Birds of West Cobb
Choosing the perfect Bird House
Welcome! We understand that you are shopping for a new Bird House! Do you already have an idea of what species of bird you are looking to attract and house in your yard? We've broken this page out into sections specifically for different types of birds that people most frequently attract with nest boxes. There is also a great reason why! Not all birds are "cavity nesters" and no matter what fancy bird house you buy, they won't nest in your pre-built bird house.
The houses we list below are just about guaranteed to bring families of birdies to your yard! Soon you'll be the host of beneficial, beautiful birds that will let you get a glimpse into their daily lives, laying eggs, feeding, protecting their young and more! At the end of the page we will also include some great nesting box accessories including poles, baffles, an inspection camera, hole reducers and bird-safe cleaner! We hope you enjoy, and Happy Birding to you!
Eastern Bluebird Nesting Box
Eastern Bluebird nest boxes typically have a 4" x 5.5" floor measurement, approximately 10"-12" wall height, and feature a 1 1/2" entry hole for your bluebirds. The photo on the right shows a house that was constructed with these in mind, but also includes a plate to protect this opening from woodpeckers or squirrels enlarging the hole to a size that might allow predators inside.
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In addition to the basic dimensions, any nesting box for Eastern Bluebirds should NOT include a perch, but it should most certainly include either gaps along the top of the sides and the roof, or have holes drilled for ventilation. Nest boxes in direct sunlight can become extremely warm and could potentially bake the young without ventilation! Lastly, the floor should either include mitered corners or additional holes drilled for drainage (both from weather & from the nest just above the floor!).
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We have had great luck for the past few years with these nesting boxes from Natures Way, which you can pick up pretty quickly from Amazon and get installed before the weekend is over!
Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, or Carolina Chickadee & Carolina Wren Nesting Box
Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice & White-breasted Nuthatches have been known to make use of bluebird nest boxes (above) but they don't really require the same space. A floor dimension of 4" x 4" is all that is needed. However, the big differentiator for these smaller birds (especially when there are House Sparrows or Bluebirds nesting nearby) is the entrance hole. The hole size should be 1 1/8" diameter which prevents larger birds which could attack these smaller species and attempt to drive them away.
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We've used both pre-built houses with specific measurements, or bluebird boxes with a 1 1/8" hole reducer and had amazing results both ways! For a tailored-fit take a look at this durable cedar nest box from Kettle Moraine, which has a composite predator guard included!
Mourning Dove Nesting Platform
Mourning Doves are not cavity nesters. They prefer eating on platforms, landing on platforms (or the ground!) and doves most definitely prefer nesting on platforms as well. You can build a nesting platform pretty easily but it's ideal to to not only provide them with a platform but also a cover or partial roof, to protect the nest from weather elements as well as potential predators! Here are a couple of options that we would recommend.
Option 1: Pine, open-faced nesting box from Coveside (via Amazon)
Option 2: JC's Wildlife open faced nesting box, (we've mentioned JC's products a few times previously, these are generally very good quality, durable nest boxes which will last for years.)
Purple Martin Nesting Box
Purple Martins are some of the largest swallows that we see in the United States. They are incredibly beneficial insectivores which fly from dawn until dusk and eat flies, mosquitos and many other flying insects! If you live in a decent sized property, and you have cleared land with a hill-top or an open chuck of land near a body of water, Purple Martins may be a great option for you to keep the insect population down. However, they don't like to be near trees or "in the woods", they really need that open space for their incredible aerobatic flight patterns and to capture as much food as possible. Purple Martins have been known to gravitate toward two specific types of houses, which are generally mounted high above the ground on a pole (with a predator guard/baffle!) Take a look at these house options below:
Purple Martin house option 1: Gourd style Martin house with cleanout (Starling Resistant design)
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Purple Martin house option 2: Sturdy, 12-martin home with perches
this would be our choice, based on the solid 4.5 star review rating on Amazon!
