Birdhouses for Northwest Territories
8 cavity-nesting birds breed in Northwest Territories. The first starts nesting in April, so the box season opens in March.
Local conditions
- Growing zones
- Canada 0a–1a
- Winter
- Extremely cold, dark winters.
- Summer
- Brief summers with midnight sun.
- Box nesters
- 8 (5 year-round residents)
- Hole sizes needed
- 7 distinct
Subarctic boreal forest in the south, Arctic tundra in the north.
Box calendar for Northwest Territories
| Bird | Status | Hole | Height | Up by | Nesting | Clean out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Northwest Territories'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 Northwest Territories
Frequently asked
When should I put up a birdhouse in Northwest Territories?
By March for the earliest local nester, the American Kestrel, which starts nesting around April.
Which birds use nest boxes in Northwest Territories?
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 Northwest Territories birdhouse have?
It depends on the bird: the 8 local box nesters use 7 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 — Northwest Territories
- 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.