Well, you have come to the right place.In this post, I have included everything you need to know about getting started with bluebird houses: (Click the hyperlinked text below to skip to that specific section!)
Before we begin, I want to answer a common question:
Bluebirds are considered cavity nesters, which means they will only nest inside a cavity that is fully enclosed, except for the entrance hole. You will never see a bluebird build a nest out in the open like an American Robin or Mourning Dove.
To complicate the issue, bluebirds are unable to make their own nest cavity. So in the wild, bluebirds rely on holes in trees that woodpeckers excavated in seasons past.
Around 100 years ago, bluebird populations (most notably Eastern Bluebirds) started declining because of an extreme decrease in available nesting sites, mostly due to these three reasons:
Both of these invasive birds use the same nesting cavities that bluebirds require, except both of these foreign bully birds can outcompete bluebirds and easily drive them away from their nesting space. It’s not uncommon to find a bluebird that has been savagely killed by a House Sparrow or European Starling.
The North American Bluebird Society has tirelessly promoted bluebird conservation to help bring public awareness to the nesting cavity issue, along with an incredible increase in knowledge about year-round requirements and behavior of all three bluebird species.
Are you ready to join bluebird fanatics all over North America and start building (or buying) nest boxes?
As you can imagine, there are thousands of different plans for birdhouses available online. The problem is that most of them are not designed with bluebirds in mind.
I did my best to find birdhouses that were effective at attracting bluebirds, included clear instructions, and are relatively easy to build!
This short list is by no means all-encompassing, and there are many types of bluebird houses that work well. If you talk to 100 bluebird enthusiasts, you will probably get 100 different nest box recommendations!
The Xbox is a classic-looking bluebird house that is simple to build and effective at housing birds.
The Peterson has worked wonderfully to house bluebirds for many years. It does not look like your typical birdhouse, with the front and back coming closer together as you move from top to the bottom. Just a warning that the Peterson nest box can be tricky to build.
The Gilbertson bluebird house is mostly made from PVC pipe! The pipe detaches from the wooden roof to monitor bluebird nests quickly and easily.
The F30 bluebird nestbox has a large floor space, totaling 30.25 square inches, which makes it ideal for Western & Mountain Bluebirds. These two types of bluebirds have larger clutch sizes than Eastern Bluebirds and prefer floor dimensions of 5-1/2 inches per side vs. only 4 inches/side for Eastern Bluebirds.
A simple to build, yet proven bluebird house that is made mostly from one cedar board.
*Many of the above bluebird house plans were found on a helpful website called Nestbox Builder. If you don’t like any of these designs above, they have many more DIY projects available!*
In the age of YouTube, I think it’s easier to follow along with video instructions. This is especially true for people like me that are not incredibly handy and generally embarrassed at their lack of carpentry skills. 🙂
In this video, you can see how to build a bluebird house entirely from a 6-foot long fence post. Seriously, that’s the only wood required!
This friendly gentleman shows us how to build a bluebird house from a single board. I like how much detail he goes into when constructing the next box, which is especially helpful for novices like myself. I was able to find the PDF bluebird house instructions he references through the video. —> View the PDF HERE! (Missouri Conservation Committee)
There is probably nothing more important than drilling the correct entrance hole to your bluebird house. If it’s too small, a bluebird won’t be able to fit inside. And if it’s too big, then European Starlings and other predatory birds can fit inside to either use the nest box or eat the nestlings!
The entrance hole size hole depends on where you live and which specific bluebird species you are trying to attract. For your information, there are THREE types of bluebirds in North America; Eastern Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, and Western Bluebird.
You don’t want any water to accumulate inside. Bluebirds don’t enjoy nesting in swimming pools!
It can get extremely hot inside of a bluebird nest box. Your birds will appreciate some holes drilled into the top to help with airflow and cooling.
Another way to help decrease internal temperatures is to use wood that is at least 3/4 inches thick. And the lighter the color of your wood, the better. Make sure not to paint the outside of your bluebird house a dark color, such as green or black, since darker colors attract heat.
If you live in an area where temperatures are routinely above 90 degrees F, then you should consider placing your bluebird box at least partially in the shade or create larger ventilation gaps.
Any responsible bluebird host MUST constantly monitor their next boxes against House Sparrows and other intruders. You will thank yourself later if your birdhouse has a side or roof that easily opens to check inside.
Do not attach a perch to the front of the birdhouse. Bluebirds don’t require one, and it will only encourage other birds, such as House Sparrows and European Starlings, to use the house or give predators a place to land.
A little bit of overhang will help keep out rain and provide shade.
The height from the bottom of the entrance hole to the floor should be between 5-7 inches.
If you have already given up trying to build a nest box, then buy one of these pre-made houses on Amazon and call it a day!
Made of red cedar, opens easily, and has a 1-1/2 inch opening for Eastern Bluebirds. Includes ventilation gaps at the top and drainage holes on the bottom. This house slightly resembles the Xbox bluebird house above (#1).
This bluebird house has a 1-9/16 inch entrance hole and larger floor dimensions, which makes it ideal for Western and Mountain Bluebirds. The sides easily open, and one side even has a plastic window so you can look inside without disturbing nestlings.
Now, this is a fancy bluebird house! First, it’s made from durable recycled plastic so it will last a LONG time. The house also includes a built-in predator guard, raised mesh flooring to protect the nestlings, and ventilation and drainage holes. Lastly, the front lifts open easily to clean or check on the babies.
So if you like the design of the Peterson Bluebird House in the above section but are not skilled enough (like me!) to build one, then you might as well go ahead and buy this house. The only complaint with this house is that the hole is made too big to keep out starlings, but it’s an easy fix by purchasing a 1.5-inch plate (for Eastern Bluebirds) or predator guard to put over the hole.
Before making or buying a bunch of bluebird houses, you NEED to read this section. I wish it were as easy as hanging some nest boxes in your backyard, then sitting back and waiting for bluebirds to start having babies, but it’s not.
Housing bluebirds can be quite a commitment, as you will learn below. For many of you, I am going to recommend against trying to attract bluebirds to your backyard, solely based upon where you live, and this includes myself!
I may have bad news for you.
If you live in an urban or suburban area that is infested with House Sparrows, it may not be worth the effort to try and attract bluebirds and may even be dangerous for them!
Here’s a brief history of the relationship between bluebirds and the invasive, non-native House Sparrow:
House Sparrows are from Europe and were introduced to the United States in 1850. Since then, these highly adaptable birds have expanded their range across the entire continent, and they are now found in almost every corner of the world. House Sparrows enjoy being near people, as they are usually the birds that are trying to steal your popcorn and bread at amusement parks!
That’s because House Sparrows use the same nesting cavities as bluebirds. They may not look the part, but House Sparrows are EXTREMELY aggressive, and they almost ALWAYS outcompete bluebirds for available nesting sites and birdhouses.
So if you live in an urban area that already has lots of House Sparrows, putting up a birdhouse for bluebirds is only going to encourage House Sparrows to nest inside. And if you are lucky enough to house a bluebird, you run the risk of having a House Sparrow attack or injure it.
Unfortunately, I live in a neighborhood suburb just outside of Akron, Ohio. We have House Sparrows everywhere! When I try to hang bluebird houses in my backyard, they are almost immediately taken over by these invasive, bully birds. There is no way I am ever going to be able to SAFELY house bluebirds in my backyard. 🙁
The BEST way to make sure that House Sparrows don’t take over your bluebird boxes is to CONSTANTLY monitor them at least ONCE per week. By checking the boxes so often, you can identify and rectify any problems quickly.
When you walk up to a nest box, you want to do it quickly and quietly. Talk softly as you approach and then tap the side of the house lightly to give adult birds a chance to fly out. It’s not uncommon for a female laying on her eggs to stay inside even once you open the box.
At this point, they are getting prepared to leave the nest but are not quite ready. Opening up the box may scare the juveniles prematurely out into the world! Make sure to keep accurate records of when the bluebirds hatched so you know this critical time frame.
Don’t worry about making bluebirds abandon their nest as they are tolerant of humans. It’s also a myth that touching a birds nest will make the adults leave. Birds can barely smell anything!
House Sparrows CAN’T be allowed to stay inside of a nest box (at least if you want to attract bluebirds!). As said before, these invasive species outcompete and commonly kill bluebirds.
Remove any House Sparrow nests immediately! While it’s possible to recognize a House Sparrow nest vs. a bluebird nest, the best way to confirm is to observe the next box to see which species are inside.
The only nests you are allowed to remove are House Sparrows and European Starlings because Federal Law does not protect these two birds since they are considered invasive species.
If you find a chickadee, titmouse, wren, or swallow nest inside your bluebird box, DO NOT REMOVE! These are native birds, and it’s illegal to mess with them, even if you want to.
Two types of swallows (Tree & Violet-Green) will also use your bluebird houses and actively compete with bluebirds for the right to nest inside. Bluebirds and swallows are equal competitors, and it’s a toss-up who will win the prized real estate. Unfortunately, nestlings can die in the fighting.
An easy way to ease some of the tension is to put up TWO nest boxes about 5-15 feet apart. Interestingly, both species will actively defend the nest box they are using from ALL species of birds, but they will only protect the other house that they are not using from their own species. So by putting up two boxes, bluebirds and swallows can nest next to each other peacefully.
Putting up pairs of boxes works incredibly well, and you will hopefully get to observe two different types of native birds nesting!
If you plan to set up multiple pairs of bluebird houses, then you need to provide adequate space in between each set.
Bluebirds are territorial, and each male has about 2-3 acres in his specific territory. To avoid confrontation and fights between bluebirds, space each pair of bluebird houses at least 100 feet away from each other.
In general, bluebirds like open spaces and are not typically found in forests.
Eastern Bluebird: Can be found in meadows and open spaces surrounded by trees. Look for them on the sides of roads, golf courses, and fields. I always see Eastern Bluebirds at a local Christmas tree farm.
Western Bluebird: These birds enjoy open woodlands, both coniferous and deciduous. You can also see them in backyards and farmland, and they live from sea level up into the mountains.
Mountain Bluebird: As the name suggests, these birds are common to see at medium to higher elevations. Look for them in native habitats such as prairie, sagebrush steppe, and even alpine tundra; anywhere with an open country that includes at least a few trees that can provide nest cavities.
So the best location to place your bluebird house is in an open field, preferably with a bit of shade during parts of the day but that is not necessary.
Since bluebirds primarily eat insects, they require hunting perches. They readily use shrubs, smaller trees, lower branches of large trees, and fence posts. You can also add stakes to the habitat that bluebirds will readily use for hunting and resting!
Just think about these following areas, which are all GREAT areas and locations to view bluebirds: Cemeteries, orchids, Christmas tree farms, golf courses, open highways, pastures, public parks, and large lawns that are kept mowed.
For your information, there are quite a few other birds that are secondary cavity nesters and will use bluebird houses. The list includes:
*These species typically won’t nest inside of a bluebird box if it’s positioned in a field or meadow. These species prefer their nesting boxes placed in the woods. To avoid competition from these birds (especially wrens), try to put the bluebird box at least 100 feet from wooded areas.*
Now that you have your birdhouses and know WHERE to place them, you must correctly mount them. Here are the most common things to use:
