Which nesting box for which bird? How to choose suitable birdhouses for various bird species!

Are you wondering which nesting box is suitable for which bird to accommodate feathered friends in your garden? Below you can learn more about the preferences of wild birds.

There are numerous breeding and nesting bird species that like to stay near every garden. By providing a suitable bird feeder, you can attract certain specimens to your garden area and help them breed. But what factors need to be taken into account in relation to the appropriate nesting aid? What specific criteria do common breeding bird species have? Here is some useful information and tips to guide you when choosing nesting boxes. This way you will be able to provide wild birds and their offspring with the best possible new home.

Why install birdhouses and which nesting box would be most suitable for which bird?

Every bird lover builds birdhouses out of the desire to make their garden, farm or general environment more hospitable to wild birds. This means you can not only do something good for nature, but also revitalize the inhabited outdoor area. Even if you give themOffer suitable bird foodHowever, wild birds usually move away during the breeding season. This is because they cannot find suitable bird nesting boxes. Therefore, attaching and hanging different types of houses can help various species of birds such as tits, blackbirds, robins, tree sparrows, woodpeckers and even kestrels. For this purpose, it would first make sense to find out about the options.

• Depending on the type of bird, the size of the entry hole is particularly important when selecting suitable designs.
• It is important to build bird nesting boxes from natural materials such as wood and avoid toxins or plastic birdhouses.
• In addition to the above-mentioned bird species, the most common visitors are also thrushes, nuthatches, finches, birds of prey such as owls and some other flycatchers.
• As far as the optimal height for positioning such a birdhouse is concerned, it also depends on the bird species. Typically the minimum height is 2 meters while the recommended maximum height is 4 meters. Both house walls and tree trunks are suitable for this if they are closed nesting boxes.
• Open-fronted bird nesting boxes suitable for blackbirds, robins and wrens should be positioned lower. However, there is a risk of predation, which can be prevented by placing it among dense vegetation and places inaccessible to predators and cats.
• The entrance hole should face east or northeast, as birds do not like direct sunlight.
• Do not add perches to birdhouses as this will only make access easier for nest robbers. Also make sure that there are no obstacles when flying.

When to hang a bird nesting box and what types of them are there?

Any time is suitable for setting up a nesting box, but this is best done in January or February. During this period, pairs of birds actively search for the best possible nesting sites. However, if the outdoor area is inhabited, she and her offspring should not be disturbed until the chicks have fledged. In addition, the typical main types of birdhouses have a round entry hole and are closed. These are intended more for cavity nesters, with the diameter of the entry hole determining what species of bird would nest there. Also consider the following factors if you want to know which nesting box would be suitable for which bird:

• For example, closed birdhouses with a small entry hole are not suitable for starlings. Depending on the width of the opening and the type of bird, titmice, redstarts, woodpeckers, nuthatches, flycatchers, wrens and tree sparrows would like to nest in it.
• Open-fronted versions are preferred by birds that build their nests in niches. Such species include wagtails and spotted flycatchers, although thrushes and blackbirds that nest in treetops would also inhabit them.
• Treecreepers, or swallows, prefer specific nesting sites, such as crevices along tree trunks or bowls under eaves, that mimic their natural nesting site.
• Birds of prey such as kestrels and owls can also be attracted to gardens with larger and open birdhouses to keep rodents away.

Otherwise, you can use the following features as a guide when choosing the best possible birdhouse for your feathered friends.

Decide which nesting box is suitable for which bird based on your specific needs

As written above, there are some factors to consider when choosing the right birdhouse for specific bird species. In addition to the size of the entry hole and the positioning, the internal dimensions and design also play an important role. Below are some guidelines that you can use as a guide to better select nest boxes for common bird species.

• Sparrows prefer smaller bird nesting boxes that have an entrance hole about 32 mm wide. The optimal location for this would be on a tree trunk or on a house wall, at a height of 2 to 4 meters.
• For thrushes, the nesting box should be flat, covered, and have a small entrance hole. This is usually made with a diameter of 38mm. As for placement, this is best done on poles or trees, 1 to 2 meters above the ground. An eastern orientation is recommended, with a view of an open area. If you have multiple choke boxes, you should reduce competition by positioning them at least 5 to 6 meters apart.
• Northeast-facing nesting boxes with circular entry holes that have an optimal diameter of 28 mm are suitable for blue and great tits. Hang the birdhouses at a slight forward angle and on trees at a height of 2 to 4 meters. This makes access more difficult for predators and prevents the interior from getting wet during rains.
• If house martins are frequent visitors, you can mount open boxes without perches under eaves or on posts for them. Since such bird species live in colonies, you increase the chance of attracting them by providing them with multiple nesting boxes. These should ideally face an open field and face south.
• As for wrens, robins and blackbirds, these bird species also prefer open boxes for nesting. However, these should be slightly deeper than 2 meters and ideally in the middle of dense vegetation.

Attract more species of birds with self-made birdhouses

Bird lovers may find it even more challenging to house wild birds that are less likely to migrate to inhabited environments. It's fun to watch them raise their young, but which nesting box would be suitable for which bird in this case? The design of such DIY birdhouses does not necessarily have to be complicated, although you could also reuse natural materials such as wood. Otherwise, you can still consider the following wild birds and their needs:

• Larger birds such as starlings, for example, require boxes with wider entry holes that are at least 45 mm in diameter. In addition, the corresponding birdhouse can also be located 3 meters above the ground on house walls or trees. Here too, a north-easterly orientation and a slight forward inclination to prevent moisture is recommended.
• If you live in a wooded area and provide nesting aid for owls, this should be a large box with a wide entry hole. It is best to mount it high on a tree.
• For finches, the nesting box should be small and have a 50 mm wide entry hole. Perches are also suitable for this type of bird; you can hang the birdhouse on a tree 2 to 4 meters above the ground.
• Woodpeckers are also wild birds that you can help find nesting sites. Since they prefer deep and narrow entry holes, your nesting box should also have one. It is best to mount this slightly higher, 5 to 6 meters above the ground, on a tree trunk or a house wall. It is also recommended to camouflage the birdhouse by using peat for it.

Try to consider the specific needs and preferences of the bird species in your area. You should also be patient as birds are picky and usually won't move in right away. However, you can increase the chances of this happening by taking care of your nest boxes and keeping them clean as follows.

Tips for caring for birdhouses

It is important to provide birds with the privacy they need by positioning nest boxes at the appropriate distance. Keep an eye on nesting sites and ensure that no predators or competing bird species destroy cavity-nesting nests. If you find bird nests, you should not move them as nesting birds may abandon their unhatched eggs. Also, follow some cleaning and care tips to help you welcome your feathered guests.

• Clean the nesting box or birdhouse by November at the latest to increase the chances of nesting birds in spring.
• Remove any accumulated bird feathers, leaves, tree branches or other debris to make the interior more attractive for next season.
• The litter inside will become unusable next season if you don't clean it after the breeding season. This also ensures that no diseases are transmitted.
• Don't despair if your nest box remains uninhabited in the first season. Continue to care for it to attract a family of birds in the following years.