Birdhouses for Michigan
19 cavity-nesting birds breed in Michigan. The first starts nesting in January, so the box season opens in December.
Local conditions
- Growing zones
- USDA 4a–6b
- Winter
- Lake-effect snow and long cold spells; Purple Finches breed in the north and winter farther south.
- Summer
- A compressed nesting season; bluebirds usually manage one or two broods.
- Box nesters
- 19 (14 year-round residents)
- Hole sizes needed
- 13 distinct
Humid continental, strongly shaped by the Great Lakes; colder and snowier in the Upper Peninsula.
Box calendar for Michigan
| Bird | Status | Hole | Height | Up by | Nesting | Clean out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barred Owl | Year-round resident | 7–8 in | 12–20 ft | December | January–May | June |
| Hooded Merganser | Year-round resident | 4 × 3 in oval | 6–20 ft | January | February–May | June |
| Eastern Screech-Owl | Year-round resident | 3 in | 10–30 ft | February | March–May | June |
| American Kestrel | Year-round resident | 3 in | 10–30 ft | February | March–June | July |
| Wood Duck | Year-round resident | 4 × 3 in oval | 6–20 ft | February | March–June | July |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Year-round resident | 2 1/2 in | 10–20 ft | February | March–June | July |
| Eastern Bluebird | Summer breeder | 1 1/2 in round (1 9/16 in for Mountain/Western overlap) | 4–6 ft on a baffled pole | March | April–August | September |
| Black-capped Chickadee | Year-round resident | 1 1/8 in round | 5–15 ft | March | April–July | August |
| Hairy Woodpecker | Year-round resident | 1 1/2 in round | 8–20 ft, box packed with wood shavings | March | April–June | July |
| Tufted Titmouse Southern Lower Peninsula. | Year-round resident | 1 1/4 in round | 5–15 ft | March | April–June | July |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Year-round resident | 1 1/4 in round | 5–20 ft | March | April–June | July |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | Year-round resident | 2 1/2 in | 12–20 ft | March | April–July | August |
| Northern Flicker | Year-round resident | 2 1/2 in | 6–20 ft | March | April–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 | April | May–July | August |
| Downy Woodpecker | Year-round resident | 1 1/4 in round | 5–20 ft, box packed with wood shavings | April | May–June | July |
| 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 |
| Great Crested Flycatcher | Summer breeder | 1 3/4 in | 8–20 ft | April | May–July | August |
Nesting windows are shifted from each species' mid-latitude season by Michigan'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 Michigan
Frequently asked
When should I put up a birdhouse in Michigan?
By December for the earliest local nester, the Barred Owl, which starts nesting around January.
Which birds use nest boxes in Michigan?
Barred Owl, Hooded Merganser, Eastern Screech-Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, House Wren, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Tree Swallow, Great Crested Flycatcher.
What hole size should a Michigan birdhouse have?
It depends on the bird: the 19 local box nesters use 13 different hole sizes. See the table for each species.
Sources
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Michigan
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
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.