Nest boxes · South Carolina

Birdhouses for South Carolina

20 cavity-nesting birds breed in South Carolina. The first starts nesting in January, so the box season opens in December.

Local conditions

Growing zones: USDA 7a–9a
Winter: Mild winters; Lowcountry backyards host Painted Buntings in summer and many sparrows in winter.
Summer: Hot, humid summers.
Box nesters: 20 (17 year-round residents)
Hole sizes needed: 14 distinct

Humid subtropical, from the Blue Ridge foothills to the Lowcountry marshes.

Box calendar for South Carolina

Bird	Status	Hole	Height	Up by	Nesting	Clean out
Hooded Merganser	Year-round resident	4 × 3 in oval	6–20 ft	December	January–May	June
Brown-headed Nuthatch	Year-round resident	1 in	5–12 ft	January	February–May	June
Eastern Screech-Owl	Year-round resident	3 in	10–30 ft	January	February–May	June
American Kestrel	Year-round resident	3 in	10–30 ft	January	February–June	July
Wood Duck	Year-round resident	4 × 3 in oval	6–20 ft	January	February–June	July
Brown-headed Nuthatch	Year-round resident	1 in	5–12 ft	January	February–May	June
Eastern Bluebird	Year-round resident	1 1/2 in round (1 9/16 in for Mountain/Western overlap)	4–6 ft on a baffled pole	February	March–August	September
Carolina Chickadee	Year-round resident	1 1/8 in round	5–15 ft	February	March–June	July
Downy Woodpecker	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in round	5–20 ft, box packed with wood shavings	February	March–June	July
Hairy Woodpecker	Year-round resident	1 1/2 in round	8–20 ft, box packed with wood shavings	February	March–June	July
Tufted Titmouse	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in round	5–15 ft	February	March–June	July
White-breasted Nuthatch	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in round	5–20 ft	February	March–June	July
Carolina Wren	Year-round resident	1 1/8–1 1/2 in	5–10 ft	February	March–August	September
Red-bellied Woodpecker	Year-round resident	2 1/2 in	12–20 ft	February	March–July	August
Northern Flicker	Year-round resident	2 1/2 in	6–20 ft	February	March–June	July
Prothonotary Warbler	Summer breeder	1 1/8 in	3–6 ft over water	February	March–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	March	April–July	August
Great Crested Flycatcher	Summer breeder	1 3/4 in	8–20 ft	March	April–July	August
Barred Owl	Year-round resident	7–8 in	12–20 ft	April	May–May	June
Barn Owl	Year-round resident	6 in	10–20 ft	November	December–December	January

Nesting windows are shifted from each species' mid-latitude season by South Carolina's latitude; year-round residents may also roost in boxes over winter, so clean them out in autumn and leave them up.

Frequently asked

When should I put up a birdhouse in South Carolina?

By December for the earliest local nester, the Hooded Merganser, which starts nesting around January.

Which birds use nest boxes in South Carolina?

Hooded Merganser, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Eastern Screech-Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Prothonotary Warbler, Purple Martin, Great Crested Flycatcher, Barred Owl, Barn Owl.

What hole size should a South Carolina birdhouse have?

It depends on the bird: the 20 local box nesters use 14 different hole sizes. See the table for each species.

Sources

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.