The Best Bluebird Houses

Native to the United States, the bluebird is an attractive meadow dweller. Bluebirds will rarely visit your feeders since their diet relies mostly on insects. However, if you have an open yard that mimics their meadow habitat and a properly designed nest box, they will nest on your property.

  1. Material and Color

    • Your bluebird house must be made of nontreated wood. Treated wood can leach chemicals into the nest box that will harm the adult birds and their young. If you build your bluebird house with cedar, you don't need to paint the house since the wood is naturally resistant to rot. If you use wood such as pine or oak, paint the exterior of the house with a pale colored latex paint.

    Size and Design

    • Western bluebirds and Mountain bluebirds need a house with a floor size measuring 5 inches square. Eastern bluebirds will nest in a house with a floor size of either 4 inches square or 5 inches square. The back height of either house should be between 9 and 11 inches and the front between 6 and 7 inches. The top extends 3 inches over the front of the house and angles downward to drain rain away from the house. Small drain holes should be drilled into the bottom to allow any water that does get into the house to drain away. The holes also provide ventilation.

    Entry Hole Size

    • The entry hole size of your bluebird house is important to attract bluebirds and to keep other birds out. Western bluebirds need a round hole with a 1 1/2 inch in diameter. Mountain bluebirds prefer a round hole measuring 1 9/16 inches in diameter. Eastern bluebirds will nest in a box with a 1-1/2-inch round hole or an oval hole that is 1 3/8 inch wide and 2 1/4 inch tall. If you live in an area where there is more than one species of bluebird, opt for a round 1-9/16-inch hole.

    Location and Maintenance

    • Mount your bluebird house on a fence post or other solid object. Mounting the house on a metal pole will keep predators such as raccoons from being able to climb up to the house. In late winter, remove the top of the house and clean the interior thoroughly to prevent pests and disease.