Birdhouse Plans

and nesting behavior of backyard birds

Cut the bluebird house below from a piece of 1 x 8 board that is 5 feet long.

Click on the picture for a larger view.

birdhouse.gif (53125 bytes)

Use the information below to modify the house to accommodate other birds.

species

    birdhouse specifications
(in inches)

what to expect

entrance

above
floor

floor
dim.
house depth above
ground
number
broods
usual
number
eggs

incubation
period

days
in
nest
bluebird 1 1/2 6-7 5x5 8-9 5-10 2-3 3-5 13-15 15-18
brown-headed nuthatch 1 6-8 4x4 8-10 5-20 1 5 14 18-20
Carolina chickadee 1 1/8 6-8 4x4 8-10 6-15 2 4-5 11-13 12-16
Carolina wren 1 1/4 4-6 4x4 6-8 5-10 2-3 4-6 12 12-14
downy woodpecker 1 1/4 6-8 4x4 8-10 6-20 1 4-5 12 21
flicker 3 14-16 7x7 16-24 6-20 1 4-8 11-16 25-28
great crested
flycatcher
2 6-8 6x6 8-10 8-20 1-2 4-8 13-15 15-18
pileated woodpecker 3-4 10-12 8x8 12-30 12-60 1 3-5 18+ 26
prothonotary
warber
1 1/2 5 4x6 8 4-7 1-2 3-7 14 15+
purple martin 2 1/2 1 6x6 6 15 1 3-8 12-16 28-36
red-bellied
woodpecker
2 12 10-12 6x6 12-14 12-20 1-2 3-5 14+ 27+
red-headed
woodpecker
2 9-12 6x6 12-15 12-20 2 4-6 14+ 27+
tufted titmouse 1 1/4 6-8 4x4 8-10 4-5 1-2 5-6 12 16
bluejay high up in fork of tree 1 4-6 17-18 17-21
brown thrasher open nest in dense shrubbery 2 4-5 11-14 10-12
cardinal open nest in dense shrubbery 2 3-4 12-13 9-10
catbird open nest in dense shrubbery 2 3-5 13-15 10-12
dove fork of a tree 2-3 2 15 14
kingbird tree or shrubbery 1 3-5 12-13 13-14
mockingbird dense shrubbery or small tree 2-3 4-5 12-13 13-14
ruby-throated
hummingbird
attached saddle-style to tree limb--often over water 2 2 12-14 14-28