Downy Woodpecker house: dimensions and placement
Woodpeckers rarely take an empty box; pack it full of sawdust or chips.
What are the downy woodpecker house dimensions?
| Inside floor | 4 x 4 in |
|---|---|
| Floor to roof | 8 to 10 in |
| Entrance | 1 1/4 in |
| Hole above floor | 6 to 8 in |
| Mounting height | 5 to 20 ft |
| Habitat | Wooded yards. Fill the box with packed wood chips so the bird can excavate. |
| Range | Most of North America |
Source: Cornell Lab NestWatch nest box table and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service "Homes for Birds". Build one from these numbers with the birdhouse calculator, which adds a board cut list.
Where should a downy woodpecker house go?
Wooded yards. Fill the box with packed wood chips so the bird can excavate. Mount on a smooth metal pole where possible, fit a predator guard, and face the entrance away from prevailing wind. Leave the box up through winter as a roost, and clean it out after each brood.
Watch the nest without disturbing it
Nest box cameras let you follow eggs and chicks without opening the box.
Nest box dimensions for other species
Eastern Bluebird · Western Bluebird · Mountain Bluebird · Tree Swallow · Violet-green Swallow · Purple Martin · House Wren · Carolina Wren · Bewick's Wren · Black-capped Chickadee · Carolina Chickadee · Tufted Titmouse · White-breasted Nuthatch · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Hairy Woodpecker · Red-bellied Woodpecker · Red-headed Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Prothonotary Warbler · Great Crested Flycatcher · Ash-throated Flycatcher · Eastern Screech-Owl · American Kestrel · Barn Owl · Wood Duck · American Robin · Barn Swallow · Eastern Phoebe
Birds that do not use boxes: Cardinals · Blue Jays · Mourning Doves · Goldfinches · Hummingbirds · Orioles · House Finches
Get the nest box season checklist
When to put boxes up, when to clean them out, and the hole sizes for every common species, on one page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What size hole does a downy woodpecker need?
The published figure is 1 1/4 in, drilled 6 to 8 inches above the floor. This size keeps European starlings out, though house sparrows can still enter, so check the box weekly in spring. Keep the edge smooth and never add a perch.
How high should a downy woodpecker house be mounted?
Mount it 5 to 20 feet above the ground. Wooded yards. Fill the box with packed wood chips so the bird can excavate. A smooth metal pole with a predator guard or baffle is safer than a tree trunk or wooden fence post, which cats, raccoons and snakes can climb. Face the entrance away from prevailing wind and afternoon sun where you can.
Where do downy woodpeckers live?
Most of North America. Wooded yards. Fill the box with packed wood chips so the bird can excavate. A box put up outside the species' range or in the wrong habitat will simply be taken by whatever local cavity nester does fit, which is often a wren, chickadee or house sparrow.
When should I put up a downy woodpecker house?
Late winter, before birds start choosing sites in early spring, is ideal. Boxes put up later still attract second nesting attempts and late arrivals. Clean old nesting material out after each brood fledges and again before the next season; many small birds also use empty boxes as winter night roosts.
What should go inside a downy woodpecker box?
Pack the box full of wood shavings or sawdust. Woodpeckers excavate their own cavity and rarely accept an empty box. Refresh the fill each year. Use untreated wood, add drainage holes and ventilation gaps, and leave off any perch.