Wear Eye Protection!
Eye injuries are the most common serious injury and the most easily prevented.
You may prefer Side Opening Doors instead of hinged roof doors, especially for the larger nest boxes.
Make pilot holes slightly larger in the primary work piece (first piece in which the screw is inserted) such that screws can be turned in easily without leaving room for movement.
Screws should be more snug in secondary work pieces so that screws can be tightened, but not so tight as to split the wood or to strip the hole and loosen the screw.
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.
Red-headed Woodpecker Birdhouse
Hawk Owl & Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Dimensions of this nest box are generally suitable for red-headed woodpeckers, golden-fronted woodpeckers and hawk owls.
Make this birdhouse with red cedar or most any softwood.
Use wood stock that is rough-cut on both sides so birds can grip both interior and exterior surfaces.
It has a 6″ by 6″ floor (inside dimensions), 14″ floor to ceiling (inside front), 2″ diameter entrance hole located 11″ above the floor (to top of hole) and ventilation openings in the floor and under the roof.
A hinged roof provides easy access for monitoring and cleaning. Brass shutter hooks secure roof in closed position.
Always use corrosion resistant screws and hardware.


Drilling countersunk pilot holes in primary and regular pilot holes in secondary work pieces reduces a tendency for wood to split and makes for easy assembly in minutes with a power or hand held screwdriver.
The back wall panel extends beyond both top and bottom to provide for mounting holes (usually to a tree or post) and a third mounting hole can be drilled inside the box just under the roof.
Stagger these holes so that all are not in line along a single wood grain which can weaken and cause wood to split.
Locate in a woodland edge or clearing. Mount at least ten feet high. Place some wood chips (not sawdust) on the floor.
Installations out of reach and much further should be installed and maintained by professionals with the right equipment and experience: carpenters, electricians, line workers, etc.
See each species page for habitat, nesting habits and ranges.
Birds that Nest in this Birdhouse
Red-headed Woodpecker Birdhouse
Hawk Owl & Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Dimensions of this nest box are generally suitable for red-headed woodpeckers, golden-fronted woodpeckers and hawk owls.
Make this birdhouse with red cedar or most any softwood.
Use wood stock that is rough-cut on both sides so birds can grip both interior and exterior surfaces.
It has a 6″ by 6″ floor (inside dimensions), 14″ floor to ceiling (inside front), 2″ diameter entrance hole located 11″ above the floor (to top of hole) and ventilation openings in the floor and under the roof.
A hinged roof provides easy access for monitoring and cleaning. Brass shutter hooks secure roof in closed position.
Always use corrosion resistant screws and hardware.


Drilling countersunk pilot holes in primary and regular pilot holes in secondary work pieces reduces a tendency for wood to split and makes for easy assembly in minutes with a power or hand held screwdriver.
The back wall panel extends beyond both top and bottom to provide for mounting holes (usually to a tree or post) and a third mounting hole can be drilled inside the box just under the roof.
Stagger these holes so that all are not in line along a single wood grain which can weaken and cause wood to split.
Locate in a woodland edge or clearing. Mount at least ten feet high. Place some wood chips (not sawdust) on the floor.
Installations out of reach and much further should be installed and maintained by professionals with the right equipment and experience: carpenters, electricians, line workers, etc.
See each species pages for habitat, nesting habits and ranges.
Birds that Nest in this Birdhouse
Red-headed Woodpecker Birdhouse
Birds | Birdhouses | Plans | Home

Dimensions of this nest box are generally suitable for red-headed woodpeckers, golden-fronted woodpeckers and hawk owls.
Make this birdhouse with red cedar or most any softwood.
Use wood stock that is rough-cut on both sides so birds can grip both interior and exterior surfaces.

It has a 6″ by 6″ floor (inside dimensions), 14″ floor to ceiling (inside front), 2″ diameter entrance hole located 11″ above the floor (to top of hole) and ventilation openings in the floor and under the roof.
A hinged roof provides easy access for monitoring and cleaning. Brass shutter hooks secure roof in closed position.
Always use corrosion resistant screws and hardware.
Drilling countersunk pilot holes in primary and regular pilot holes in secondary work pieces reduces a tendency for wood to split and makes for easy assembly in minutes with a power or hand held screwdriver.
The back wall panel extends beyond both top and bottom to provide for mounting holes (usually to a tree or post) and a third mounting hole can be drilled inside the box just under the roof.
Stagger these holes so that all are not in line along a single wood grain which can weaken and cause wood to split.
Locate in a woodland edge or clearing. Mount at least ten feet high. Place some wood chips (not sawdust) on the floor.
Installations out of reach and much further should be installed and maintained by professionals with the right equipment and experience: carpenters, electricians, line workers, etc.
See each species pages for habitat, nesting habits and ranges.
Birds that Nest in this Birdhouse
Birds | Birdhouses | Plans | Home