Nest boxes · Wyoming

Birdhouses for Wyoming

19 cavity-nesting birds breed in Wyoming. The first starts nesting in April, so the box season opens in March.

Local conditions

Growing zones: USDA 3a–5b
Winter: Cold, very windy winters.
Summer: Short, warm summers with cool nights.
Box nesters: 19 (14 year-round residents)
Hole sizes needed: 10 distinct

Semi-arid high plains and basins with major mountain ranges; most towns lie above 5,000 ft.

Box calendar for Wyoming

Bird	Status	Hole	Height	Up by	Nesting	Clean out
Eastern Screech-Owl	Year-round resident	3 in	10–30 ft	March	April–May	June
American Kestrel	Year-round resident	3 in	10–30 ft	March	April–June	July
Western Screech-Owl	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	Year-round resident	2 1/2 in	6–20 ft	April	May–June	July
Juniper Titmouse	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in	5–15 ft	April	May–June	July
Ash-throated Flycatcher	Summer breeder	1 1/2 in	5–20 ft	April	May–July	August
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
Mountain Chickadee	Year-round resident	1 1/8 in	5–15 ft	May	June–July	August
Pygmy Nuthatch	Year-round resident	1 1/4 in	8–20 ft	May	June–June	July
Mountain Bluebird	Summer breeder	1 9/16 in	5–10 ft	May	June–July	August
Violet-green Swallow	Summer breeder	1 1/2 in	8–15 ft	May	June–July	August
Lewis's Woodpecker	Year-round resident	2 1/2 in	12–20 ft	May	June–July	August

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

Eastern Screech-Owl in Wyoming American Kestrel in Wyoming Western Screech-Owl in Wyoming Northern Saw-whet Owl in Wyoming Black-capped Chickadee in Wyoming Downy Woodpecker in Wyoming Hairy Woodpecker in Wyoming White-breasted Nuthatch in Wyoming Northern Flicker in Wyoming Juniper Titmouse in Wyoming Ash-throated Flycatcher in Wyoming House Wren in Wyoming Red-breasted Nuthatch in Wyoming Tree Swallow in Wyoming Mountain Chickadee in Wyoming Pygmy Nuthatch in Wyoming Mountain Bluebird in Wyoming Violet-green Swallow in Wyoming Lewis's Woodpecker in Wyoming

Frequently asked

When should I put up a birdhouse in Wyoming?

By March for the earliest local nester, the Eastern Screech-Owl, which starts nesting around April.

Which birds use nest boxes in Wyoming?

Eastern Screech-Owl, American Kestrel, Western Screech-Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Flicker, Juniper Titmouse, 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 Wyoming birdhouse have?

It depends on the bird: the 19 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.