There are about thirty different species of birds in each region of the country that will use birdhouses to build nests, lay eggs, and raise young. These same houses are often used as roosting sites at night or during inclement weather.
Find out about natural cover for birds.
The accompanying chart shows the sizes, shapes, and entrance dimensions required by various kinds of cavity nesting birds that will use birdhouses in backyards.
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Constructing a simple birdhouse Dimensions w - width of house d - depth of house h - height of house Hole A - entrance hole and location B - distance of the hole to the floor of the house |
| Species |
Dimensions w x d x h |
Hole A B |
Placement |
Color |
Notes |
 Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis |
5"x5"x8"h |
1½" centered, 6" above floor |
5-10' high in open, sunny |
light earth tones |
likes open areas esp. facing a field |
 Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor |
5"x5"x6"h |
1½" centered, 4" above floor |
5-8' high in the open 50-100% sun |
light earth tones, white |
within 2 miles of a pond or lake |
 Purple Martin Progne subis |
Multiple apartments 6"x6"x6" ea. |
2½" hole 2¼" above floor |
15-20' high in the open |
white |
open yard without tall trees; near water |
 Tufted Titmouse Parus bicolor |
4"x4"x8"h |
1¼" |
4-10' high |
light earth tones |
prefers in or near wooded area |
 Black-capped Chickadee Parus atricapillus |
4"x4"x8"h or 5" x 5" base |
11/8" centered, 6" above floor |
4-8' high |
light earth tones |
small tree thicket |
 White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis |
4"x4"x10"h |
1¼" centered, 7½" above floor |
12-25' high on tree trunk |
bark covered |
|
 House Wren Troglodytes aedon |
4"x4"x8"h or 4"x6" base |
1" centered, 6" above floor |
5-10' high on post or hung in tree |
white, light earth tones |
|
 Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus |
7"x7"x18"h |
2½" centered, 14" above floor |
8-20' high |
light earth tones |
put 4" sawdust inside for nesting |
 Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens |
4"x4"x10"h |
2¼" centered, 7½" above floor |
12-25' high on tree trunk |
simulate natural cavity |
prefers own excavation, provide sawdust |
 Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus |
6"x6"x15"h |
2" centered, 6-8" above floor |
8-20' high post or tree trunk |
simulate natural cavity |
needs sawdust for nesting |
 Wood Duck Aix sponsa |
10"x10"x24"h |
4" x 3" elliptical 20" above floor |
post 2-5' high over water or on a tree 12-40' high facing water |
light earth tones; natural |
needs 3-4" sawdust or shavings for nesting |
 Eastern Screech-Owl Otus asio |
10"x10"x24"h |
4"x3" elliptical 20" above floor |
12-40' high on post or tree |
light earth tones; natural |
needs open approach on edge of woodlot or in isolated tree |
 American Kestrel Falco sparverius |
10"x10"x24"h |
4"x3" elliptical 20" above floor |
post 2-5' high over water or on a tree 12-40' |
light earth tones; natural |
prefers open woods or edge of woodlot |
 American Robin Turdus migratorius |
nesting platform 6"x6"x8"h, needs roof for rain protection |
none |
on side of building or arbor or in tree |
light earth tones; wood |
use is irregular, prefers open country, prefers water nearby |
