All About Birdhouses

Tree Swallows by Deborah Bifulco

How to Make a Safe, Successful Home for our Feathered Friends

For many species of birds, there is a shortage of great places to nest. There may be birds that would love to call your habitat home, but they have a specific nesting requirement which needs to be met. Birdhouses can be placed in backyards, schoolyards, parks, orchards, farms, pastures, cemeteries, woodlots, deserts, cities…you name it. Support more nesting birds, and give a bird a home. Use these resources to become the ultimate nest box landlord. Find out what features make a birdhouse ideal, which species you can attract to your area, and how to troubleshoot any problems that arise.

Learn About Nest Boxes and Nest Structures

  • Features of a Good Birdhouse

    Whether you’re buying or building, this infographic will take you on a tour of a state of the art birdhouse.

  • Right Bird, Right House

    Right Bird, Right House

    Want to help birds but not sure which ones you can attract? Use this interactive tool to find out which birds are likely to nest in your region and habitat, and download the appropriate nest box plans.

  • Installing a Nest Box Camera

    Considering a nest box camera? Here’s what you need to know before getting started.

Nest Box and Nest Structure Plans by Species

View all available nest box plans below, or use our Right Bird, Right House tool to filter by your region and habitat. Download free nest box plans for the birds you want to attract.

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Photo credits: Tree Swallows by Deborah Bifulco, Illustrated nest boxes by NestWatch, Eastern Bluebirds by Susan Phillips, Illustrated nest camera monitors by Virginia Greene, Eastern Bluebird by Jonathan Lugo, House Sparrows by Brayden Davis, Snake by Clare Datillo, Flying Squirrel by Kathleen Wegman, Northern Flickers by Christine Haines. Find nest structure plan image credits on each species page.