Barn Swallow house: dimensions and placement
Builds a mud cup on a ledge close under a ceiling.
What are the barn swallow house dimensions?
| Inside floor | 6 x 6 in |
|---|---|
| Floor to roof | 6 in |
| Entrance | None: open ledge |
| Mounting height | 8 to 12 ft |
| Habitat | Inside barns, garages, porches and under bridges. |
| Range | All of North America in summer |
Source: Cornell Lab NestWatch nest box table and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service "Homes for Birds". Build one from these numbers with the birdhouse calculator, which adds a board cut list.
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Where should a barn swallow house go?
Inside barns, garages, porches and under bridges. Mount on a smooth metal pole where possible, fit a predator guard, and face the entrance away from prevailing wind. Leave the box up through winter as a roost, and clean it out after each brood.
Watch the nest without disturbing it
Nest box cameras let you follow eggs and chicks without opening the box.
Nest box dimensions for other species
Eastern Bluebird · Western Bluebird · Mountain Bluebird · Tree Swallow · Violet-green Swallow · Purple Martin · House Wren · Carolina Wren · Bewick's Wren · Black-capped Chickadee · Carolina Chickadee · Tufted Titmouse · White-breasted Nuthatch · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Downy Woodpecker · Hairy Woodpecker · Red-bellied Woodpecker · Red-headed Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Prothonotary Warbler · Great Crested Flycatcher · Ash-throated Flycatcher · Eastern Screech-Owl · American Kestrel · Barn Owl · Wood Duck · American Robin · Eastern Phoebe
Birds that do not use boxes: Cardinals · Blue Jays · Mourning Doves · Goldfinches · Hummingbirds · Orioles · House Finches
Get the nest box season checklist
When to put boxes up, when to clean them out, and the hole sizes for every common species, on one page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What size hole does a barn swallow need?
None. Barn Swallows do not use enclosed boxes. They build on an open shelf or ledge, so the structure is a roofed platform about 6 x 6 inches with one or more open sides, fixed under an eave, porch roof or beam where it stays dry.
How high should a barn swallow house be mounted?
Mount it 8 to 12 feet above the ground. Inside barns, garages, porches and under bridges. A smooth metal pole with a predator guard or baffle is safer than a tree trunk or wooden fence post, which cats, raccoons and snakes can climb. Face the entrance away from prevailing wind and afternoon sun where you can.
Where do barn swallows live?
All of North America in summer. Inside barns, garages, porches and under bridges. A box put up outside the species' range or in the wrong habitat will simply be taken by whatever local cavity nester does fit, which is often a wren, chickadee or house sparrow.
When should I put up a barn swallow house?
Late winter, before birds start choosing sites in early spring, is ideal. Boxes put up later still attract second nesting attempts and late arrivals. Clean old nesting material out after each brood fledges and again before the next season; many small birds also use empty boxes as winter night roosts.
What should go inside a barn swallow box?
Nothing. Barn Swallows build their own nest. Builds a mud cup on a ledge close under a ceiling. Use untreated wood, drill 1/4 inch drainage holes in the floor and leave ventilation gaps under the roof.