Birdhouses for New Mexico
19 cavity-nesting birds breed in New Mexico. The first starts nesting in January, so the box season opens in December.
Local conditions
- Growing zones
- USDA 4b–9a
- Winter
- Cold nights and sunny days; many desert and mountain birds move to lower elevations.
- Summer
- Hot, dry early summer followed by the July–August monsoon.
- Box nesters
- 19 (15 year-round residents)
- Hole sizes needed
- 11 distinct
Arid to semi-arid, with Chihuahuan desert in the south and mountain forest above 7,000 ft.
Box calendar for New Mexico
| Bird | Status | Hole | Height | Up by | Nesting | Clean out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barn Owl | Year-round resident | 6 in | 10–20 ft | December | January–December | January |
| Bewick's Wren | Year-round resident | 1 1/4 in | 5–10 ft | February | March–June | July |
| American Kestrel | Year-round resident | 3 in | 10–30 ft | February | March–June | July |
| Western Screech-Owl | Year-round resident | 3 in | 10–30 ft | February | March–June | July |
| Black-capped Chickadee Northern mountains. | Year-round resident | 1 1/8 in round | 5–15 ft | March | April–July | August |
| Downy Woodpecker Northern mountains and river valleys. | Year-round resident | 1 1/4 in round | 5–20 ft, box packed with wood shavings | March | April–June | July |
| Hairy Woodpecker | Year-round resident | 1 1/2 in round | 8–20 ft, box packed with wood shavings | March | April–June | July |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Year-round resident | 1 1/4 in round | 5–20 ft | March | April–June | July |
| Northern Flicker | Year-round resident | 2 1/2 in | 6–20 ft | March | April–June | July |
| Juniper Titmouse | Year-round resident | 1 1/4 in | 5–15 ft | March | April–June | July |
| Western Bluebird | Year-round resident | 1 1/2 in | 5–10 ft | March | April–July | August |
| Ash-throated Flycatcher | Summer breeder | 1 1/2 in | 5–20 ft | March | April–July | August |
| 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 |
| Mountain Chickadee | Year-round resident | 1 1/8 in | 5–15 ft | April | May–July | August |
| Pygmy Nuthatch | Year-round resident | 1 1/4 in | 8–20 ft | April | May–June | July |
| Mountain Bluebird | Year-round resident | 1 9/16 in | 5–10 ft | April | May–July | August |
| Violet-green Swallow | Summer breeder | 1 1/2 in | 8–15 ft | April | May–July | August |
Nesting windows are shifted from each species' mid-latitude season by New Mexico'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 Mexico
Frequently asked
When should I put up a birdhouse in New Mexico?
By December for the earliest local nester, the Barn Owl, which starts nesting around January.
Which birds use nest boxes in New Mexico?
Barn Owl, Bewick's Wren, American Kestrel, Western Screech-Owl, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Flicker, Juniper Titmouse, Western Bluebird, Ash-throated Flycatcher, House Wren, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Tree Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, Mountain Bluebird, Violet-green Swallow.
What hole size should a New Mexico birdhouse have?
It depends on the bird: the 19 local box nesters use 11 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 Mexico
- 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.