Number 16

Distributed in furtheranceof the acts of Congress ofMay 8 and June 30, 1914.Employment and program

opportunities are offered toall people regardless of

race, color, national origin,sex, age, or disability.

North Carolina StateUniversity, North CarolinaA & T State University, USDepartment of Agriculture,

and local governments

Building songbird boxes is a simple,inexpensive way to attract songbirdsto your property. This fact sheetdiscusses how to build, install, andmaintain nest boxes successfully.

Why Build Songbird Boxes?Properly constructed nest boxescan provide shelter in those areasnegatively affected by urbanizationand intensive management. Bybuilding boxes, you can insure thesongbirds on your land a place tonest.

Before You Begin...Bird species have different habitatneeds. To be successful, you mustfirst choose the species you want toattract and understand its food,water, and space requirements. Usethe table on page 2 to find the properdimensions of the nest box for thebirds you want to attract. By simplychanging dimensions and entrancehole sizes, you can furnish cool, dry,durable, easily-cleaned boxes for anyof the small to medium-sized birdspecies in the table.

Materials forSongbird Boxes

To Build:♦ Tape measure♦ Hammer♦ 1 1/2” to 1 3/4” galvanized nails♦ Pencil or chalk for marking♦ Saw♦ Lumber

To Install:♦ Stepladder or extension ladder♦ 3” galvanized nails, lag bolts, or crimped wire♦ Sheet metal for predator guard

North CarolinaCooperative Extension ServiceNorth Carolina State UniversityCollege of Agriculture & Life SciencesCollege of Forest Resources

Page 2

4”

1.5” dia.

6”

5”

Species Floor ofBox

Depth ofBox

HoleSize

HoleAboveFloor

Bluebird 4”x 4” 8”-12” 1 1/2” 6”-10”

ChickadeeTitmouseNuthatches

4”x 4” 9”1 1/8”1 1/4”1 3/8”

7”

Carolina WrenHouse WrenProthonotaryWarbler

4”x 4” 6”-8”1 1/2”1-1 1/4”1 3/8”

4”-6”

Great-CrestedFlycatcher

6”x 6” 8”-10” 1 3/4” 6”-8”

Flickers 7”x 7” 16”-18” 2 1/2” 14”-16”

Cut-out diagramof songbird box

Back

Roof

Front

Side

Side

Helpful Construction Hints

♦ Boxes need at least four 1/4" holes in thebottom to allow water to drain. Several 1/4"holes in the sides will provide a d e q u a t eventilation.

♦ Use durable woods such as cedar, cypress,and pressure-treated pine.

♦ Allow for the width of the sawblade whenmarking and cutting a board.

♦ When using hardwood lumber, drill starterholes for the nails to avoid splitting boards.

♦ Avoid painting boxes or treating wood with apreservative. These boxes may absorb toomuch heat or give off toxic vapors.

♦ Hinge the roof or use a pivot nail on one sideof the box to make periodic clean-up easier.

N.C. Cooperative Extension Service Working With Wildlife # 16 - Building Songbird Boxes

Floor

Page 3

N.C.

Installation and MaintenanceTips

♦ Install all boxes by late March or earlyApril.

♦ Place the boxes 200 to 300 feet apartto account for the territorial nature ofmost species.

♦ Firmly attach boxes to posts, trees, orbuildings. On live trees, use crimpedwire or lag bolts that can be loosened asthe tree grows.

♦ Place boxes where they’ll receive someshade during the day. In pasturesituations, place the box across thefence from nosy livestock!

♦ Clean out all boxes each year after theyoung have fledged.

♦ Inspect boxes regularly and consideradding predator guards if necessary.

♦ Always work in teams when usingfolding or extension ladders!

Cooperative Extension Service

PreparedEdwin J. Jones, Departm

J. Chris Turner, ExteMark A. Megalos, Extens

Songbird Box PlacementSpecies Box

HeightPlacement

Carolina WrenHouse WrenNuthatchesChickadee

5’-10’Woodland clearings;edges

BluebirdsFlickers 6’

Open areas (fields,food plots, pastures)

Great-CrestedFlycatcher

8’-20’ Forest interiors

ProthonotaryWarbler

4’-12’ Wetland areas;over/facing water

Titmouse 5’-15’ Hardwood stands

Working With Wildlife # 16 - Building Songbird Boxes

by:ent Extension Leader,nsion Associate,

ion Forestry Specialist

Predator Guard

Page 4

N.C

Suggested Readings:Weber, W.J. 1982. Attracting Birds and Other Wildlife to Your Yard.

Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, New York.

Fazio, J.R. 1987. The Woodland Steward. 2nd edition.The Woodland Press, Moscow, Idaho.

Cost share assistance may be available through the Stewardship Incentive Program forthese practices. See your Wildlife Biologist, Forester, or Extension Agent for moreinformation about the Forest Stewardship Program.

Other Wildlife Notes Available:No. 1 - Endangered Species No 14- Snags and Downed LogsNo. 2 - Eastern Gray Squirrel No 15- Managing Edges for WildlifeNo. 3 - White-tailed Deer No 16- Building Songbird BoxesNo. 4 - Songbirds No 17- Woodland Wildife Nest BoxesNo. 5 - Wild Turkey No 18- Low Cost Habitat ImprovementsNo. 6 - Wood Duck No 19- Pools for AmphibiansNo. 7 - Cottontail Rabbit No 20- Hummingbirds and ButterfliesNo. 8 - Bobwhite Quail No 21- BatsNo. 9 - Ruffed Grouse No 22- OwlsNo. 10 - Black Bear No 23- Beaver Pond ManagementNo. 11 - Raccoon No 24- Herbaceous Plants for WildlifeNo 12 - Mourning Doves No 25- SIP Wildlife OpportunitiesNo 13 - Wildlife Terms

. Cooperative Extension Service Working With Wildlife # 16 - Building Songbird Boxes

FOREST STEWARDSHIPa cooperative program for

improving and maintaining all of theresources on private forestland

11-94-4M-WWW-16