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Bird House Dimensions
There are different bird house dimensions for different species. To attract the
species you desire you will need to construct your bird house with specific
sizes for the box itself, entrance holes and the species desired height
placement above ground. Using the correct bird house dimensions will also help
to exclude undesirable species, i.e. house sparrows and starlings.
The table below will give you the recommended bird house plans/nest box sizes for various species:
Bird House Dimensions Chart By Species
SPECIES
FLOOR (IN)
HEIGHT (IN)
HOLE DIAMETER (IN)
HOLE
ABOVE FLOOR (IN)
BOX ABOVE
GROUND (FT)
Chickadees
Chickadees
&
Tits
4x4
6-10
1 1/8
4-8
6-15
Titmouse
4x4
6-12
1 1/4
4-10
6-15
Ducks
Wood Duck
10x18
10-24
4
12-16
6-20
Flycatchers
Ash-Throated
6x6
8-12
1 1/2
6-10
5-15
Great Crested
6x6
8-12
1 3/4
6-10
5-15
Falcons
American Kestrel
8x8
12-15
3
9-12
8-30
Hawks/Buteos
Red-tailed
Hawk*
24x24 platform
-
-
-
at least 14
Nuthatches
Brown-headed, Pygmy & Red-breasted
4x4
8-10
1
1/4
6-8
5-15
White Breasted
4x4
8-10
1
3/8
6-8
5-15
Ospreys
Osprey*
48x48 platform
-
-
-
at least 15 over
water**
Owls
Barn
10x18
15-18
6
4
12-18
Great Horned Owl*
24x24 platform
-
-
-
-
Screech
8x8
12-15
3
9-12
8-30
Phoebes
Phoebes*
6x6
nest shelf
6
-
-
8-12
Swallows
Barn*
6x6 nest shelf
6
-
-
8-12
Purple Martin
6x6
6
2 1/4
1-2
6-20
Tree & Violet Green
5x5
6-8
1 1/2
4-6
6-15
Thrushes/
Bluebirds
American Robin*
7x8 nest shelf
8
-
-
6-15
Eastern Blue Bird
5x5
6-12
1 1/2
4-10
4-10
Western Blue Bird
5x5
6-12
1 1/2
4-10
4-10
Mtn Blue Bird
5x5
6-12
1 9/16
4-10
4-10
Woodpeckers
Downy
4x4
8-10
1
1/4
6-8
5-15
Hairy
6x6
12-15
1
1/2
9-12
8-20
Lewis's
7x7
16-18
2
1/2
14-16
12-20
Flicker
7x7
16-18
2
1/2
14-16
6-20
Pileated
8x8
16-24
3x4
12-20
15-25
Red-headed
6x6
12-15
2
9-12
10-20
Yellow-bellied
5x5
12-15
1
1/2
9-12
10-20
Warblers
Prothonotory
5x5
6
1
1/8
4-5
4-8
Wrens
House
4x4
6-8
1 1/8
4-6
5-10
Carolina
4x4
6-8
1 1/4
4-6
5-10
Bewick's
4x4
6-8
1 1/8
4-6
5-10
*These species species use a nesting shelf (3 sides and an open front) or a platform instead of a closed-box
design.
**If the Osprey platform is placed inland, the height should always exceed the
height of any nearby trees or 20 feet whichever is greater.
Using the right dimensions for your bird house is a good start to attract
certain species, but you will also want to do a little research as far as
placement. For example, if you install a bluebird house under trees as opposed
to an open area, like a grassy meadow, your chances of having occupants will be
greatly reduced. If you follow the links below to specific bird house designs,
there are more tips according to species.
Building a Bird House
The video below shows you how to build a bird house from scrap pieces of wood
and offers some tips on construction. The ornithologist also explains why the
decorative bird houses you buy from your local knickknack store isn't always best
for the birds.
Below are some great books on bird house construction, bird house
plans, building your own bird houses and bird feeders from beginning to advanced
designs:
For more specific designs and step by step instructions, go to these pages:
Questions or Comments?
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