Tree Swallow house: dimensions and placement
Pair boxes about 15 to 25 feet apart so swallows and bluebirds can nest side by side without fighting.
What are the tree swallow house dimensions?
| Inside floor | 5 x 5 in |
|---|---|
| Floor to roof | 6 to 8 in |
| Entrance | 1 1/2 in |
| Hole above floor | 4 to 6 in |
| Mounting height | 5 to 10 ft |
| Habitat | Open areas near water: ponds, marshes and wet meadows. |
| Range | Most of North America |
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.
More boxes that fit
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Where should a tree swallow house go?
Open areas near water: ponds, marshes and wet meadows. 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 · 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 · Barn Swallow · 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 tree swallow need?
The published figure is 1 1/2 in, drilled 4 to 6 inches above the floor. This size keeps European starlings out, though house sparrows can still enter, so check the box weekly in spring. Keep the edge smooth and never add a perch.
How high should a tree swallow house be mounted?
Mount it 5 to 10 feet above the ground. Open areas near water: ponds, marshes and wet meadows. 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 tree swallows live?
Most of North America. Open areas near water: ponds, marshes and wet meadows. 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 tree 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 tree swallow box?
Nothing. Tree Swallows build their own nest. Pair boxes about 15 to 25 feet apart so swallows and bluebirds can nest side by side without fighting. Use untreated wood, drill 1/4 inch drainage holes in the floor and leave ventilation gaps under the roof.