Nestboxes and Birdhouses

It's easy to build your own birdhouses. Most cavity-nesting birds, such as bluebirds, chickadees, wrens, and even owls will use a birdhouse, if you build it to the right dimensions.

Birdhouse dimensions for some common birds are listed below.

Eastern Bluebird

• Floor – 5¾ inches by 5½ inches
• Depth – 10 inches
• Top of hole – 8.75 inches above floor
• Hole – 1.5 inch
• Mounting – at least 5 feet above ground on metal pole – not on post, tree or "t" post.

Carolina Chickadee

• Floor – 4 inches by 4 inches
• Depth – 8 to 10 inches
• Entrance height above floor – 6 to 8 inches
• Entrance diameter – 1 1/8 inches
• Recommended height above ground – 4 to 15 feet

Carolina Wren

• Floor – 4 inches by 4 inches
• Depth – 6 to 8 inches
• Entrance height above floor – 1 to 6 inches
• Entrance diameter – 1 ½ inches
• Recommended height above ground – 6 to 10 feet

House Wren

• Floor - 4 inches by 4 inches
• Depth – 8 to 10 inches
• Entrance height above floor – 1 to 6 inches
• Entrance diameter – 1¼ inches
• Recommended height above ground – 6 to 10 feet

Tufted Titmouse

• Floor – 4 inches by 4 inches
• Depth – 8 to 10 inches
• Entrance height above floor – 6 to 8 inches
• Entrance diameter – 1¼ inches
• Recommended height above ground – 6 to 15 feet

Red-headed Woodpecker

• Floor – 6 inches by 6 inches
• Depth – 12 inches
• Entrance height above floor – 10 inches
• Entrance diameter – 2 inches
• Recommended height above ground – 10 to 20 feet

Northern Flicker
Photo by Terry Spivey, USDA Forest Service
www.forestryimages.org

Northern Flicker

• Floor – 7 inches by 7 inches
• Depth – 16 to 18 inches
• Entrance height above floor – 14 to 16 inches
• Entrance diameter – 2½ inches
• Recommended height above ground – 6 to 20 feet

Barn Owl

• Floor – 10 inches by 18 inches
• Depth – 15 to 18 inches
• Entrance height above floor – 4 inches
• Entrance diameter – 6 inches
• Recommended height above ground – 12 to 18 feet

Screech Owl

• Floor – 8 inches by 8 inches
• Depth – 12 to 15 inches
• Entrance height above floor – 9 to 12 inches
• Entrance diameter – 3 inches
• Recommended height above ground – 10 to 30 feet

Wood Duck

• Floor – 10 inches by 18 inches
• Depth – 10 to 24 inches
• Entrance height above floor – 12 to 16 inches
• Entrance diameter – 4 inches by 3 inches
• Recommended height above ground – 10 to 20 feet

Wildlife Diversity Program
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744
or send a message to: nature@tpwd.texas.gov

• Bluebirds in Texas (PDF 2.9 MB )

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