How to Build a Birdhouse for a Purple Finch

The purple finch (Carpodacus purpureus) is a lively, musical songbird native to eastern North America. With its light brown body and vivid reddish-purple streaks over its face, chest and back, the bird is a common sight at backyard feeders, especially when sunflower seeds are available. Slightly larger and chunkier than the similar-looking house finch, purple finches prefer cool coniferous forests, woodsy suburbs and habitat along streams in summer. In winter they frequent backyards, hedgerows, fields, meadows and forests. Purple finches prefer to build nests in tree branches, but determined birders might lure them with this simple box house with a hinged lid that lifts for cleaning and locks to keep out predators.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 red cedar board, 1/4-inch thick, cut into the following shapes:
  • Back: 7 1/2 inches by 14 inches
  • Sides: 6 inches by 7 inches and 6 inches by 8 1/2 inches
  • Floor: 6 inches by 6 inches
  • Front: 7 1/2 inches by 7 inches
  • Roof: 7 1/2 inches by 8 1/2 inches
  • Protractor
  • One 2-inch hinge
  • Hook latch
  • Screws
  • Nails
  • Hammer
  • Screw driver
  • Power drill
  • 2-inch drill bit
  • Power saw or handsaw
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Instructions

  1. Cut Ventilation Holes, Bevels and Entrance Hole

    • 1

      Cut four 1/2-inch corners off the floor piece.

    • 2

      Measure a 14-degree bevel on the side piece at the corner formed by the 8 1/2-inch edge and the sloping edge. Cut off the corner along the measurement. The 14-degree bevel will provide ventilation and allow the roof to slope smoothly and lift up on a hinge.

    • 3

      Repeat Step 2 with the other side piece.

    • 4

      Cut a 14-degree bevel on one of the 7 1/2-inch edges of the front piece. The bevel allows the roof to lay flush against the top edge of the house's front.

    • 5

      Cut a 14-degree bevel on one of the 7 1/2-inch edges of the roof piece. This edge will be hinged to the back of the house.

    • 6

      Drill a hole 2 inches in diameter in the front piece, 3 1/2 inches up from the bottom edge and equidistant from both sides. The hole will serve as the entrance.

    Assemble the House

    • 7

      Align the 6-inch edge of one of the side pieces perpendicularly to an edge of the floor piece. Nail into place.

    • 8

      Repeat Step 2 with the other side piece, aligning opposite the already-installed side. Make sure the long edges of the side are on the same plane.

    • 9

      Align the front piece perpendicularly to the floor piece and to the 7-inch edges of the side pieces. The bevel at the top of the front piece should be sloping toward the front of the house to create a straight line from the back of the house to the front. Nail into place.

    • 10

      Lay the house, which now consists of a floor, two sides and front, on its face. Center the back piece over the house. Nail into place along the back edges of the sides and floor.

    • 11

      Turn the house upright so the back is vertical, the floor is parallel to the ground and the entrance hole faces forward.

    Attach the Roof

    • 12

      Center the roof piece on the house with its beveled edge flush against the back and sides of the house. The roof will overhang the entrance hole on the front of the house.

    • 13

      Position the hinge against the back of the house and the top of the roof to create a liftable door. Screw the hinge into place.

    • 14

      Attach the hook latch to one side of the house and the roof. When unlatched, the roof can be lifted for cleaning; when latched, predators will be kept out.