Nest box sizes and information on placement by species are included in the table below. For Tree Swallows the entrance hole can be 1" high and 2 1/2 " wide, this keeps out unwanted species and allows more than 1 young bird to poke their head out to be fed. Measurements are in inches.
Species | Entrance Hole Size | Inside floor area | Hight of wall panels | Min. height above ground (feet) | Location | Max. No. of pairs per acre |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chickadee | 1 1/4" | 3 1/4"x 3 1/4" | 8" | 6' | On pole or a tree near shrubs, in woods | 1-2 |
Nuthatch | 1 1/4" | 3 1/4"x 3 1/4" | 8" | 6' | On pole or a tree near shrubs, in woods | 1-2 |
Downy Woodpecker | 1 1/4" | 3 1/4"x 3 1/4" | 8" | 6' | On pole or a tree near shrubs, in woods | 1-2 |
Bluebird | 1 1/2" | 4"x 4" | 10" | 7' | On post or tree in open area | 1 |
Tree Swallow | 1"x2 1/2" | 4"x 4" | 10" | 7' | On post or tree in open area | 8 |
House Sparrow | 1 1/2" | 4"x 4" | 10" | 7' | On post or tree in open area | 4 |
Hairy Woodpecker | 2 " | 5"x 5" | 12 1/2" | 10' | On post or tree in open area | 1 |
Crested Flycatcher | 2 " | 5"x 5" | 12 1/2" | 10' | On post or tree in open area | 1 |
Starling | 2 " | 5"x 5" | 12 1/2" | 10' | On post or tree in open area | 4 |
Purple Martin | 2 " | 5"x 5" | 6" | 8' | On post or tree in open area | 50 |
Common Flicker | 2 1/2 " | 6"x 6" | 15" | 10' | On post or tree in open area | 2 |
Saw-whet Owl | 2 1/2" | 6"x 6" | 12" | 12' | Thick conifer woods | 2 |
American Kestrel | 3" | 7 1/2"x 7 1/2" | 17" | 15' | On a pole or tree in open area | 2 |
Pileated Woodpecker | 3"x4" | 8"x 8" | 12"-30" | 12' | In woods | 2 |
Wood Duck | 3"x4" | 10"x 10" | 20" | 8' | Wooded swamp | 2 |
Hooded Merganser | 3"x4" | 10"x 10" | 20" | 8' | Wooded swamp | 2 |
Common Goldeneye | 3"x4" | 10"x 10" | 20" | 8' | Wooded swamp | 2 |
Barred Owl | 6"x6" | 12"x 10" | 20" | 20' | Woodland | 2 |
The nest box plans and information came from issue number 0702-732X Volume 13 Number 4 Winter 1989 of "NS Conservation" this is published by the Nova Scotia Dept. of Lands and Forests. It was taken from an artical by Bob and May Bancroft.