Nest boxes · Idaho

Birdhouses for Idaho

21 cavity-nesting birds breed in Idaho. The first starts nesting in March, so the box season opens in February.

Local conditions

Growing zones: USDA 3b–7b
Winter: Cold winters with inversions in the valleys; mountain finches and Bohemian Waxwings move into towns.
Summer: Hot, dry summers in the Snake River Plain and cool mountain summers.
Box nesters: 21 (15 year-round residents)
Hole sizes needed: 10 distinct

Semi-arid sagebrush plains along the Snake River and forested mountains to the north and center.

Box calendar for Idaho

Bird	Status	Hole	Height	Up by	Nesting	Clean out
American Kestrel	Year-round resident	3 in	10–30 ft	February	March–June	July
Western Screech-Owl	Year-round resident	3 in	10–30 ft	February	March–June	July
Northern Saw-whet Owl	Year-round resident	2 1/2 in	10–20 ft	February	March–June	July
Black-capped Chickadee	Year-round resident	1 1/8 in round	5–15 ft	March	April–July	August
Downy Woodpecker	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in round	5–20 ft, box packed with wood shavings	March	April–June	July
Hairy Woodpecker	Year-round resident	1 1/2 in round	8–20 ft, box packed with wood shavings	March	April–June	July
White-breasted Nuthatch	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in round	5–20 ft	March	April–June	July
Northern Flicker	Year-round resident	2 1/2 in	6–20 ft	March	April–June	July
Chestnut-backed Chickadee	Year-round resident	1 1/8 in	5–15 ft	March	April–June	July
Juniper Titmouse	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in	5–15 ft	March	April–June	July
Western Bluebird	Summer breeder	1 1/2 in	5–10 ft	March	April–July	August
Ash-throated Flycatcher	Summer breeder	1 1/2 in	5–20 ft	March	April–July	August
White-headed Woodpecker	Year-round resident	1 1/2 in	10–20 ft	March	April–July	August
House Wren	Summer breeder	1 to 1 1/8 in round	5–10 ft near shrubs	April	May–August	September
Red-breasted Nuthatch	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in	5–15 ft	April	May–June	July
Tree Swallow	Summer breeder	1 1/2 in	5–10 ft	April	May–June	July
Mountain Chickadee	Year-round resident	1 1/8 in	5–15 ft	April	May–July	August
Pygmy Nuthatch	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in	8–20 ft	April	May–June	July
Mountain Bluebird	Summer breeder	1 9/16 in	5–10 ft	April	May–July	August
Violet-green Swallow	Summer breeder	1 1/2 in	8–15 ft	April	May–July	August
Lewis's Woodpecker	Year-round resident	2 1/2 in	12–20 ft	April	May–July	August

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

Frequently asked

When should I put up a birdhouse in Idaho?

By February for the earliest local nester, the American Kestrel, which starts nesting around March.

Which birds use nest boxes in Idaho?

American Kestrel, Western Screech-Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Flicker, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Juniper Titmouse, Western Bluebird, Ash-throated Flycatcher, White-headed Woodpecker, House Wren, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Tree Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, Mountain Bluebird, Violet-green Swallow, Lewis's Woodpecker.

What hole size should a Idaho birdhouse have?

It depends on the bird: the 21 local box nesters use 10 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.