White-breasted Nuthatch 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 1/4–1 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.
White-breasted Nuthatch
- Entrance hole 1 1/4–1 3/8 in.32–35 mm
- Hole above floor 7–9 in.178–229 mm
- Floor 4 × 4 in.102 × 102 mm
- Cavity depth 9–11 in.229–279 mm
- Mounting height 12–20 ft3.7–6.1 m
Habitat and placement: Mature deciduous or mixed woods with big trunks — oak, maple, hickory. Nuthatches want a box on a real tree, higher than most yard boxes go.
Spacing between boxes: Territories are large; one box per acre of woodland is plenty.
Predator guard: A hole guard plate matters more than a pole baffle here, since tree-mounted boxes cannot be baffled effectively. Squirrels enlarge unprotected holes.
When to install: February through March. Add wood shavings — nuthatches nest on a bed of bark flakes and fur.
Notes: Watch for bill-sweeping: the adult wipes a crushed insect around the entrance, apparently to smear scent that deters squirrels. Rough or grooved interior wood below the hole is essential so young can climb out.
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 7 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 × 13 1/4 in. | Bevel the top edge: 11 3/4 in. at the front rising to 13 1/4 in. at the back. |
| 1 | Back | 5 1/2 × 21 1/4 in. | Runs 4 in. above and 4 in. below the box for mounting screws. |
| 1 | Front | 5 1/2 × 11 3/4 in. | Bore a 1 1/4 in. hole, centred side to side, with its centre 9 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
- Tufted Titmouse 1 1/4–1 1/2 in.
- Downy Woodpecker 1 1/4–1 1/2 in.
- Hairy Woodpecker 1 1/2–2 in.