8" |
6" |
1-1/8" |
5' - 10' |
Post or tree mount |
Northern
Flicker |
7" x 7" |
16" - 18" |
14" - 16" |
2-1/2" |
6' - 20' |
Put sawdust inside |
| Nuthatch |
4" x 4" |
8" - 10" |
6" - 8" |
1-1/4" |
12' - 20' |
Mount on tree trunk; natural color best |
| Purple Martin |
6" x 6"
(ea unit) |
6" |
2" |
2-1/2" |
15' - 20' |
Open areas; near water; white is best color; many apartments per house |
Red-headed
Woodpecker |
6" x 6" |
15" |
6" - 8" |
2" |
12' - 20' |
Post mount or tree trunk |
Robin
(nesting
platform) |
6" x 6" |
6" |
NA |
None
(front side
panel) |
6' - 15' |
Side of building, arbor or in a tree |
Screech
Owl |
10" x 10" |
12" - 15" |
9" - 12" |
3" |
10' - 30' |
Edge of wooded lot or open woods |
| Titmouse |
4" x 4" |
8" - 10" |
6" - 8" |
1-1/4" |
6' - 15' |
In or near a wooded area |
| Tree Swallow |
5" x 5" |
6" |
4" |
1-1/2" |
5' - 8' |
Close proximity to a lake or pond (2 mi) |
| Wood Duck |
10" x 10" |
24" |
20" |
3" x 4"
oval |
10' - 20' |
Post over water or on trees facing water |
Choose a Bird House that Will Suit Your Needs
|
 |
|
|
|
PRODUCTS RELATED TO:
Housing
|
|
|
|
|
