Black-capped Chickadee nest box
Published dimensions, a cut list for 1×10 (9 1/4 in.), and the placement rules that decide whether the brood survives. The entrance is 1 1/8–1 3/8 in. — cut it to the smaller figure if the range gives you a choice, because a hole bored oversize cannot be made smaller and lets European Starlings in.
Black-capped Chickadee
- Entrance hole 1 1/8–1 3/8 in.29–35 mm
- Hole above floor 6 in.152 mm
- Floor 4 × 4 in.102 × 102 mm
- Cavity depth 8 in.203 mm
- Mounting height 4–10 ft1.2–3 m
Habitat and placement: Woodland edge, shrubby yards, and small clearings with cover — not open field. A box tucked among shrubs or at the edge of trees beats one in the middle of a lawn.
Spacing between boxes: About 100 ft between chickadee boxes; they hold small territories but will not tolerate a neighbor in view.
Predator guard: Baffle plus a 3/4 in.-thick front (or a hole guard plate) so squirrels cannot enlarge the entrance.
When to install: February through March. Chickadees excavate, so adding 1–2 in. of wood shavings on the floor makes a box far more attractive.
Notes: Cut the hole at 1 1/8 in. if House Sparrows are around — it admits chickadees and excludes sparrows. Published ranges run to 1 3/8 in., which does not.
Dimensions from: sialis.org spec compilation
No perch. Ever. A perch gives predators and House Sparrows a grip — cavity nesters do not need one.
Cut list
Every board you need, sized so the assembled box matches the published interior above. Pick your stock — the list updates.
1×10 (9 1/4 in.) · about 6 linear feet including waste
| Qty | Piece | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Floor | 4 × 4 in. | Trim about 1/4 in. off each corner for drainage. |
| 2 | Side | 4 × 10 1/4 in. | Bevel the top edge: 8 3/4 in. at the front rising to 10 1/4 in. at the back. |
| 1 | Back | 5 1/2 × 18 1/4 in. | Runs 4 in. above and 4 in. below the box for mounting screws. |
| 1 | Front | 5 1/2 × 8 3/4 in. | Bore a 1 1/8 in. hole, centred side to side, with its centre 6 3/4 in. up from the bottom edge. |
| 1 | Roof | 8 1/2 × 7 1/2 in. | Overhangs 3 in. at the front and 1 in. each side; butts against the back board. |
Before you cut
- Untreated wood, 3/4 in. thick. Cedar, cypress, or pine. Never pressure-treated, and never paint or stain the interior.
- Score the inside face below the entrance so nestlings can climb out. Smooth plywood traps them.
- Drainage and ventilation. Trim the floor corners; leave gaps or drill holes near the top.
- Make one side or the front open so you can monitor and clean between broods.
- Baffle on a smooth metal pole. This matters more than height, orientation, or anything else on this page.
When and where to put up a nest box — timing by region, habitat matching, orientation, and predator guards that actually work.
Other species
- Carolina Chickadee 1 1/8–1 3/8 in.
- House Wren 1–1 1/4 in.
- Tree Swallow 1 3/8–1 1/2 in.