Nest boxes · Minnesota

Birdhouses for Minnesota

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

Local conditions

Growing zones: USDA 3a–5b
Winter: Temperatures below 0°F are routine — heated water, suet and roost boxes are survival aids, not extras.
Summer: A short, intense breeding season; most nesting runs May through July.
Box nesters: 20 (14 year-round residents)
Hole sizes needed: 14 distinct

Continental, with very cold winters and warm summers; prairie in the west, boreal forest in the northeast.

Box calendar for Minnesota

Bird	Status	Hole	Height	Up by	Nesting	Clean out
Barred Owl	Year-round resident	7–8 in	12–20 ft	January	February–May	June
Hooded Merganser	Year-round resident	4 × 3 in oval	6–20 ft	February	March–May	June
Hairy Woodpecker	Year-round resident	1 1/2 in round	8–20 ft, box packed with wood shavings	March	April–June	July
Tufted Titmouse Local in the southeast.	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
Eastern Screech-Owl	Year-round resident	3 in	10–30 ft	March	April–May	June
American Kestrel	Year-round resident	3 in	10–30 ft	March	April–June	July
Wood Duck	Year-round resident	4 × 3 in oval	6–20 ft	March	April–June	July
Northern Saw-whet Owl	Year-round resident	2 1/2 in	10–20 ft	March	April–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	April	May–August	September
Black-capped Chickadee	Year-round resident	1 1/8 in round	5–15 ft	April	May–July	August
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–July	August
House Wren	Summer breeder	1 to 1 1/8 in round	5–10 ft near shrubs	April	May–August	September
Red-bellied Woodpecker Southern half; expanding north.	Year-round resident	2 1/2 in	12–20 ft	April	May–July	August
Northern Flicker Most leave in winter.	Year-round resident	2 1/2 in	6–20 ft	April	May–June	July
Prothonotary Warbler	Summer breeder	1 1/8 in	3–6 ft over water	April	May–June	July
Red-breasted Nuthatch	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in	5–15 ft	May	June–June	July
Tree Swallow	Summer breeder	1 1/2 in	5–10 ft	May	June–June	July
Great Crested Flycatcher	Summer breeder	1 3/4 in	8–20 ft	May	June–July	August

Nesting windows are shifted from each species' mid-latitude season by Minnesota'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 Minnesota?

By January for the earliest local nester, the Barred Owl, which starts nesting around February.

Which birds use nest boxes in Minnesota?

Barred Owl, Hooded Merganser, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Screech-Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, House Wren, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Prothonotary Warbler, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Tree Swallow, Great Crested Flycatcher.

What hole size should a Minnesota 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.