Pygmy Nuthatch

Construction Difficulty

moderate difficulty moderate

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Nesting Range

Pygmy Nuthatch Range
Source: Birds of the World

Nesting Habitat

  •  icon Forest
  •  icon Mountain
  •  icon Open Woodland

Attach Nest Box To

  • Dead Tree icon Dead Tree
  • Live tree icon Live tree
  • Pole icon Pole

Known Nesting Period

Not Nesting
Some Nesting Occurrence
Nesting in Most of Range
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Source: Birds of the World

Nest Box Placement

Height Range From Ground

3ft
25ft
3–25 feet

Spacing Between Nest Boxes

240 feet

Facing

Entrance hole facing visualization
South or East

Nest Box Measurements

Entrance Hole Size

Entrance hole size visualization 1

Nest Box Depth (inside)

Nest box depth visualization 8

Nest Box Width and Length

Nest box width and length visualization 5 1/2 5 1/2

Helpful Tips

  • Nest boxes are most likely to attract Pygmy Nuthatches in open areas of pine-dominated forests which lack dead trees.
  • Nest boxes may be used for winter roosting by nuthatches, so boxes should be left open year-round.
  • Pygmy Nuthatches are typically very tolerant of nest monitoring.