The table below contains bird house dimensions for common backyard wild birds and can be helpful when building your own nest box for a specific species. The information is based on Homes for Birds, a publication of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, as well as the North American Bluebird Society.
Species
|
Floor Size (inches)
|
Box Heights (inches)
|
Entrance Above Floor (inches)
|
Entrance Hole (inches)
|
Height Above Ground (feet)
|
American Robin*
|
7x8
|
8
|
NA
|
NA
|
6-15
|
Carolina Wren
|
4x4
|
6-8
|
4-6
|
1 1/2
|
8-10
|
Chickadees
|
4x4
|
8-10
|
6-8
|
1 1/8
|
4-15
|
Downy Woodpecker
|
4x4
|
8-10
|
6-8
|
1 1/4
|
5-15
|
Eastern Bluebird
|
5x5
|
8-12
|
6-10
|
1 1/2
|
4-6
|
Hairy Woodpecker
|
6x6
|
12-15
|
9-12
|
1 1/2
|
8-20
|
House Finch
|
6x6
|
6
|
4
|
2
|
8-12
|
House Wren
|
4x4
|
6-8
|
4-6
|
1 1/4
|
5-10
|
Mountain Bluebird
|
5x5
|
8-12
|
6-10
|
1 9/16
|
4-6
|
Northern Flicker
|
7x7
|
16-18
|
14-16
|
2 1/2
|
6-20
|
Pileated Woodpecker
|
8x8
|
16-24
|
12-20
|
3x4
|
15-25
|
Purple Martin
|
6x6
|
6
|
1-2
|
2 1/4
|
6-20
|
Red-bellied Woodpecker
|
6x6
|
12-15
|
9-12
|
2 1/2
|
10-20
|
Red-breasted Nuthatch
|
4x4
|
8-10
|
6-8
|
1 1/4
|
5-15
|
Titmice
|
4x4
|
10-12
|
6-10
|
1 1/4
|
5-15
|
Western Bluebird
|
5x5
|
8-12
|
6-10
|
1 9/16
|
4-6
|
White-breasted Nuthatch
|
4x4
|
8-10
|
6-8
|
1-3/8
|
5-15
|
*Use nesting platform - three-sided shelf with open front
|