Tips to Attracting Nesting Birds To Your Backyard

Many North American birds nest in “cavities” (holes in trees and fence posts). Although some birds, such as woodpeckers, can chisel their own holes with their heavy, sharp bills, other cavity-nesters must find suitable holes for nesting. Unfortunately, suitable nest cavities can be hard to find in much of North America.

One way to solve the nest-site shortage is to provide artificial cavities, also known as birdhouses or nest boxes. More than 50 species of birds-including Bluebirds, Kestrels, Owls, Titmice, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Wrens, Tree Swallows, and Woodpeckers-Will use nest boxes. Nest Boxes have helped boost populations of many cavity-nesting bird species whose numbers were declining. For example, both Wood Ducks and Eastern Bluebirds recently have made dramatic comebacks. A Nest Box on your property will provide a valuable home for birds and enjoyable bird watching for you. We will help you figure out which birds you can attract to your yard and what’s the best way and place to mount your nesting boxes. By attracting Nesting birds you’ll enjoy the sites of parents and young in your yard.

Nesting Habits of Some of The Most Common Backyard Birds…

Species	Breeding Period	Nesting Materials	Where	Eggs	Period	Broods
E. Bluebird	March – July	Grasses, pine needles, weeds, lining of fine grass	Cavity (house)	4 – 5 Clear Blue	13-14 days	2-3
Cardinal	March – August	Weed stems, bark, grasses, leaves	Shrub or Tree	3-4 Gray-Buff Brown Specks	12-13 days	1-3
Chickadee	April – July	Wood chips, moss, hair, feathers, downy fibers	Cavity (house)	6 white with red-brown Speckles	11-12 days	1-2
Goldfinch	June – September	Woven Plant fibers, tightly lined with thistle or milkweed down	Hedges or Trees	4-6 very pale blue	12-14 days	1
House Finch	March – July	Twigs, rootlets, grass and other debris	Almost Anywhere	4-5 while to pale buff	12-14 days	1-3
Blue Jay	March – July	Twigs, moss, dry grass, dry mud leaves	Trees and Shrubs	4-5 Olive to dull blue	16-18 days	1-2
W.B. Nuthhatch	May – July	Bark, roots, grass	Cavity (house)	5-6 White w/ Brown Specks	12 Days	1
Robin	April – July	Grass & mud lined with fine grass	Trees & Shrubs Robin Shelf	3-6 Pastel Blue	12 - 14 Days	2 - 3

Songbird Essentials Nesting Material

The only nesting material available that contains a mixture of five natural-colored materials preferred by North American Nesting Birds! Feathers, String, Cotton, Hemp, and Aspen Fiber all included! Because it contains all of the above, Nesting Material attracts many more birds than “cotton only” mixtures. Birds and consumers love it!!

Nesting Materals Can Still Help Birds That Don’t Use A Nest Box!

As natural fibers they use to build or line a nest become harder to find, Hummingbirds, Goldfinches, and more benefit from you providing Nesting Materials. Both Hummingbirds and Goldfinches readily use the natural fibers in Hummer Helper Nesting Material to line their nest!!

Bird House Specifications for Specific Species

Name	Size of Floor	Height of Entrance Above Floor	Diameter of Hole	Height Above Ground
Chickadee	4” x 4”	4” – 6”	1 1/8”	6’ – 10’
Titmouse	4” x 4”	6” – 8”	1 ¼”	8’ – 15’
Nuthatch	4” x 4”	6” – 8”	1 ¼”	12’ – 20’
House Wren	4” x 4”	4” – 6”	1 1/8”	6’ – 10’
Carolina Wren	4” x 4”	4” – 6”	1 ½”	6’ – 12’
Screech Ow!	8” x 8”	9” – 12”	3”	10’ – 20’
Wood Duck	12” x 12”	10” – 18”	4”	8” – 20’
Purple Martins	12” x 12”	1”	2 ½”	15’ – 20’
Eastern Bluebird	4” x 4”	6” – 7 “	1 ½”	4’ – 6’
Woodpeckers
Flicker	7” x 7”	10” – 20”	2 ½”	10’ – 20’
Red-headed	6” x 6”	10” – 14”	2 ¼”	10’ – 20’
Downy	4” x 4”	8” – 12”	1 ½”	10’ – 20’
Hairy	6”x 6”	10” – 14”	2 ½”	10’ – 20’