The following North American birds prefer to nest in cavities. In nature, these cavities normally occur in trees. Luckily, these birds also love and nest in bird houses. You may find a few other birds that will nest in birdhouses as well.
Wood Ducks
Common Goldeneyes
Barrow's Goldeneyes
Buffleheads
Hooded Mergansers
Common Mergansers
Great Crested Flycatchers
Ash-throated Flycatchers
White-breasted Nuthatches
Red-breasted Nuthatches
House Wrens
Carolina Wrens
Bewick's Wrens
House Sparrows
American Kestrels
Common Barn Owls
Barred Owls
Eastern Screech Owls
Western Screen Owls
Northern Saw-whet Owls
Tree Swallows
Purple Martins
Black-capped Chickadees
Carolina Chickadees
Mountain Chickadees
Chestnut-backed Chickadees
European Starlings
House Finches
Golden-fronted Woodpeckers
Red-bellied Woodpeckers
Northern Flickers
Red-headed Woodpeckers
Downy Woodpeckers
Hairy Woodpeckers
Titmice
Tufted Titmice
Oat Titmice
Juniper Titmice
Eastern Bluebirds
Western Bluebirds
Mountain Bluebirds
Flickers
The following is a guideline of where to place your birdhouse, what your backyard friends look like, how high off the ground your birdhouse should be located and what the diameter of the opening should be for particular birds.
Bird Species
Photo
Diameter of Hole
Height of House from Ground
Placement
American Kestrels
1" - 2" inches
15' - 30' feet
Open field or near the edge of a forested area
Bluebirds
1 1/2" inches
4' - 10' feet
Facing open areas or fields
Chickadees
1 1/8" inches
5' - 15' feet
Near trees and open areas
Ducks
2" - 5" inches
10' feet over land; 4' feet over water
Facing lakes, streams and marshes
Finches
1" - 1 1/2" inches
4' - 10' feet
Can be anywhere, usually near your house
Flycatchers
2" inches
6' - 20' feet
Near the edge of a forested area
Nuthatches
1" - 1 1/4" inch
5' - 10' feet
Wooded areas or mixture of open fields and forested areas
Owls
1" - 4" inches
5' - 20' feet
Forested areas
Purple Martins
Special Cresent
8' - 20' feet
Near your house, preferably with a pond, stream or birdbath nearby
