Thirty or more bird species are known to nest in birdhouses. But birds are choosey and no single birdhouse appeals to them all. From a bird’s perspective, no matter how fancy and richly detailed it may be, a birdhouse, also called a nest or nesting box, appears to be just an opening in a tree. They’ll assess it for correct overall dimensions, the depth from the opening to the floor, the surrounding vegetation and its safety from predators.
Birds are particular about the placement, too. You’ll see on the chart below that some birds want to nest only a few feet off the ground, while others require very high locations. The guidelines below show the optimal placement of birdhouses. But, you may find that a bit of variance works. With some species, a “tree trunk” might successfully be replaced with a post, the siding on your house or a birdhouse hanging from a limb. But, in general, the more exacting you are, the better your odds of attracting the birds you want.
| Species | Location | Habitat |
|---|---|---|
| Barn Owl | Tree trunk at edge of woods, at least 12 ft. high. | Open spaces, farmland, marshes, deserts |
| Barn Swallow | Place nesting shelf under an overhang or porch and away from doors, because of messy droppings. | Farmland, open areas, cities |
| Bluebirds | On top of post in a clearing. Space houses 100 to 300 ft. apart. Use predator guard below each. | Open areas with little understory, orchards, parks, large turf areas. |
| Blue Jay | Place nesting shelf 10 - 12 ft. high on tree, shed, garage, or other vertical surface, overlooking an open area. | Forest edges, urban areas with large trees. |
| Chickadees | On tree or limb, at eye level. | Woodlands, parks, fields, forest edges |
| Downy Woodpecker | Tree trunk in woodlands, about eye level. Put 2 in. layer of wood chips inside. | Yards, orchards, parks, woodlands |
| Flickers | Tree trunk or pole in open area 10 - 30 ft. high. Fill to top with wood chips | Woodlands, forest edges |
| Flycatchers | Tree trunk at woodland edge near a stream, 4 - 10 ft. high. | Woodlands, orchards, parks, swamps, areas with large trees |
| Hairy Woodpecker | Tree trunk at woodland edge. Put 2-inch layer of wood chips inside. | Yards, orchards, parks, woodlands |
| House Finch | Tree trunk or post anywhere in yard. Very urban bird. | Open spaces, lawns, conifer forests, desert, grasslands |
| House Sparrow | Will nest in any birdhouse with opening larger than 1-3/8 in. Must repeatedly remove their nests from houses being reserved for other species. | Inhabits any area where there are humans |
| Kestrel | Tree trunk or post in open area, 10 - 30 ft. high | Open areas: grasslands, deserts, parks, meadows, fields |
| Mourning Dove | Place shelf 7 - 14 ft. high on side of shed or garage, overlooking open space | Widespread, except thick forests, swamps |
| Nuthatches | Tree trunk 6 - 15 ft. high. Put a few wood chips inside. If poss., nail or glue tree bark to exterior to make blend in. | Conifer and mixed-conifer forests, urban areas with conifers |
| Phoebe | Simulate a cliff edge by placing un-roofed nesting shelf under an overhang 7 - 12 ft above ground, overlooking open area. Ensure cats, squirrels can't jump to it. | Woodlands, forest edges, near water |
| Prothonotary Warbler | Tree trunk or post; above water or at water's edge. | Ponds, waterways, bordered by woods |
| Purple Martin | Open area at least 40 ft. from obstructions, at top of telescoping pole, use white compartment house. | Woodland edge near water, agricultural areas in winter |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | Tree at edge of woods; layer 2 in. sawdust or wood chips inside. | Deciduous or pine forests, wooded urban areas |
| Robin | Place nesting shelf under an overhang overlooking open area. Unlikely to be used if placed on tree. | Woodlands, urban lawns with a sprinkling of shrubs and trees |
| Screech Owl | Tree trunk at woodland edge, at least 15 ft. high. Place some wood chips on floor. | Where there are trees |
| Starling | Will use any birdhouse that's large enough. | Everywhere but heavy forests, deserts, mountains |
| Titmice | At eye level on tree trunk at woodland edge. | Forests, orchards, parks, swamps |
| Tree Swallow | Tree trunk or post near water, 5 - 6 high. | Open areas near water; fields, wooded swamps, marshes, shoreline |
*Top photo: Adam Greig / Flickr; cc by-sa 2.0
More reading:
How to attract birds to your yard
No spring in the step of hungry spring birds
Wild Turkey: more than a dinner table centerpiece
