Nest boxes · Arizona

Birdhouses for Arizona

19 cavity-nesting birds breed in Arizona. The first starts nesting in February, so the box season opens in January.

Local conditions

Growing zones: USDA 4b–10b
Winter: Low deserts stay mild and host many wintering sparrows and hummingbirds; the high country gets snow.
Summer: Summer highs above 110°F in Phoenix and Tucson make water the single strongest attractant; the July monsoon triggers a second breeding pulse.
Box nesters: 19 (15 year-round residents)
Hole sizes needed: 12 distinct

Hot Sonoran and Mojave deserts in the south and west, with pine-oak sky islands and the Colorado Plateau rising above 7,000 ft.

Box calendar for Arizona

Bird	Status	Hole	Height	Up by	Nesting	Clean out
Bewick's Wren	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in	5–10 ft	January	February–June	July
American Kestrel	Year-round resident	3 in	10–30 ft	January	February–June	July
Western Screech-Owl	Year-round resident	3 in	10–30 ft	January	February–June	July
Eastern Bluebird The pale 'Azure' subspecies, local in the southeastern mountains.	Year-round resident	1 1/2 in round (1 9/16 in for Mountain/Western overlap)	4–6 ft on a baffled pole	February	March–August	September
Hairy Woodpecker Mountain pine and oak forests.	Year-round resident	1 1/2 in round	8–20 ft, box packed with wood shavings	February	March–June	July
White-breasted Nuthatch	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in round	5–20 ft	February	March–June	July
Northern Flicker	Year-round resident	2 1/2 in	6–20 ft	February	March–June	July
Juniper Titmouse	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in	5–15 ft	February	March–June	July
Western Bluebird	Year-round resident	1 1/2 in	5–10 ft	February	March–July	August
Ash-throated Flycatcher	Summer breeder	1 1/2 in	5–20 ft	February	March–July	August
Purple Martin Desert subspecies nests in saguaro cavities, not martin houses.	Summer breeder	1 3/4–2 1/8 in round, or starling-resistant crescent (3 × 1 3/16 in)	10–20 ft on a telescoping pole, 40+ ft from trees	March	April–July	August
House Wren Breeds in the mountains; winters in the low deserts.	Year-round resident	1 to 1 1/8 in round	5–10 ft near shrubs	March	April–August	September
Red-breasted Nuthatch	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in	5–15 ft	March	April–June	July
Tree Swallow	Summer breeder	1 1/2 in	5–10 ft	March	April–June	July
Mountain Chickadee	Year-round resident	1 1/8 in	5–15 ft	March	April–July	August
Pygmy Nuthatch	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in	8–20 ft	March	April–June	July
Mountain Bluebird	Year-round resident	1 9/16 in	5–10 ft	March	April–July	August
Violet-green Swallow	Summer breeder	1 1/2 in	8–15 ft	March	April–July	August
Barn Owl	Year-round resident	6 in	10–20 ft	November	December–December	January

Nesting windows are shifted from each species' mid-latitude season by Arizona's latitude; year-round residents may also roost in boxes over winter, so clean them out in autumn and leave them up.

Bird guides for Arizona

Bewick's Wren in Arizona American Kestrel in Arizona Western Screech-Owl in Arizona Eastern Bluebird in Arizona Hairy Woodpecker in Arizona White-breasted Nuthatch in Arizona Northern Flicker in Arizona Juniper Titmouse in Arizona Western Bluebird in Arizona Ash-throated Flycatcher in Arizona Purple Martin in Arizona House Wren in Arizona Red-breasted Nuthatch in Arizona Tree Swallow in Arizona Mountain Chickadee in Arizona Pygmy Nuthatch in Arizona Mountain Bluebird in Arizona Violet-green Swallow in Arizona Barn Owl in Arizona

Frequently asked

When should I put up a birdhouse in Arizona?

By January for the earliest local nester, the Bewick's Wren, which starts nesting around February.

Which birds use nest boxes in Arizona?

Bewick's Wren, American Kestrel, Western Screech-Owl, Eastern Bluebird, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Flicker, Juniper Titmouse, Western Bluebird, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Purple Martin, House Wren, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Tree Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, Mountain Bluebird, Violet-green Swallow, Barn Owl.

What hole size should a Arizona birdhouse have?

It depends on the bird: the 19 local box nesters use 12 different hole sizes. See the table for each species.

Sources

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.