Birdhouses for New Brunswick
16 cavity-nesting birds breed in New Brunswick. The first starts nesting in February, so the box season opens in January.
Local conditions
- Growing zones
- Canada 3a–5b
- Winter
- Cold, snowy winters.
- Summer
- Mild summers.
- Box nesters
- 16 (10 year-round residents)
- Hole sizes needed
- 13 distinct
Humid continental with Bay of Fundy and Gulf of St. Lawrence coastlines and extensive forest.
Box calendar for New Brunswick
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | Summer breeder | 2 1/2 in | 6–20 ft | April | May–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 | May | June–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 |
| 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 New Brunswick'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 New Brunswick
Frequently asked
When should I put up a birdhouse in New Brunswick?
By January for the earliest local nester, the Barred Owl, which starts nesting around February.
Which birds use nest boxes in New Brunswick?
Barred Owl, Hooded Merganser, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Flicker, Purple Martin, House Wren, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Tree Swallow, Great Crested Flycatcher.
What hole size should a New Brunswick birdhouse have?
It depends on the bird: the 16 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 — New Brunswick
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.