Red-breasted Nuthatch house dimensions
The Red-breasted Nuthatch nests in excavated cavity in soft dead conifers or aspens; uses 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
- 5–15 ft
- Bird size
- 4.3 in, 0.3–0.5 oz
- Clutch
- 5–8 eggs
- Incubation
- 12–13 days
- Time in nest
- 18–21 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 Red-breasted 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 |
| Connecticut | April | May–June | July |
| Idaho | April | May–June | July |
| Massachusetts | April | May–June | July |
| Michigan | April | May–June | July |
| Nevada | April | May–June | July |
| New Jersey | April | May–June | July |
| New Mexico | April | May–June | July |
| New York | April | May–June | July |
| Oregon | April | May–June | July |
| Pennsylvania | April | May–June | July |
| Rhode Island | April | May–June | July |
| Utah | April | May–June | July |
| Washington | April | May–June | July |
| West Virginia | April | May–June | July |
| Alaska | May | June–June | July |
| Alberta | May | June–June | July |
| British Columbia | May | June–June | July |
| Maine | May | June–June | July |
| Manitoba | May | June–June | July |
| Minnesota | May | June–June | July |
| Montana | May | June–June | July |
| New Brunswick | May | June–June | July |
| New Hampshire | May | June–June | July |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | May | June–June | July |
| Northwest Territories | May | June–June | July |
| Nova Scotia | May | June–June | July |
| Ontario | May | June–June | July |
| Prince Edward Island | May | June–June | July |
| Quebec | May | June–June | July |
| Saskatchewan | May | June–June | July |
| Vermont | May | June–June | July |
| Wisconsin | May | June–June | July |
| Wyoming | May | June–June | July |
| Yukon | May | June–June | July |
Full Red-breasted Nuthatch species guide →
Frequently asked
What size hole does a Red-breasted Nuthatch need?
1 1/4 in. A hole cut to this size admits the Red-breasted Nuthatch (4.3 in) while keeping out larger competitors.
How big should a Red-breasted Nuthatch house be inside?
A floor of 4 × 4 in. The Red-breasted Nuthatch lays 5–8 eggs, so the floor has to hold the full clutch plus growing nestlings.
How high should I mount a Red-breasted Nuthatch box?
5–15 ft. Mount on a pole with a predator baffle where possible rather than a tree or fence.
How long does a Red-breasted Nuthatch use the box?
Incubation takes 12–13 days and the young stay in the nest 18–21 days. Broods per year: 1 per season.
Sources
- Red-breasted Nuthatch — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-breasted Nuthatch life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-breasted 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.