Nuthatch Bird Houses

The White-breasted Nuthatch is a year-round resident throughout most of the United States and parts of Canada and Mexico. White-breasted Nuthatches inhabit mature deciduous and mixed deciduous-coniferous forests. Nuthatches prefer to nest near open areas and forest edges. The nest is often located near water, roads, orchards or fields. White-breasted Nuthatches nest in natural tree cavities, abandoned woodpecker holes, holes they excavate themselves or nest boxes. The female begins nestbuilding in early April. During this time, the pair stays in close association, frequently giving contact calls to one another. The male occasionally feeds the female and continues to do so throughout egg-laying and incubation. Mount White-breasted Nuthatch houses 5 to 20 feet high away from buildings in a mature forest as best protection from house sparrows. The entrance hole should face away from prevailing winds and 1 inch of wood shavings can be placed in box as nesting material.

Red-breasted Nuthatches inhabit northern and subalpine habitats. They are found in the southern half of Canada and in the western and northeastern regions of the United States. Ideal breeding habitat consists of mature, partly open coniferous or mixed coniferous-deciduous forests. Red-breasted Nuthatches nest in aspen, birch, oak, cottonwood, and poplar trees, as well as in spruce and other cone-bearing trees. The breeding season begins in late April or early May. Both adults work to excavate a nest cavity, most commonly in a rotten stub or branch of a dead tree. Mount Red-breasted Nuthatch houses 5 to 15 feet high away from buildings in a mature forest as best protection from house sparrows. The entrance hole should face away from prevailing winds and 1 inch of wood shavings can be placed in box as nesting material.