What kind of bird houses do birds like
If its liked by you then its probably a match by the birds its intended for, but what kind of bird house do birds like can be specific to each species.
Birds like a bird house that features an entry hole size specific to their species, with a too big entrance encouraging invasive species later. Entry hole must be positioned a certain way up, but in the center. Bird houses made in wood are preferred with insulated walls, and internal dimensions specific to bird species.
Make no mistake, even without a bird house built to any of these bird specific dimensions and accuracy, you can still see success.
Most of the time anyway, but rarely would you see the bird you wish to attract, ending up nesting in the box come spring time.
To big entry hole or larger than recommended internal dimensions can see Starlings nest instead, rather than Bluebirds just as you hoped would.
For that reason alone, be extra cautious and try to be precise as possible with the bird house requirements - or you could end up with a few uninvited guests.
Where you buy the bird house is vital, but well known manufacturers would have you covered, by making bird houses specific to the species its intend for.
What kind of bird house birds nest in would come down to sheer luck, but to go beyond these recommendations within your own build, would see varying results, for the good or simply the most random.
Be safe then, with a wooden bird house that has the correct entry hole with placement, internal measurements must be exact, while the external dimensions or design isn't too important for now.
In the end, where you put the bird house in your backyard must also be species specific, so don't rely on bird house qualities alone, as other things are relied upon.
While a birds preference in size and location can vary, only you can keep the bird house occupants safe, by locating bird house within a safe environment. With a bird house color scheme that is kept as discreet as possible, just as a natural nesting site would.
Species specific entrance hole
If you didn't know already, most backyard birds that take to nesting in bird houses do so only if the hole to enter the box is specific to their needs.
It may seem a little too trivial to make much of a difference when attracting birds to nest in your bird house, but the bird house hole size really does matter, and it matters a lot for many reasons.
Bluebirds for example prefer a rounded hole that measures approximately 1-1/2 inches - or 1.5 inches - for them to be comfortable enough to raise their young.
So specific is the need to create or buy a bird house with an accurate hole size, it can be possible to reduce this hole size ever so slightly to deter invasive House Sparrows, steeling a box belonging to the Bluebird.
Important as the bird house hole size must be, it must be cut out in a rounded shape, just as it would be close to when birds nest in cavities found in trees.
Not so important to birds, but remember this entry hole should not have a perch. Birds don't know that so they won't know what they are getting into later with it made easy for predators to enter the box.
Bird house hole placement
Believe it or not, the bird house entry hole must not only be cut to the recommended size, but position of the entrance hole is vital to its success when attracting birds to it.
Without a doubt, the entry hole, be it a round or square one would always be dead center on the front of the bird house.
To be sure the hole is positioned in the correct spot, where to put the hole in the bird house would be measured from the internal base, up to a point further up.
Common measurement being anywhere between 6 to 8 inches for most birds that frequent bird houses - whereas larger birds such as Starlings and Woodpeckers would see a hole positioned about 10 inches up, which is inline with a bigger bird house in use.
Larger birds such as Owls or Kestrels measure their hole approximately 13 inches up.
With all that taken into consideration, margin of error is allowed up to half-inch, but you'd really need to be as accurate as possible.
Hole position can create depth or make the bird house more shallow; so while most birds like a deep box to build their nest in with real material; shallow boxes can come up way to short for Wrens or Nuthatches, among other birds.
Made in wood only
Bird houses can be made in all sorts of material for sure, but you can be guaranteed wild birds would be more likely to occupy a solid wooden box, over anything else.
If the bird house you currently have in your possession is not made in cedar wood, which happens to be the best wood bird houses can be made in - then do expect it to be a little more difficult for birds to successfully nest in, excluding quality timber choices.
Birds know a solid bird house when they see one, with houses made in other material often felt to be unstable.
Of course you'd have to use your best judgment on this, because a bird doesn't know its new ceramic bird house doesn't overheat under the summer sun - so do play it safe by using a wooden bird house only.
What is used to insulate the roof is entirely up to you, but it must remain waterproof throughout its use, with no compromise on leakage.
Cedar wood bird houses would then be the best wooden bird houses you can buy or make at home - with pine being a cheaper option.
Strong, thick isolated walls
How a bird house must be constructed is in nice thick walls to offer real insulation, along with a solid construction.
Birds do have a little inkling with thick walls as they can feel it out, knowing if its suitable to raise their young within it or not.
Whereas cheaper bird houses made thin, flimsy walls would be hard to attract birds.
Exceptions being, bird houses for Ducks or Owls use thinner plywood, whereas the most common backyard bird would prefer thicker walls with a solid build.
Don't so much rely on what kind of bird houses do birds like most, but once again use your best judgment on what you feel to be the safest option for them.
Birds enter a bird house to inspect it before moving in, so the solid piece of wood used as the base must be tough, but includes holes for vents and drainage.
Accessible openings
Once again I believe its up to you to get this right, rather than the nesting birds figuring it out for themselves when its too late.
But a bird house must have openings that can be accessible at all times, with no obstructions falling in place later, such as vegetation growing over the entrance hole.
Similarly, you must be sure ivy can't grow over any openings, including growing up through the holes used for ventilation and drainage.
To be fair, who knows how nature will behave months or years from now, so that is why its important to maintain and clean a bird house as often as possible - to be sure these complications can be prevented before they happen.
Bird houses need to be mounted to a specific area in the yard, so to bury a bird house deep into a hedgerow or vegetation is possible - so do maintain this area by cutting back the hedge so birds can come and go as they please.
And as you would need to maintain the bird house at least once year, it must also be accessible to you.
Fussy on interior measurements
One major feature of a bird house targeted to a specific bird species, requires internal measurements to be to cut to their liking.
How big the bird house is would be measured internally, but can attract or deter birds its aimed for.
Example of that is Eastern Bluebirds like a 4 x 4 inch base, so the width and depth would also be 4 inches, while the height of the box would be 10 inches, or thereabouts.
Margin of error can be taken into account with any bird house size, but its best to keep it as close to the size the box is intended for.
Height of the bird house is the squared off section only - which is area where birds nest in - whereas the angled roof or any unique design that is included in the full construction won't be so much of an issue.
What the internal measures the bird specific box must be tailed to, won't be much of an issue with the external measurements that far exceed this - as its only the internal dimensions that count.
Most liked bird house summary
What kind of bird houses birds really like is a solid, wooden box made with a species specific entry hole, with the hole positioned in a specific spot on the front, but center.
Some features of a bird house is a must, but that can't be decided by them, so its up to you to be sure the nesting birds are in safe hands later in the nesting season.
For that matter, be sure bird houses do not use a perch, with drainage and ventilation holes cut into the box, and keep the entry hole accessible at all times.
Bird houses best suited to all birds are ones made in wood, or cedar to be more precise.
It must be built with thick, up to 1.5 inch walls with a solid base and a roof design that keeps the bird house nice and dry throughout its long use.
Birds can be quite fussy when it comes to internal measurements, so will only nest in a box that is once again specific to their needs. Measurement begins with the base dimensions, then the height of the box is counted.
Finally, bird house design can be a vital, but its important to buy according to which species the bird houses is intended for, if you plan to buy a bird house rather than make it yourself.
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