Birdhouse Building Guidelines |
| Species |
Dimensions |
Hole |
Placement |
Color |
Notes |
| Eastern bluebird |
5"x 5" x 8"h. |
1-1/2" centered
6" above floor |
5-10' high in open; sunny area |
light earth tones |
likes open areas,especially facing a field |
| Tree swallow |
5" x 5" x 6"h. |
1-1/2" centered
4" above floor |
5-8' high in the open; 50-100% sun |
light earth tones or gray |
within 2 miles of pond or lake |
| Purple martin |
multiple apts.
6" x 6" x 6" ea. |
2-1/2" hole
2-1/4" above floor |
15-20' high in the open |
white |
open yard without tall trees; near water |
| Tufted titmouse |
4" x 4" x 8"h. |
1-1/4" |
4-10' high |
light earth tones |
prefers to live in or near woods |
| Chickadee |
4" x 4" x 8"h.
or 5" x 5" base |
1-1/4" centered
6" above floor |
4-8' high |
light earth tones |
small tree thicket |
| Nuthatch |
4" x 4" x 10"h. |
1-1/4" centered
7-1/2" above floor |
12-25' high on tree trunk |
bark-covered or natural |
|
| House wren |
4" x 4" x 8"h.
or 4" x 6" base |
1-1/8" centered
6" above floor |
5-10' high on post or hung in tree |
light earth tones or white |
may fill nest boxes with 'dummy' nests |
| Northern flicker |
7" x 7" x 18"h. |
2-1/2" centered
14" above floor |
8-20' high |
light earth tones |
put 4" sawdust inside for nesting |
| Downy woodpecker |
4" x 4" x 10"h. |
1-1/4" centered
7-1/2" above floor |
12-25' high on tree trunk |
simulate natural cavity |
prefers own excavation; provide sawdust |
| Red-headed woodpecker |
6" x 6" x 15"h. |
2" centered
6-8" above floor |
8-20' high on post or tree trunk |
simulate natural cavity |
needs sawdust for nesting |
| Wood duck |
10" x 10" x 24"h. |
4" x 3" elliptical
20" above floor |
2-5' high on post over water, or 12-40' high on tree facing water |
light earth tones or natural |
needs 3-4" of sawdust or shavings for nesting |
| American kestrel |
10" x 10" x 24"h. |
4" x 3" elliptical 20" above floor |
12-40' high on post or tree trunk |
light earth tones or natural |
needs open approach on edge of woodlot or in isolated tree |
| Screech owl |
10" x 10" x 24"h. |
4" x 3" elliptical 20" above floor |
2-5' high on post over water, or 12-40' high on tree |
light earth tones or natural |
prefers open woods or edge of woodlot |
Nesting Shelves |
| American robin |
6" x 6" x 8"h. |
none - needs roof for rain protection |
on side of building arbor or in tree |
light earth tones or wood |
use is irregular |
| Barn swallow |
6" x 6" x 8"h. |
none - does not need roof |
under eaves of building |
light earth tones or wood |
prefers barns or outbuildings |
| Phoebe |
6" x 6" x 8"h. |
none - does not need roof |
under eaves of building |
light earth tones or wood |
prefers water nearby |
Source: Garden Birds of America by George H. Harrison. Willow Creek Press, 1996. |