Birdhouses for Newfoundland and Labrador
9 cavity-nesting birds breed in Newfoundland and Labrador. The first starts nesting in February, so the box season opens in January.
Local conditions
- Growing zones
- Canada 0a–6b
- Winter
- Long, snowy, windy winters.
- Summer
- Cool summers; nesting often starts in June.
- Box nesters
- 9 (6 year-round residents)
- Hole sizes needed
- 8 distinct
Cool maritime on the island of Newfoundland; subarctic in Labrador.
Box calendar for Newfoundland and Labrador
| Bird | Status | Hole | Height | Up by | Nesting | Clean out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barred Owl | Year-round resident | 7–8 in | 12–20 ft | January | February–May | June |
| American Kestrel | Summer breeder | 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 |
| Northern Flicker | Summer breeder | 2 1/2 in | 6–20 ft | 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 |
Nesting windows are shifted from each species' mid-latitude season by Newfoundland and Labrador'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 Newfoundland and Labrador
Frequently asked
When should I put up a birdhouse in Newfoundland and Labrador?
By January for the earliest local nester, the Barred Owl, which starts nesting around February.
Which birds use nest boxes in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Barred Owl, American Kestrel, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Tree Swallow.
What hole size should a Newfoundland and Labrador birdhouse have?
It depends on the bird: the 9 local box nesters use 8 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 — Newfoundland and Labrador
- 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.