Brown-headed Nuthatch house dimensions
The Brown-headed Nuthatch nests in excavated cavity in dead pine snags; nest boxes A box built to its measurements — and no bigger — is what makes it choose yours.
The specifications
- Entrance hole
- 1 in
- Floor (inside)
- 4 × 4 in
- Mounting height
- 5–12 ft
- Bird size
- 3.9–4.3 in, 0.3–0.4 oz
- Clutch
- 3–7 eggs
- Incubation
- 13–15 days
- Time in nest
- 18–19 days
- Broods
- 1 per season
Build and mounting checklist
- Drill the entrance to exactly 1 in — oversized holes let in European Starlings and larger predators.
- No outside perch: cavity nesters don't need one, and it helps House Sparrows and predators.
- Unpainted interior, 3/4-inch untreated wood (cedar or pine) or poly-lumber for insulation.
- Drainage holes in the floor corners and ventilation gaps under the roof.
- A side or front panel that opens so you can monitor and clean the box.
- Rough or grooved inner front wall so nestlings can climb out.
- Pole mount with a stovepipe or cone baffle to stop snakes, raccoons and cats.
When to put up a Brown-headed Nuthatch box, by state
Boxes should be up and clean a month before local nesting starts. Dates shift with latitude:
| Place | Up by | Nesting | Clean out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | January | February–May | June |
| Florida | January | February–May | June |
| Georgia | January | February–May | June |
| Louisiana | January | February–May | June |
| Mississippi | January | February–May | June |
| South Carolina | January | February–May | June |
| Texas | January | February–May | June |
| Arkansas | February | March–May | June |
| Delaware | February | March–May | June |
| Maryland | February | March–May | June |
| North Carolina | February | March–May | June |
| Oklahoma | February | March–May | June |
| Tennessee | February | March–May | June |
| Virginia | February | March–May | June |
Full Brown-headed Nuthatch species guide →
Frequently asked
What size hole does a Brown-headed Nuthatch need?
1 in. A hole cut to this size admits the Brown-headed Nuthatch (3.9–4.3 in) while keeping out larger competitors.
How big should a Brown-headed Nuthatch house be inside?
A floor of 4 × 4 in. The Brown-headed Nuthatch lays 3–7 eggs, so the floor has to hold the full clutch plus growing nestlings.
How high should I mount a Brown-headed Nuthatch box?
5–12 ft. Mount on a pole with a predator baffle where possible rather than a tree or fence.
How long does a Brown-headed Nuthatch use the box?
Incubation takes 13–15 days and the young stay in the nest 18–19 days. Broods per year: 1 per season.
Sources
- Brown-headed Nuthatch — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Brown-headed Nuthatch life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Brown-headed Nuthatch — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.