Where to put the hole in a birdhouse
How a birdhouse entry hole appears on the outside can indeed be reduced internally, so you must place the hole by taking internal measurements into consideration.
Where to put the hole in a birdhouse is on a per bird species basis. Offset the base panel of wood depending on how thick it is, then refer to my placement table to measure up the height of the entry hole. Location of hole will remain right bang in the center - but a slight margin of error is acceptable.
When a birdhouse entry hole is drilled out in the front of the box, bear in mind its placed based on a floor to hole height measurement only.
And as birds will nest below the entry hole line, this shallow or deep depth is suited to the birds needs.
If you were to place the hole based on distance from the roof or side, this can only result in the depth becoming an issue with the bird species it was intend for.
Floor to height is a crucial measurement to take, and with that the hole placement will fit into place nicely.
Of course with measurements taken for the floor to height, would pin-point the center position of the drilled out hole, as based on my table below.
With all that a margin of error is allowed but must be within reason, as birds won't use a birdhouse that is too deep or shallow - all while a centered hole offset to one side can appear unsightly.
Birdhouse hole location table
| Species: | Hole Height: | Front Height: | Hole Size: |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Kestrel | 13in | 16in | 3in |
| Ash-Throated Flycatcher | 7in | 9in | 1 1/2in |
| Barn Owl | 16in | 24in | 6in |
| Barred Owl | 23in | 26in | 8in |
| Bewick's Wren | 5in | 7in | 1 3/8in |
| Black-Capped Chickadee | 7in | 9in | 1 1/8in |
| Carolina Chickadee | 7in | 9in | 1 1/4in |
| Carolina Wren | 5in | 7in | 1 3/8in |
| Chestnut-Backed Chickadee | 7in | 9in | 1 1/4in |
| Downy Woodpecker | 7in | 9in | 1 3/8in |
| Eastern Bluebird | 8in | 10in | 1 1/2in |
| Eastern Screech-Owl | 13in | 16in | 3in |
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow | 8in | 10in | 1.1in |
| European Starling | 10in | 16in | 2in |
| Great-Crested Flycatcher | 5in | 9in | 2in |
| Hairy-Headed Woodpecker | 10in | 12in | 2in |
| House Finch | 6in | 8in | 1 1/2 |
| House Sparrow | 8in | 10in | 1.1 |
| House Wren | 5in | 7in | 1 |
| Juniper Titmouse | 5in | 9in | 1 1/4 |
| Mountain Bluebird | 8in | 10in | 1 1/2in |
| Mountain Chickadee | 7in | 9in | 1 1/4in |
| Northern Flicker | 15in | 17in | 2 1/2in |
| Purple Martin | 1 1/2in | 6in | 2 1/8in |
| Red-Bellied Woodpecker | 12in | 17in | 2 1/2in |
| Red-Breasted Nuthatch | 6in | 9in | 1 1/4in |
| Red-Headed Woodpecker | 9in | 14in | 2in |
| Prothonotary Warbler | 4in | 6in | 1 1/8in |
| Tree Swallow | 5in | 7in | 1 1/2 |
| Tufted Titmouse | 7in | 9in | 1 1/4 |
| Violet-Green Swallow | 5in | 8in | 1 1/2 |
| Western Bluebird | 8in | 10in | 1 1/2in |
| Wood Duck | 17in | 22in | 4in |
| White-Breasted Nuthatch | 7in | 9in | 1 3/8in |
I have listed thirty-four bird species who use birdhouses with their preferred hole placement, but it doesn't have to be exact, providing it remains in a small margin of error.
Hole height lists how high up the entrance hole must be drilled out, measured internally only as it takes into consideration the base panel that knocks off up to 1.5 inches - if measuring externally the hole will be too low.
Where I've listed the hole height, this is measured at the center point of the drilled hole.
Front panel recommended measurements are approximate only for different birdhouse boxes - so the hole height may not match how tall the front panel is, as it can come in too short or high.
And of course there's a little reminder how big the entrance hole must be per bird species requirement.
Floor to hole height crucial
Where you do put the hole in a birdhouse can either deter or invite birds to nest, but this isn't high on importance.
Birdhouses do have crucial build requirements, thus entry hole exact positioning is not something that can stop birds nesting entirely.
With that, where you place the birdhouse hole would be measured from the internal floor up to the upper front panel at all times.
Never measure the entry hole externally as you'd soon find out while not taking into consideration the extra thickness of the base, in which can place the hole too low down the box.
Birds like to nest below the hole line with a shallow or much deeper depth; regardless of that it will always be too shallow if not measuring internally, floor to hole height.
Remove or open the lid or side panel if you have to, but as you will be building the birdhouse yourself; do offset the wood thickness of the base panel on the internal front panel intended for the entry hole placement - before assembling the birdhouse.
Locate center or offset
Now this is where you can't go wrong when placing a birdhouse on the front of the birdhouse, as of course it must be front and center.
Birdhouses do become familiar with wild birds with an accurate hole size positioned up high to their favorite spot. If this hole appears to be offset or indeed to high, then it can seem unsafe to use by nesting birds.
Really, how hard can it be to drill out an entrance hole right in the center of the box.
You will need to initially consider the width of the internal birdhouse dimensions being less wide than the outside due to the side panels reducing it up to 2 inches - then again it would be safer to measure the center spot internally.
Where you decide to drill I highly recommend you do so by drilling from the outside in.
With this method it will create a clean cut initially whilst any splintering can only be seen on the inside of the box.
Margin of error 2/16 inch only
I will admit you can't really get it wrong if you drill a hole too high up or not exactly in the center, as a slight margin of error is acceptable.
Margin of error in placing a birdhouse entry hole within 2/16 [0.3 inches], with this you should be able to get within this mark with no big deal.
In positioning a birdhouse entry hole with internal measurements, where you put the hole will be exact.
I do like to keep things exact as it happens, as what was suppose to be a center positioned hole, is indeed noticeably offset. Birds don't mind but as the person that built it can, it will end up coming in for a little criticism.
Height of birdhouse margin of error remains the same at 2/16, but that shouldn't be an issue either.
Remember how high you should put the birdhouse hole is listed for you via my table, with even this offering different opinion to other, more trusted resources I might add.
Hole location summary
You do realize where you end up putting the entry hole in a birdhouse is based on a per species requirement - with no placement fits all kind of thing.
Referencing my table, these species require a hole placed at a specific height, but always with a center position.
How you measure this drill point is by internal measurements only.
While taking into consideration the bottom panel offsetting the hole below its intended height, you can measure the front panel externally if you know the exact thickness of the base - whilst realizing it can be offset higher, so will add extra millimeters to it.
Don't despair as an exact placement of the entry hole up the front panel can allow a slight margin of error.
With that you must also do well to drill the entry hole at the center point for any birdhouse.
Where to put the hole in a birdhouse is species dependant, but as a rule it must always be centered, while remembering to consider the bottom panel forcing you to place the hole too low, if this piece wasn't taken into consideration to begin with.
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