Nest boxes · Louisiana

Birdhouses for Louisiana

20 cavity-nesting birds breed in Louisiana. The first starts nesting in January, so the box season opens in December.

Local conditions

Growing zones: USDA 8a–10a
Winter: Mild winters make Louisiana a major wintering ground for sparrows, wrens, and even western hummingbirds.
Summer: Very hot, humid summers and hurricane season June–November.
Box nesters: 20 (17 year-round residents)
Hole sizes needed: 14 distinct

Humid subtropical, with coastal marsh, bottomland hardwood forest and piney uplands in the north.

Box calendar for Louisiana

Bird	Status	Hole	Height	Up by	Nesting	Clean out
Hooded Merganser	Year-round resident	4 × 3 in oval	6–20 ft	December	January–May	June
Brown-headed Nuthatch	Year-round resident	1 in	5–12 ft	January	February–May	June
Eastern Screech-Owl	Year-round resident	3 in	10–30 ft	January	February–May	June
American Kestrel	Year-round resident	3 in	10–30 ft	January	February–June	July
Wood Duck	Year-round resident	4 × 3 in oval	6–20 ft	January	February–June	July
Brown-headed Nuthatch	Year-round resident	1 in	5–12 ft	January	February–May	June
Eastern Bluebird	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
Carolina Chickadee	Year-round resident	1 1/8 in round	5–15 ft	February	March–June	July
Downy Woodpecker	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in round	5–20 ft, box packed with wood shavings	February	March–June	July
Hairy Woodpecker	Year-round resident	1 1/2 in round	8–20 ft, box packed with wood shavings	February	March–June	July
Tufted Titmouse	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in round	5–15 ft	February	March–June	July
White-breasted Nuthatch	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in round	5–20 ft	February	March–June	July
Carolina Wren	Year-round resident	1 1/8–1 1/2 in	5–10 ft	February	March–August	September
Red-bellied Woodpecker	Year-round resident	2 1/2 in	12–20 ft	February	March–July	August
Northern Flicker	Year-round resident	2 1/2 in	6–20 ft	February	March–June	July
Prothonotary Warbler	Summer breeder	1 1/8 in	3–6 ft over water	February	March–June	July
Purple Martin	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
Great Crested Flycatcher	Summer breeder	1 3/4 in	8–20 ft	March	April–July	August
Barred Owl	Year-round resident	7–8 in	12–20 ft	April	May–May	June
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 Louisiana'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 Louisiana?

By December for the earliest local nester, the Hooded Merganser, which starts nesting around January.

Which birds use nest boxes in Louisiana?

Hooded Merganser, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Eastern Screech-Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Prothonotary Warbler, Purple Martin, Great Crested Flycatcher, Barred Owl, Barn Owl.

What hole size should a Louisiana birdhouse have?

It depends on the bird: the 20 local box nesters use 14 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.