Perch Supply
Nest box specification

Red-bellied Woodpecker house dimensions

The Red-bellied Woodpecker nests in excavated cavity in dead trees; occasionally large nest boxes A box built to its measurements — and no bigger — is what makes it choose yours.

Woodpeckers (Picidae)Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinus

The specifications

Entrance hole
2 1/2 in
Floor (inside)
6 × 6 in
Mounting height
12–20 ft
Bird size
9–10.5 in, 2–3.2 oz
Clutch
4–5 eggs
Incubation
12 days
Time in nest
22–27 days
Broods
1–3 per season

Build and mounting checklist

  • Drill the entrance to exactly 2 1/2 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 Red-bellied Woodpecker box, by state

Boxes should be up and clean a month before local nesting starts. Dates shift with latitude:

PlaceUp byNestingClean out
AlabamaFebruaryMarch–JulyAugust
FloridaFebruaryMarch–JulyAugust
GeorgiaFebruaryMarch–JulyAugust
LouisianaFebruaryMarch–JulyAugust
MississippiFebruaryMarch–JulyAugust
South CarolinaFebruaryMarch–JulyAugust
TexasFebruaryMarch–JulyAugust
ArkansasMarchApril–JulyAugust
ConnecticutMarchApril–JulyAugust
DelawareMarchApril–JulyAugust
IllinoisMarchApril–JulyAugust
IndianaMarchApril–JulyAugust
IowaMarchApril–JulyAugust
KansasMarchApril–JulyAugust
KentuckyMarchApril–JulyAugust
MarylandMarchApril–JulyAugust
MassachusettsMarchApril–JulyAugust
MichiganMarchApril–JulyAugust
MissouriMarchApril–JulyAugust
NebraskaMarchApril–JulyAugust
New JerseyMarchApril–JulyAugust
New YorkMarchApril–JulyAugust
North CarolinaMarchApril–JulyAugust
OhioMarchApril–JulyAugust
OklahomaMarchApril–JulyAugust
PennsylvaniaMarchApril–JulyAugust
Rhode IslandMarchApril–JulyAugust
South DakotaMarchApril–JulyAugust
TennesseeMarchApril–JulyAugust
VirginiaMarchApril–JulyAugust
West VirginiaMarchApril–JulyAugust
MinnesotaAprilMay–JulyAugust
OntarioAprilMay–JulyAugust
WisconsinAprilMay–JulyAugust

Full Red-bellied Woodpecker species guide →

Frequently asked

What size hole does a Red-bellied Woodpecker need?

2 1/2 in. A hole cut to this size admits the Red-bellied Woodpecker (9–10.5 in) while keeping out larger competitors.

How big should a Red-bellied Woodpecker house be inside?

A floor of 6 × 6 in. The Red-bellied Woodpecker lays 4–5 eggs, so the floor has to hold the full clutch plus growing nestlings.

How high should I mount a Red-bellied Woodpecker box?

12–20 ft. Mount on a pole with a predator baffle where possible rather than a tree or fence.

How long does a Red-bellied Woodpecker use the box?

Incubation takes 12 days and the young stay in the nest 22–27 days. Broods per year: 1–3 per season.

Sources

  1. Red-bellied Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Red-bellied Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Red-bellied Woodpecker — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. 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.