Birdhouses for Prince Edward Island
11 cavity-nesting birds breed in Prince Edward Island. The first starts nesting in February, so the box season opens in January.
Local conditions
- Growing zones
- Canada 4b–5b
- Winter
- Snowy winters with sea ice offshore.
- Summer
- Mild summers.
- Box nesters
- 11 (8 year-round residents)
- Hole sizes needed
- 9 distinct
Humid continental moderated by the Gulf of St. Lawrence; mostly farmland and mixed woods.
Box calendar for Prince Edward Island
| 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 | Year-round resident | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Nesting windows are shifted from each species' mid-latitude season by Prince Edward Island'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 Prince Edward Island
Frequently asked
When should I put up a birdhouse in Prince Edward Island?
By January for the earliest local nester, the Barred Owl, which starts nesting around February.
Which birds use nest boxes in Prince Edward Island?
Barred Owl, American Kestrel, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Flicker, House Wren, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Tree Swallow.
What hole size should a Prince Edward Island birdhouse have?
It depends on the bird: the 11 local box nesters use 9 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 — Prince Edward Island
- 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.