Birdhouses for New Hampshire
18 cavity-nesting birds breed in New Hampshire. The first starts nesting in February, so the box season opens in January.
Local conditions
- Growing zones
- USDA 3b–6a
- Winter
- Long, snowy winters; boreal species visit feeders in irruption years.
- Summer
- Mild summers; nesting starts late May.
- Box nesters
- 18 (13 year-round residents)
- Hole sizes needed
- 13 distinct
Humid continental, with the White Mountains dividing the southern lowlands from northern forest.
Box calendar for New Hampshire
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Tufted Titmouse | Year-round resident | 1 1/4 in round | 5–15 ft | 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 |
| 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 Hampshire'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 Hampshire
Frequently asked
When should I put up a birdhouse in New Hampshire?
By January for the earliest local nester, the Barred Owl, which starts nesting around February.
Which birds use nest boxes in New Hampshire?
Barred Owl, Hooded Merganser, Eastern Screech-Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Flicker, Purple Martin, House Wren, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Tree Swallow, Great Crested Flycatcher.
What hole size should a New Hampshire birdhouse have?
It depends on the bird: the 18 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 Hampshire
- 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.