Nest box specification

White-breasted Nuthatch house dimensions

The White-breasted Nuthatch nests in natural cavities in large trees; occasionally nest boxes A box built to its measurements — and no bigger — is what makes it choose yours.

Photo: Rhododendrites / Wikimedia Commons

The specifications

Entrance hole: 1 1/4 in round
Floor (inside): 4 × 4 in
Mounting height: 5–20 ft
Bird size: 5.1–5.5 in, 0.6–1.1 oz
Clutch: 5–9 eggs
Incubation: 13–14 days
Time in nest: 18–26 days
Broods: 1 per season

Build and mounting checklist

Drill the entrance to exactly 1 1/4 in round — oversized holes let in European Starlings and larger predators.
No outside perch: cavity nesters don't need one, and it helps House Sparrows and predators.
Unpainted interior, 3/4-inch untreated wood (cedar or pine) or poly-lumber for insulation.
Drainage holes in the floor corners and ventilation gaps under the roof.
A side or front panel that opens so you can monitor and clean the box.
Rough or grooved inner front wall so nestlings can climb out.
Pole mount with a stovepipe or cone baffle to stop snakes, raccoons and cats.

When to put up a White-breasted Nuthatch box, by state

Boxes should be up and clean a month before local nesting starts. Dates shift with latitude:

Place	Up by	Nesting	Clean out
Alabama	February	March–June	July
Arizona	February	March–June	July
California	February	March–June	July
Florida	February	March–May	June
Georgia	February	March–June	July
Louisiana	February	March–June	July
Mississippi	February	March–June	July
North Carolina	February	March–June	July
South Carolina	February	March–June	July
Texas	February	March–June	July
Arkansas	March	April–June	July
Colorado	March	April–June	July
Connecticut	March	April–June	July
Delaware	March	April–June	July
Idaho	March	April–June	July
Illinois	March	April–June	July
Indiana	March	April–June	July
Iowa	March	April–June	July
Kansas	March	April–June	July
Kentucky	March	April–June	July
Maryland	March	April–June	July
Massachusetts	March	April–June	July
Michigan	March	April–June	July
Minnesota	March	April–June	July
Missouri	March	April–June	July
Nebraska	March	April–June	July
Nevada	March	April–June	July
New Jersey	March	April–June	July
New Mexico	March	April–June	July
New York	March	April–June	July
Nova Scotia	March	April–June	July
Ohio	March	April–June	July
Oklahoma	March	April–June	July
Ontario	March	April–June	July
Oregon	March	April–June	July
Pennsylvania	March	April–June	July
Rhode Island	March	April–June	July
South Dakota	March	April–June	July
Tennessee	March	April–June	July
Utah	March	April–June	July
Virginia	March	April–June	July
Washington	March	April–June	July
West Virginia	March	April–June	July
Alberta	April	May–June	July
British Columbia	April	May–June	July
Maine	April	May–June	July
Manitoba	April	May–June	July
Montana	April	May–June	July
New Brunswick	April	May–June	July
New Hampshire	April	May–June	July
North Dakota	April	May–June	July
Prince Edward Island	April	May–June	July
Quebec	April	May–June	July
Saskatchewan	April	May–June	July
Vermont	April	May–June	July
Wisconsin	April	May–June	July
Wyoming	April	May–June	July

Full White-breasted Nuthatch species guide →

Frequently asked

What size hole does a White-breasted Nuthatch need?

1 1/4 in round. A hole cut to this size admits the White-breasted Nuthatch (5.1–5.5 in) while keeping out larger competitors.

How big should a White-breasted Nuthatch house be inside?

A floor of 4 × 4 in. The White-breasted Nuthatch lays 5–9 eggs, so the floor has to hold the full clutch plus growing nestlings.

How high should I mount a White-breasted Nuthatch box?

5–20 ft. Mount on a pole with a predator baffle where possible rather than a tree or fence.

How long does a White-breasted Nuthatch use the box?

Incubation takes 13–14 days and the young stay in the nest 18–26 days. Broods per year: 1 per season.

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.