70birds

That Nest in Birdhouses

70birds

That Nest in Birdhouses

Birds Birdhouses Plans Home

70birds

That Nest in Birdhouses

Put the right nest boxes in the right place.

Keep nest boxes clean.

Protect birds from pests and predators.

See each species page for habits, geographic ranges and optimum locations and placement.

Feeding birds will not attract birds to nest and raise a family in a bird house.

Nesting, egg laying birds need seclusion and are unlikely to nest in a bird house near throngs of birds flocking to bird feeders.

More than 70 North American bird species live in nest boxes or on platforms.

See which birds live near you. Learn about those birds and how to make birdhouses for them.

For increased ventilation in warmer climates, floor and side panel corner gaps can be larger than plans specify.

Some woodworkers may prefer to drill strategically located holes for ventilation and leave floor panels whole.

Clean and disinfect nest boxes with a 5% bleach and 95% water mix after the brooding season to prevent spread of disease and parasites. Use rubber gloves, eye protection, spray bottles, and sponges to completely saturate nest box interiors.

Hinges are suggested for easy access. Other methods for attaching roofs are just as good. However, most nest boxes are mounted out of reach for most people.

Birdhouse mounting, monitoring and maintenance on ladders are awkward chores that require “three hands”. Convenience increases safety when working at heights.

Use a hand held screwdriver to assemble work pieces. This allows the crafts person to feel and better judge appropriate hole sizes and snugness to prevent stripping and splitting wood.

Phoebes & Flycatchers

Two phoebe species nest on platform shelters. Another makes mud nests like barn and cliff swallows. Flycatchers nest in birdhouses. They all catch insects in flight and are fun to watch.

Wrens | Chickadees | Nuthatches | Woodpeckers | Robins & Platform Nesters

Great-crested Flycatcher

Great-crested flycatchers chase wasps, flies, moths and other flying insects. They build bulky nests of twigs, grass, rootlets, feathers and snake skins in natural or abandoned tree cavities and in birdhouses. They are often found nesting in boxes intended for bluebirds and purple martins. See the great-crested flycatcher nest box and view or print nest box plans.

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Ash-throated flycatchers catch flies, wasps, moths and other insects in flight and also eat fruit. They build nests in natural or abandoned tree cavities in deep shady forests and deserts. They will also nest in the right sized birdhouse in the right place. Visit the ash-throated flycatcher nest box page and view or print nest box plans.

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern phoebes make nests of twigs, roots and moss, cemented with mud, lined with grass, hair, and feathers. They like to nest in woodlands near wetlands. Also on house ledges under eaves, in farm buildings, on and under bridge beams, or cliff protrusions. Their nests have been found in culverts, caves, wells, freight train cars and even a ferry that was in use. Visit the phoebe platform shelter page and view or print platform shelter plans.

Say’s Phoebe

Say’s phoebes build nests of sticks, grass, moss, hair and spider webs in tree hollows, caves, rock crevices. They also nest in farm out buildings, on ledges under home porch roofs and on shelter platforms. See the phoebe platform shelter page and view or print platform shelter plans.

Black Phoebe

Black phoebes build mud and grass nests always under something on a wall, bridge or cliff often directly over, or near water on farms, in towns and some still in natural formations in California river valleys, its original habitat. See the black phoebe shelter page and view or print shelter plans.

Nest Boxes & Platforms, Plans & How-to

Ash-throated Flycatcher Nest Box

Great-crested Flycatcher Nest Box

Mourning Dove Platform

Robin Platform

Phoebe Platform

Photo of a shelter to attract black phoebes, barn swallows and cliff swallows.

Barn & Cliff Swallows

Photo of a 2nd shelter to attract black phoebes, barn swallows and cliff swallows.

& Black Phoebe Shelters

Open Platform

Phoebes & Flycatchers

Two phoebe species nest on platform shelters. Another makes mud nests like barn and cliff swallows. Flycatchers nest in birdhouses. They all catch insects in flight and are fun to watch.

Wrens | Chickadees | Nuthatches | Woodpeckers | Robins & Platform Nesters

Great-crested Flycatcher

Great-crested flycatchers chase wasps, flies, moths and other flying insects. They build bulky nests of twigs, grass, rootlets, feathers and snake skins in natural or abandoned tree cavities and in birdhouses. They are often found nesting in boxes intended for bluebirds and purple martins. See the great-crested flycatcher nest box and view or print nest box plans.

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Ash-throated flycatchers catch flies, wasps, moths and other insects in flight and also eat fruit. They build nests in natural or abandoned tree cavities in deep shady forests and deserts. They will also nest in the right sized birdhouse in the right place. Visit the ash-throated flycatcher nest box page and view or print nest box plans.

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern phoebes make nests of twigs, roots and moss, cemented with mud, lined with grass, hair, and feathers. They like to nest in woodlands near wetlands. Also on house ledges under eaves, in farm buildings, on and under bridge beams, or cliff protrusions. Their nests have been found in culverts, caves, wells, freight train cars and even a ferry that was in use. Visit the phoebe platform shelter page and view or print platform shelter plans.

Say’s Phoebe

Say’s phoebes build nests of sticks, grass, moss, hair and spider webs in tree hollows, caves, rock crevices. They also nest in farm out buildings, on ledges under home porch roofs and on shelter platforms. See the phoebe platform shelter page and view or print platform shelter plans.

Black Phoebe

Black phoebes build mud and grass nests always under something on a wall, bridge or cliff often directly over, or near water on farms, in towns and some still in natural formations in California river valleys, its original habitat. See the black phoebe shelter page and view or print shelter plans.

Nest Boxes & Platforms, Plans & How-to

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Great-crested Flycatcher

Mourning Dove Platform

Robin Platform

Phoebe Platform

Open Platform

Black Phoebe

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Phoebes & Flycatchers

Birds | Birdhouses | Plans | Home

Two phoebe species nest on platform shelters. Another makes mud nests like barn and cliff swallows. Flycatchers nest in birdhouses. They all catch insects in flight and are fun to watch.

Great-crested Flycatcher

Great-crested flycatchers chase wasps, flies, moths and other flying insects. They build bulky nests of twigs, grass, rootlets, feathers and snake skins in natural or abandoned tree cavities and in birdhouses. They are often found nesting in boxes intended for bluebirds and purple martins.

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Ash-throated flycatchers catch flies, wasps, moths and other insects in flight and also eat fruit. They build nests in natural or abandoned tree cavities in deep shady forests and deserts. They will also nest in the right sized birdhouse in the right place.

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern phoebes make nests of twigs, roots and moss, cemented with mud, lined with grass, hair, and feathers. They like to nest in woodlands near wetlands. Also on house ledges under eaves, in farm buildings, on and under bridge beams, or cliff protrusions. Their nests have been found in culverts, caves, wells, freight train cars and even a ferry that was in use.

Say’s Phoebe

Say’s phoebes build nests of sticks, grass, moss, hair and spider webs in tree hollows, caves, rock crevices. They also nest in farm out buildings, on ledges under home porch roofs and on shelter platforms.

Black Phoebe

Black phoebes build mud and grass nests always under something on a wall, bridge or cliff often directly over, or near water on farms, in towns and some still in natural formations in California river valleys, its original habitat.