Pygmy Nuthatch house dimensions
The Pygmy Nuthatch nests in cavity in dead pine; nest boxes A box built to its measurements — and no bigger — is what makes it choose yours.
The specifications
- Entrance hole
- 1 1/4 in
- Floor (inside)
- 4 × 4 in
- Mounting height
- 8–20 ft
- Bird size
- 3.5–4.3 in, 0.4 oz
- Clutch
- 4–9 eggs
- Incubation
- 14–16 days
- Time in nest
- 20–22 days
- Broods
- 1 per season
Build and mounting checklist
- Drill the entrance to exactly 1 1/4 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 Pygmy 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | March | April–June | July |
| California | March | April–June | July |
| Colorado | April | May–June | July |
| Idaho | April | May–June | July |
| Nebraska | April | May–June | July |
| Nevada | April | May–June | July |
| New Mexico | April | May–June | July |
| Oregon | April | May–June | July |
| South Dakota | April | May–June | July |
| Utah | April | May–June | July |
| Washington | April | May–June | July |
| British Columbia | May | June–June | July |
| Montana | May | June–June | July |
| Wyoming | May | June–June | July |
Full Pygmy Nuthatch species guide →
Frequently asked
What size hole does a Pygmy Nuthatch need?
1 1/4 in. A hole cut to this size admits the Pygmy Nuthatch (3.5–4.3 in) while keeping out larger competitors.
How big should a Pygmy Nuthatch house be inside?
A floor of 4 × 4 in. The Pygmy Nuthatch lays 4–9 eggs, so the floor has to hold the full clutch plus growing nestlings.
How high should I mount a Pygmy Nuthatch box?
8–20 ft. Mount on a pole with a predator baffle where possible rather than a tree or fence.
How long does a Pygmy Nuthatch use the box?
Incubation takes 14–16 days and the young stay in the nest 20–22 days. Broods per year: 1 per season.
Sources
- Pygmy Nuthatch — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Pygmy Nuthatch life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Pygmy 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.