Nest boxes · Montana

Birdhouses for Montana

20 cavity-nesting birds breed in Montana. The first starts nesting in April, so the box season opens in March.

Local conditions

Growing zones: USDA 3a–6a
Winter: Very cold winters on the plains, with chinook winds bringing sudden thaws.
Summer: Warm, dry summers and a short growing season.
Box nesters: 20 (14 year-round residents)
Hole sizes needed: 10 distinct

Continental — Rocky Mountain forest in the west, semi-arid Great Plains in the east.

Box calendar for Montana

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

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

By March for the earliest local nester, the Eastern Screech-Owl, which starts nesting around April.

Which birds use nest boxes in Montana?

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

What hole size should a Montana birdhouse have?

It depends on the bird: the 20 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.