About Birds

Feathered Nests
We build birdhouses to the birds' standards!

About Birds

Birds That Will Use a Birdhouse

Not all birds will use a birdhouse. Only birds that naturally nest in cavities will use one. Many birds that you may see at your feeders, such as goldfinches, pine siskins, towhees, juncos and hummingbirds, will not use a human-made birdhouse.

There are many species of birds, though, that will call a birdhouse home. Here are some general guidelines for the habitat in which you might find birds that would use a birdhouse:

If you live in the city, you might see a house wren use a birdhouse. Robins also will use a human-made structure; however, they would use a platform rather than a birdhouse.

If you live in or near a wooded area, you might find the nuthatch, downy woodpecker, chickadee, wren, northern flicker, titmouse or screech owl interested in using a birdhouse.

If you live near an open meadow or in farm country, you should look for western bluebirds, kestrels, tree swallows or violet-green swallows showing an interest in a birdhouse.

What birds live in my area?

Here are some resources you could use to determine what birds live in your area (you will need to know this before you order your custom built birdhouse):

Internet - Type "Native birds to (your town's name)" into your favorite search engine. Review the results to determine what resource might be of the most value to you.
Library or local book store - They will have bird books that show maps of a bird's known habitat, as well as other helpful information. A couple of suggestions: Birds of North America by Kenn Kaufman and Field Guide to Birds of North America by the National Wildlife Federation.

Birding events - Check your local newspaper for birding events in your area. See if there is a bird watcher's club nearby. Birders love to share information about birds in their area!

Below is a table describing in general terms where birds that will use birdhouses can be found (click on the link to find out more about the bird):

Bird	Where Found in the U.S.
Bluebird, eastern	Eastern half of U.S.
Bluebird, mountain	Mountains of the western U.S.
Bluebird, western	West coast, arid southwest
Chickadee, black-capped	Northern two-thirds of U.S.
Chickadee, carolina	Southeast U.S. (Kansas to New Jersey), Gulf states (Texas to Florida)
Chickadee, chestnut-backed	West coast, northern Idaho
Chickadee, mountain	Mountains of western U.S.
Dove, mourning	Throughout U.S.
Kestrel, American	Throughout U.S.
Nuthatch, red-breasted	West coast, Rocky Mountains, Great Lakes region
Nuthatch, white-breasted	Woods throughout the U.S.
Owl, eastern screech	Great Plains to east coast
Owl, western screech	Rocky Mtns to west coast
Swallow, tree	Northern two-thirds of U.S.
Swallow, violet-green	Western U.S.
Titmouse, oak	Woods of California, Oregon, Nevada
Titmouse, tufted	Eastern half of U.S.
Woodpecker, downy	All U.S., except arid southwest
Wren, bewick's	West coast, southwest U.S., Kansas, Nebraska
Wren, house	All U.S., except southeast and Texas
Wren, winter	West coast, New England, Great Lakes region

How to Attract Birds to Your Yard

Birds, like most living species, need three things to survive: food, water and shelter.

Food

By providing a natural food source you can enjoy both the plants and the birds. Here are some common shrubs and trees that attract birds:
blackberry pyracantha
raspberry dogwood
elderberry maple
holly oak
viburnum evergreens
hawthorn

Bird feeders (see NOTE below) are an important supplemental source of food for birds as well. Here are some common foods and the birds they may attract:

Sunflower seeds - chickadee, tufted titmouse, evening grosbeak, white-breasted nuthatch, blue jay, cardinal, purple finch, goldfinch

Thistle - dark-eyed junco, goldfinch, purple finch, house finch, pine siskin, house sparrow

Cracked corn - mourning dove, blue jay, house sparrow, tree sparrow, song sparrow, red-winged blackbird

Millet - mourning dove, house sparrow, tree sparrow, song sparrow, red-winged blackbird

Suet - downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, red-breasted nuthatch

Water

Water is an important need for birds that is often overlooked by bird lovers. It is important to provide water - throughout the year, if possible - for bathing and drinking.

A bath helps a bird keep its feather in good condition for flying and helps the feathers maintain their waterproofing and insulating properties. Since wet feathers hinder a bird's ability to fly, it is important to place a birdbath near protective shrubbery so the bird can make a quick getaway if necessary.

Shelter

The best shelter is the living kind - shrubs and trees (see list above). A mixture of evergreen and deciduous plants provides year-round warmth and protection.

Birdhouses are a good supplement or addition to natural habitat.

Place your birdhouse as close to natural nesting conditions as you can.
Place the entrance hole away from prevailing winds and storms (generally facing southeast).
Place the birdhouse away from feeders so that feeder activity will not interrupt breeding activity.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Insecticides, fertilizers and other commonly used chemicals can be deadly to birds. Please be conscious of how you use these products near bird feeding, watering and nesting areas.

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