Prothonotary Warbler house dimensions
The Prothonotary Warbler nests in tree cavity or nest box standing in or over water A box built to its measurements — and no bigger — is what makes it choose yours.
The specifications
- Entrance hole
- 1 1/8 in
- Floor (inside)
- 4 × 4 in
- Mounting height
- 3–6 ft over water
- Bird size
- 5.1 in, 0.4–0.6 oz
- Clutch
- 3–7 eggs
- Incubation
- 12–14 days
- Time in nest
- 10 days
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
Build and mounting checklist
- Drill the entrance to exactly 1 1/8 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 Prothonotary Warbler 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 | February | March–June | July |
| Florida | February | March–June | July |
| Georgia | February | March–June | July |
| Louisiana | February | March–June | July |
| Mississippi | February | March–June | July |
| South Carolina | February | March–June | July |
| Texas | February | March–June | July |
| Arkansas | March | April–June | July |
| Delaware | March | April–June | July |
| Illinois | March | April–June | July |
| Indiana | March | April–June | July |
| Iowa | March | April–June | July |
| Kansas | March | April–June | July |
| Kentucky | March | April–June | July |
| Maryland | March | April–June | July |
| Missouri | March | April–June | July |
| New Jersey | March | April–June | July |
| North Carolina | March | April–June | July |
| Ohio | March | April–June | July |
| Oklahoma | March | April–June | July |
| Tennessee | March | April–June | July |
| Virginia | March | April–June | July |
| West Virginia | March | April–June | July |
| Minnesota | April | May–June | July |
| Ontario | April | May–June | July |
| Wisconsin | April | May–June | July |
Full Prothonotary Warbler species guide →
Frequently asked
What size hole does a Prothonotary Warbler need?
1 1/8 in. A hole cut to this size admits the Prothonotary Warbler (5.1 in) while keeping out larger competitors.
How big should a Prothonotary Warbler house be inside?
A floor of 4 × 4 in. The Prothonotary Warbler lays 3–7 eggs, so the floor has to hold the full clutch plus growing nestlings.
How high should I mount a Prothonotary Warbler box?
3–6 ft over water. Mount on a pole with a predator baffle where possible rather than a tree or fence.
How long does a Prothonotary Warbler use the box?
Incubation takes 12–14 days and the young stay in the nest 10 days. Broods per year: 1–2 per season.
Sources
- Prothonotary Warbler — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Prothonotary Warbler life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Prothonotary Warbler — 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.