Northern Flicker nest box
Published dimensions, a cut list for 1×12 (11 1/4 in.), and the placement rules that decide whether the brood survives. The entrance is 2 1/2–3 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.
Northern Flicker
- Entrance hole 2 1/2–3 in.64–76 mm
- Hole above floor 13–16 in.330–406 mm
- Floor 7 × 7 in.178 × 178 mm
- Cavity depth 16–18 in.406–457 mm
- Mounting height 6–20 ft1.8–6.1 m
Habitat and placement: Open woodland, park edges, and yards with lawn — flickers feed on ants at ground level and nest in the trees around the opening.
Spacing between boxes: One box per several acres.
Predator guard: Hole guard plate is a good idea; starlings are the bigger competition problem and no guard fixes that.
When to install: February through March, ahead of drumming season.
Notes: Fill the box completely with sawdust or wood chips — a flicker excavates its way down and will reject a hollow box. European Starlings take flicker boxes readily, so monitor if you care who moves in.
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.
1×12 (11 1/4 in.) · about 11 linear feet including waste
| Qty | Piece | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Floor | 7 × 7 in. | Trim about 1/4 in. off each corner for drainage. |
| 2 | Side | 7 × 20 1/4 in. | Bevel the top edge: 18 3/4 in. at the front rising to 20 1/4 in. at the back. |
| 1 | Back | 8 1/2 × 28 1/4 in. | Runs 4 in. above and 4 in. below the box for mounting screws. |
| 1 | Front | 8 1/2 × 18 3/4 in. | Bore a 2 1/2 in. hole, centred side to side, with its centre 16 3/4 in. up from the bottom edge. |
| 1 | Roof | 11 1/2 × 10 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
- Eastern Screech-Owl 2 1/2–4 in.
- Wood Duck 3–4 in.
- American Kestrel 3 in.