Measurements for Bird Houses

Tailoring a birdhouse for a specific species will enhance the likelihood of attracting that species to the birdhouse. When constructing a birdhouse, pay attention to the size of the floor space, the height or depth of the house (from floor to roof) and the height of the entrance (from the floor to the bottom of the hole). Making the entrance diameter the right size is also important because it helps keep out undesired species.

Chickadees, Nuthatches and Downy Woodpeckers
- Chickadees, like this black-capped variety, need a much smaller entrance on their houses.
  
  Chickadees, nuthatches (ash-throated, brown-headed, pygmy, red-breasted and white-breasted), downy woodpeckers and titmice require a birdhouse with a floor diameter of 4 inches square. The interior height should be between 8 to 10 inches high with the entrance 6 to 8 inches from the bottom. Make the hole 1 1/8 inches for chickadees and 1 3/8 inches for white-breasted nuthatches. For all other birds, the entrance should be 1 1/4 inches in diameter.
Wrens and Titmice
- Blue titmice need a taller birdhouse than wrens.
  
  Bewick's, house, winter and Carolina wrens require a birdhouse with a floor diameter of 4 inches square. The interior height needs to be between 6 to 8 inches high with the entrance 4 to 6 inches from the bottom. The entrance hole should be 11 1/4 inches in diameter for Bewick's, house and winter wrens; and 1 1/2 inches wide for Carolina wrens. Titmice also need a 4-by-4-inch birdhouse, but with an interior between 10 and 12 inches high and an entrance height between 6 to 10 inches. The entrance hole should be 1 1/4 inches in diameter.
Bluebirds and Swallows
- Eastern bluebirds need a smaller entrance than other varieties.
  
  Bluebirds and swallows need a birdhouse with a floor that is 5 inches square. Bluebird houses should have an interior height (or depth) between 8 to 12 inches with the entrance 6 to 10 inches from the bottom. Eastern bluebirds should have an entrance that is 1 1/2 inches in diameter; western and mountain bluebirds need an entrance diameter of 1 9/16 inches. Tree and violet-green swallows need a house that is 6 to 8 inches high where the entrance is 1 1/2 inches in diameter and 4 to 6 inches from the bottom.
Purple Martins, Flycatchers, Barn Swallows and Phoebes
- Barn swallows need houses with open fronts.
  
  Purple martins, flycatchers (ash-throated and great crested), phoebes and barn swallows all use a birdhouse with a 6-inch-square floor. Purple martins require the birdhouse to be 6 inches high with the 2 1/4-inch diameter opening only 1 to 2 inches from the floor. Flycatchers need a home that is 8 to 12 inches high with the entrance 6 to 10 inches from the floor. The entrance diameter should be 1 1/2 inches for ash-throated and 1 3/4 inches for great crested. Barn swallows and phoebes don't use traditional houses, but require one with an open front and a nesting shelf.
Other Woodpeckers
- Different species of woodpeckers need different-sized birdhouses.
  
  Hairy and red-headed woodpeckers need a 6-inch-square floor house that is 12 to 15 inches tall with the entrance 9 to 12 inches from the floor. Hairy woodpeckers need an entrance that is 1 1/2 inches in diameter; and red-headed woodpeckers need a 2-inch-diameter opening. Lewis' woodpeckers need a floor that is 7 inches square with a depth between 16 and 18 inches. The entrance should be 2 1/2 inches in diameter and between 14 to 16 inches from the floor. Pileated woodpeckers need an 8-inch-square floor that is 16 to 24 inches tall. The entrance should be 3 by 4 inches wide and 12 to 20 inches from the bottom.

Different Ways to Hang Wind Chimes

Birds Are Not Eating From My Feeder

Lawn Ornaments

Measurements for Bird Houses

Chickadees, Nuthatches and Downy Woodpeckers

Wrens and Titmice

Bluebirds and Swallows

Purple Martins, Flycatchers, Barn Swallows and Phoebes

Other Woodpeckers