Attracting Birds To Your Yard

Bird House Dimensions 

The dimensions of the birdhouse are very important.  Each bird prefers a different sized entrance hole, floor space, distance from the floor to the entrance hole, and distance from the ground.  A word of caution:  if you don't want starlings to monopolize your birdhouses then the hole diameter must be 4cm (19/16") or less.  Below is a chart of birdhouse dimensions  (based on western species).  This is not a complete list of all western birds, but there is enough information to get you started.  Oval shaped entrance holes should be made horizontally (wider than tall).  All measurements are in metric.

It should be noted that starlings and house sparrows compete with native cavity-nesting birds and should be discouraged from nesting in your birdhouses.

 

bird

entrance hole (cm)

hole ht. above floor (cm)

floor dimensions (box interior) (cm)

total ht. of box (cm)

ht. from ground (metres)*

Bluebirds 
western 3.8cm 15 - 18cm 13x13cm 28 - 30cm 1.2-1.8m (tpf)
mountain 4cm 15 - 18cm 14x14cm 28 - 30cm 1.2-1.8m (tpf)

Chickadees 
black-capped 2.8 - 3.8cm 15 - 18cm 10x10 to 13x13cm 23 - 30cm 1.5-3m (tp)
chestnut-backed 2.8 - 3.8cm 15 - 18cm 10x10 to 13x13cm 23 - 30cm  "
mountain 2.8 - 3.8cm 15 - 18cm 10x10 to 13x13cm 23 - 30cm  "

Ducks 
barrow's goldeneye 8.8 x 11.4cm oval 41 - 46cm 25x25 to 30x30cm 61 -63cm 1.2m over water, 3m over land(tp) 
bufflehead 6.3 - 7.6cm  43 - 48cm 15x15 to 18x18cm 43 - 48cm  "
common golden eye 8.8 x11.4cm oval 41 - 46cm 25x25 to 30x30cm 61 - 63cm  "
common merganser 10 x 12.7cm oval 41 - 46cm 25x25 to 30x30cm 61 - 63cm  "
hooded merganser 7.6x10cm oval 41 - 46cm 25x25 to 30x30cm 61 - 63cm  "
wood duck 7.6x10cm oval 41 - 46cm 25x25 to 30x30cm 61 - 63cm  "

House finch

 3.5 - 5cm 13 - 18cm 10x10 to 13x13cm 23 - 30cm 1.2 - 3m (tpb)

American kestrel

 7.6cm 25 - 30cm 20x20 to 23x23cm 36 - 41cm 4.6 - 9m (tp)

Purple Martin

 5 - 6.3cm 3cm 15x15cm 15cm 2.4 - 6m (p)

Nuthatches 
red-breasted 2.8 - 3.8cm 15 - 18cm 10x10 to 13x13cm 23 - 30cm 1.5 - 3m (tp)
white-breasted 2.8 - 3.8cm 15 - 18cm 10x10 to 13x13cm 23 - 30cm  "

Owls 
barred 15 - 20cm 36 - 48cm 33x33 to 36x36cm 56 - 71cm 3 -6m (t)
common barn 15 - 20cm 10cm 40 wide 22 deep 41cm 3 -6m (tb)
northern saw-whet 6.3 - 10cm 25 - 30cm 15x15 to 20x20cm 38 - 46cm 1.5 - 6m (tpb)
screech 6.3 - 10cm 25 - 30cm 15x15 to 20x20cm 38 - 46cm 1.5 - 6m (tpb)

House sparrow

 3 - 5cm 15 - 18cm 10x10 to 13x13cm 23 - 30cm  competitive

Starlings

 4 - 10cm 15 - 23cm 13x13 to 15x15cm 33 - 51cm competitive 

Swallows 
tree 3 - 3.8cm 15 - 18cm 10x10 to 13x13cm 23 - 30cm 1.2 - 3m (tp)
violet green 3 - 3.8cm 15 - 18cm 10x10 to 13x13cm 23 - 30cm  "

Warblers

 3 - 3cm 13 - 18cm 10x10 to 13x13cm 23 - 30cm 1.2 - 1.8m (tp)

Woodpeckers 
hairy 4.4 - 6.9cm 25 - 36cm 13x13 to 15x15cm 36 - 41cm 1.8 - 6m (tfpb)
downy 3 - 3.8cm 20 - 30cm 8x8 to 10x10cm 25 - 36cm 1.8 - 6m (t)
flickers 5 - 7.6cm 25 - 50cm 15x15 to 20x20cm 36 - 61cm 3 - 6m (tp)

Wrens 
Berwick's 3 - 3.8cm 15 - 18cm 10x10 to 13x13cm 23 - 30cm 1.2 - 3m (tpb)
House 2.5 - 3.8cm 15 - 18cm 10x10 to 13x13cm 23 - 30cm "

*Where to mount the bird house:  t=tree, f=fence, p=post, b=building

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