Birdhouse Dimensions

The table that follows was taken from a US Fish & Wildlife Service pamphlet whose entire text is available on this site at Homes for Birds. I have made the table a separate page for the convenience of do-it-yourselfers. For more information about attracting, feeding, and sheltering wild birds, see the other files on the Backyard Birding page, which is brought to you courtesy of the Baltimore Bird Club. Send any comments to Terry Ross at

Nest Box Dimensions

Box Box Entrance Entrance Placement floor height height diameter height Species inches inches inches inches feet =============================================================== American Robin* 7x8 8 --- --- 6-15 --------------------------------------------------------------- Eastern & Bluebird 5x5 8-12 6-10 1-1/2 4-6 --------------------------------------------------------------- Western & Mountain Bluebird 5x5 8-12 6-10 1-9/16 4-6 --------------------------------------------------------------- Chickadees 4x4 8-10 6-8 1-1/8 4-15 --------------------------------------------------------------- Titmice 4x4 10-12 6-10 1-1/4 5-15 --------------------------------------------------------------- Ash-throated Flycatcher 6x6 8-12 6-10 1-1/2 5-15 --------------------------------------------------------------- Great Crested Flycatcher 6x6 8-12 6-10 1-3/4 5-15 --------------------------------------------------------------- Phoebes* 6x6 6 --- --- 8-12 --------------------------------------------------------------- Brown-headed Pygmy and Red-breasted Nuthatch 4x4 8-10 6-8 1-1/4 5-15 --------------------------------------------------------------- White- breasted Nuthatch 4x4 8-10 6-8 1-3/8 5-15 --------------------------------------------------------------- Prothonotary Warbler 5x5 6 4-5 1-1/8 4-8 --------------------------------------------------------------- Barn Swallow* 6x6 6 --- --- 8-12 --------------------------------------------------------------- Purple Martin 6x6 6 1-2 2-1/4 6-20 --------------------------------------------------------------- Tree and Violet-Green Swallows 5x5 6-8 4-6 1-1/2 5-15 --------------------------------------------------------------- Downy Woodpecker 4x4 8-10 6-8 1-1/4 5-15 --------------------------------------------------------------- Hairy Woodpecker 6x6 12-15 9-12 1-1/2 8-20 --------------------------------------------------------------- Lewis's Woodpecker 7x7 16-18 14-16 2-1/2 12-20 --------------------------------------------------------------- Northern Flicker 7x7 16-18 14-16 2-1/2 6-20 --------------------------------------------------------------- Pileated Woodpecker 8x8 16-24 12-20 3x4 15-25 --------------------------------------------------------------- Red-Headed Woodpecker 6x6 12-15 9-12 2 10-20 --------------------------------------------------------------- Yellow- bellied Sapsucker 5x5 12-15 9-12 1-1/2 10-20 --------------------------------------------------------------- Bewick's and House wrens 4x4 6-8 4-6 1-1/4 5-10 --------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina Wren 4x4 6-8 4-6 1-1/2 5-10 --------------------------------------------------------------- Barn Owls 10x18 15-18 4 6 12-18 --------------------------------------------------------------- Screech Owls and Kestrel 8x8 12-15 9-12 3 10-30 --------------------------------------------------------------- Osprey 48x48 platform --------------------------------------------------------------- Red-tailed Hawk and Great Horned Owl 24x24 platform --------------------------------------------------------------- Wood Ducks 10x18 10-24 12-16 4 10-20 --------------------------------------------------------------- *Use nesting shelf, platform with three sides and an open front

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