Nest boxes · Utah

Birdhouses for Utah

20 cavity-nesting birds breed in Utah. The first starts nesting in March, so the box season opens in February.

Local conditions

Growing zones: USDA 4a–9a
Winter: Cold winters with valley inversions; mountain birds descend to backyards.
Summer: Hot, dry summers.
Box nesters: 20 (16 year-round residents)
Hole sizes needed: 10 distinct

Semi-arid to arid, with the Wasatch Range rising above the Great Basin and red-rock canyon country in the south.

Box calendar for Utah

Bird	Status	Hole	Height	Up by	Nesting	Clean out
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
Northern Saw-whet Owl	Year-round resident	2 1/2 in	10–20 ft	February	March–June	July
Black-capped Chickadee	Year-round resident	1 1/8 in round	5–15 ft	March	April–July	August
Downy Woodpecker	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
Lewis's Woodpecker	Year-round resident	2 1/2 in	12–20 ft	April	May–July	August

Nesting windows are shifted from each species' mid-latitude season by Utah'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 Utah?

By February for the earliest local nester, the Bewick's Wren, which starts nesting around March.

Which birds use nest boxes in Utah?

Bewick's Wren, American Kestrel, Western Screech-Owl, Northern Saw-whet 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, Lewis's Woodpecker.

What hole size should a Utah birdhouse have?

It depends on the bird: the 20 local box nesters use 10 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.