Putting up nest boxes for birds
Whether you’re a family with space for a box in your garden, a teacher, a member of a local wildlife group, or you belong to a bird club and could organise a work party, putting up nest boxes gives you the chance to contribute to the conservation effort in the UK whilst giving you the pleasure of observing any breeding birds that you attract to your garden or green space. Learn about building, buying and siting boxes, and which box suites what species.
Why put up a nest box?
Natural nest sites for birds such as holes in trees or old buildings are disappearing fast as gardens are ‘tidied’ and old houses are repaired. Providing nesting sites for breeding birds in your garden gives you the fascinating experience of watching a key part of the lifecycle of birds happening close at hand. Choose from the options below to find the right nest box for the right place.
Which birds use nest boxes?
The list below includes some of the species most likely to take up residence in a nest box within Great Britain. More detailed plans for boxes for several common species are included in
our essential guide
our essential guide (PDF, 2.99 MB)
Small nest box with hole
Blue Tit
Coal Tit
Great Tit
House Sparrow
Marsh Tit
Nuthatch
Pied Flycatcher
Redstart
Tree Sparrow
Willow Tit
Open-fronted nest box
Pied/White Wagtail
Robin
Spotted Flycatcher
Medium nest box with oval-shaped hole
Swift
Large nest box with hole
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Little Owl
Starling
Very big nest box
Barn Owl
Jackdaw
Kestrel
Stock Dove
Tawny Owl
Nest Boxes: Your Complete Guide
If you want to know more, try our in-depth book. Written by Dave Cromack and drawing on the BTO's expertise, this new book provides the perfect guide to building, erecting and monitoring nest boxes for a broad range of bird species.
Find out more and buy today
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